I can sympathize with your concerns about using your 16-35 on a 1.6x crop. When I switched from film to a 20D I regretted the effect on my 17-35. Eventually I bought a 10-22 and got on with my life. Now the wide shooters have the 5D series, and the tele shooters (will) have the 7D, so everybody's happy in Canon-land.
Actually, I think the 16-35 is a great range on APS-C. Pair it with a fast 50mm and an 85 and you have a solid kit for photojournalism or event work. The equivalent 24-70 / 85 / 135 kit on full frame is heavier and bulkier, and the camera body (Canon) is generally slower. If you add the 70-200, APS-C gives you a 320mm 2.8 equivelent at the long end without having to schlepp an actual 6lb 300 2.8 around.
Glen_C wrote:
Not everyone purchasing items from a company is a zealot who who ignores things like pricing, performance and time-to-market decisions.
And yet here you still are... Reading your posts, seems like you have nothing but contempt for Canon's decisions, pricing and performance, so why haven't you moved to Nikon yet? Can't afford it? So why are you bitching about the only system you can afford to keep?
I'm not saying you have to be happy with Canon's offering, but since it's what you're stuck with, perhaps you should learn to live with it and curb the whinging, specially when it comes to the gears that you have never even used and/or owned.
The 28-135 with USM/ IS is a better deal than a 18-135 IS with no USM any day. The USM (edited) is worth it IMO. All in all they both are lower to lower-mid range lens. Guess people got to start somewhere, like I did, and that's where the manufacturers make their money. Throw in a kit lens for $200 extra then sell the remainder for hundreds more than they are worth. If I only knew what I know now, I would have got the 17-55 or 17-40 to start but oh well we all learn.
I have 7 Canon lenses including 3 L lenses, but I am still amazed how good and how versitile my Sigma 18/125 lens is. It is my favorite walk around/travel lens. When traveling with a 3 or 4 lens setup I usually end up taking 90% of my images with the 18/125. If the Canon 18/135 is as good it will be quite a useful lens.
Every time I am in a camera store, I see people buying lenses like this one. I don't want one, but there are plenty of people out there who want a lens that will do everything (even if it doesn't do anything *well*).
p.3 #11 · EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS master thread
RobDickinson wrote:
I'm thinking of getting one, as kit with the 7D.
18-135 kit also (aparently) has a 2nd battery too (and hood+uv filter).
$3550 vs $2900 for the kit(NZ$). 18-135 on its own is $950, so I can sell after if its no good.
Its that or a tamron 17-50f2.8 or prehaps the sigma 30/1.4 which isnt all that flash for a prime ...
I don't think the Canon kit includes the extra battery, at least I can't find anything on it here in the US. Adorama shows a 'kit' that includes a spare battery, bag, 8 gig card, etc for $2084 USD
p.3 #12 · EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS master thread
I actually got the 18-135 kit in the us last week...local store but high end and best camera store in the state. it included a 2nd battery.
I didnt even realize I was getting the 18-135, I thought it was a 28-135 kit and was just going to sell or trade the lens
so the 18-135 kit does exist in the US
havent messed around with the 18-135 much as I have much better glass, but it doesn't seem too bad, crazy overpriced at its retail price though for a consumer zoom
p.3 #13 · EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS master thread
Agree with sanblas here. My 7D came as a kit with the 18-135mm, extra battery (which goes for about $60 here in the US I think), UV filter (don't need) and hood (nice). Price here from my local dealer was $1999. If you factor in the cost of the battery and hood, the new 18-135 comes out to around $199. For that price I decided to give it a go. This past weekend I only shot with a couple of primes, but look forward to testing out the 18-135 to see how it does. The range is great for a crop if it is decent stopped down.
p.3 #19 · EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS master thread
sanblas, I'd be interested in seeing how the lens performs. I've not seen much on the web yet, and I will need a general-purpose lens for the 7D at some point. If the 7D ever gets here.