The Canon 70-200 f/4L and 17-40 F/4L are both L series zooms that are a great bargain. Does Canon have any prime L's that are along the same lines of great bang for your buck?
The 200 f/2.8L is a great lens for the price and IMO the 135L is also an L prime bargain. Some might add the 300 f/4L (especially the non-IS version can be picked up used for a fairly low price) and you might even include the 400 f/5.6L which is a very high quality, fast focusing, relatively long lens for a pretty reasonable price.
I would include the 135L as a "bargain" lens myself... but yes, there are nice non-L primes. My favorites: 35/2, 50/1.8, 100/2 and 135SF... all real bargains in my mind (especially the 35, 50 and 135SF).
Yes, I much prefer the 35/2 over the 28/1.8. Much sharper, greater contrast and pop. Bokeh from both is nothing too great. "Build" and USM on the 28/1.8 is nice, of course, but not at the expense of IQ IMO. The close focusing of the 35/2 is very useful to me as well.
Oops, and forgot to mention the 28/2.8 as another great bargain lens (haven't owned one for like 10 years, but still have some photos from it that hold up very well... might get another if I stumble on a bargain used copy... especially when I get myself to sell my almost never used big honking 24-70L.
pipspeak wrote:
so you'd rate the 35/2 over the 28/1.8?
Frode wrote:
I sold my 24- 70 for a 28 2.8, 50 1.4 and the 85 1.8. Never looked back!
Really, I seem to be shifting to Leica-R film and will end up with a 50/2, 90/2 and 135/2.8 (haven't found the great deal on a mint non-apo Summicron-R 90 yet).
Bargain "L"?
You'll not find any at the dollar store.
But if you mean a better price-performance ratio than one would expect -
The 200mm f2.8 - half a buck - damn fine lens. Very good at twice the price. Or with a 2x.
The 135mm f2.0 - just because it is SOOOOooo good. (although the 200 f2.8...)
The 400mm 5.6 - Tack sharp, amazingly fast and sure AF, and a super tele for around a buck.
...not to mention the 135mm 2.8 EF Soft Focus lens! I have one, and it is RAZOR sharp wide open. Simply unbelievable piece, don't hear of alot of people using them though...
