My opinion on my lenses

[Andrew]

Feel free to add reviews of your lenses to this thread. :cool: May help with a lot of lens questions.

My Lenses, used with Canon dSLR
Sigma 12-24mm F/4.5-5.6 EX DG Aspherical
The widest zoom available for full frame. Just been replaced by a Mk2.
IQ is very good, distortion is surprisingly minimal. Focus speed is good. Very good ultrawide zoom at a reasonable price.
7.5/10
http://touring4x4.com/Andrew/Lake%20Eyre%202009/slides/le2.jpg

Sigma 20mm F1.8 EX Aspherical DG DF RF
Fun, fast prime that has excellent IQ.
7.5/10
http://www.4wdlinks.com.au/albums/andrew/IMG_6679_1.jpg

Canon EF 24-70mm F2.8 L USM - My favourite lens coupled with the 5D
This is my walkaround/outdoors/landscape lens of choice on my 5D. Great zoom range, big aperture when needed and awesome image quality. Built like a brick too. Superb!
9.5/10
http://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l628/aj4wd/365%202011/Mar01-TheEyre.jpg

Canon EF 50mm F1.4 USM
A good focal length with a big aperture at a bargain price. Image quality is excellent with good background separation at larger apertures. I rarely use this lens but when I do the results make me glad I own it.
8/10
http://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l628/aj4wd/365%202011/Feb9-Nectarfortwo.jpg

Canon EF 70-200mm F4L IS USM
This is a great lens. Very handy zoom range, very good IS and super sharp pictures. Not too heavy or too big for travel. Only downside may be that its neither a wide nor a long zoom lens. If you need a lens to cover this midrange then the 70-200F4L IS is fantastic.
9/10
http://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l628/aj4wd/Best%20of%202010/peli3.jpg

Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO
Used for general outdoors/offroad shots. Almost permanently attached to my 1D. OS is brilliant and allows me to comfortably shoot handheld. IQ and focus speed are good but since shown up by the 300L. Great bang for the buck!
Cons: Almost unusable in low light.
6.5/10
http://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l628/aj4wd/Best%20of%202010/IMG_4104-1.jpg

Canon EF 300mm F4L IS - Second favourite lens coupled with the 7D
I got this lens as I was finding that the 70-200F4L IS was a bit short for some shots and the Sigma 150-500 was too slow for some shots. Combined with the 1.6 crop factor of the 7D this is a really nice tele lens. Sharpness is a given but what I really love is how fast it focuses and holds focus with the 7Ds' extra AF points. A killer combo.
Pros: Superior build quality, Super-sharp images, Fast auto-focus
9/10
http://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l628/aj4wd/Best%20of%202010/IMG_5209.jpg

Sigma 150mm F2.8 EX APO Macro DG HSM
I dont shoot a lot of macro but this lens is very very good. Super sharp and with excellent IQ.
8.5/10
http://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l628/aj4wd/GENERAL/liz3-1.jpg

Canon 1.4x extender
Great match for both the 70-200 and the 300. No visible loss of IQ. Drops lens back to max F5.6. Expensive but the results far outweigh the price tag.
9.5/10

Kenko 2x extender
Have only used this for moon shots with the 150-500 and 7D - giving an effective length of 1600mm. 8) No apparent loss of IQ but AF is no longer functioning with any lens slower than F2.8. Not a problem at this length as MF is a must.
7/10

[pmack]

Excellent post, and nice images.
Though you say the last two lenses are sharp, i'm going to picky and say that the images you posted do not seem particularly sharp :o

I've not heard of those first two sigma lenses, very interesting.

I'll add a one

Canon 100-400L f/4.5-5.6
Very versatile lens, not too heavy. Focussing is ok, and lens generally not suited for low light, but images are otherwise excellent.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y284/surfphotoac/IMG_4022.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y284/surfphotoac/IMG_3877.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y284/surfphotoac/IMG_2009tonyAbbott-heat-participants.jpg

hope more than one image was allowed :p

[mongo]

Mongo really likes your assessment report on these lenses - short , concise, attached samples, gave a score at the end of each assessment and no B.S. - brilliant - what more could a reader ask for ?

Mongo says a big thanks to Andrew :th3:

[Andrew]

Though you say the last two lenses are sharp, i'm going to picky and say that the images you posted do not seem particularly sharp :o

You're right. Here's a better one from the 300F4L IS
http://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l628/aj4wd/GENERAL/IMG_5095.jpg

Multi samples are cool coz there are no rules. Thanks for adding to the thread.

[Andrew]

Mongo really likes your assessment report on these lenses - short , concise, attached samples, gave a score at the end of each assessment and no B.S. - brilliant - what more could a reader ask for ?

Mongo says a big thanks to Andrew :th3:

You're welcome Mongo. Going to add some of yours?

[larrywen]

Thank you Andrew.

Very good comments and demo photos. Now I have a 7D and only one kit lens "EF-S 18-200". The lens is good because it can do nearly everything. Of cause the IQ is not very high. Now I am looking my second lens. I am interesting in Canon 24-70 L F2.8. However this lens doesn't have IS, is it a big problem for hand holding photos?

[Andrew]

Thank you Andrew.

Very good comments and demo photos. Now I have a 7D and only one kit lens "EF-S 18-200". The lens is good because it can do nearly everything. Of cause the IQ is not very high. Now I am looking my second lens. I am interesting in Canon 24-70 L F2.8. However this lens doesn't have IS, is it a big problem for hand holding photos?

I believe that the 17-55F2.8 is the go for a 1.6 crop Canon. The lens also has IS. Only downside is that its an EFS lens so wont fit on a full frame camera, if you upgrade later.

[spademan]

Thanks for the insight, Helps very much when deciding on lenses , Cheers mate

[juliem]

I am saving my pennies for the macro!!!! Have you used it for any portrait work???

[bricat]

I must admit the title through me abit but I like what you have written. Short and sweet as Mongo stated. It is always good to see several quick type reviews with photo's as I'm sure most of us poor people are looking to buy another lens at some time or another. This re-inforces the fact that I have also ordered one of thses lenses so it justifies my choice. cheers Brian

[fabian628]

nice thread. I noticed the first two got 7.5/10 but there was no problems mentioned with them.

here is one from me.

canon 135 f/2: Quite sharp at f/2, fast focus speed and really nice colours. The lens is also compact which is a bonus. Cons: fairly hard to hand hold at slow shutter speed without IS and becuase it is so light.

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af352/Natural_Defence_Plant2/IMG_9975-2.jpg

[LJG]

OK, I'll play too ;)

Sigma 150-500 f5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM

Does not like low light at all, heavy, can be slow to focus, softer as focal length increases, good value for the money if you don't want to shell out over 7K for the Canon 500mm, stiff zoom ring that does not move smoothly, build quality OK, even though I am getting better at using it if I had the purchase over again I would probably bite the bullet and get a 50-500 or more than likely the Canon 100-400 or 400 prime.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1247/5109774062_e7a0a4c5f6_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53004189@N05/5109774062/)
Australian Magpie 2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53004189@N05/5109774062/) by LJG_Images (http://www.flickr.com/people/53004189@N05/), on Flickr

Canon 10-22 f3.5-4.5 USM, sharp SOOC - I do minimal PP with this lens, good colour rendition, a great UWA lens (although short as a walkaround), good build quality, smooth and silent. Until I brought the 15-85 it spent the most time on the front of my camera and really is a great lens on a crop body. It is definitely a keeper.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/5203939426_7b22c17453_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53004189@N05/5203939426/)
Dont look down (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53004189@N05/5203939426/) by LJG_Images (http://www.flickr.com/people/53004189@N05/), on Flickr

Canon 15-85 3.5-5.6 IS USM, great focal range, fantastic walk out the door with one lens as a walkaround, sharp, quick focus (this shot is a crop, not a pano), excellent build quality (probably best out of all my lenses), smooth and silent, although slightly stiff on the zoom ring. Now spends the most time in front of my camera because of its versatility. It is definitely a keeper.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5257/5460415121_bca7dbd38d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53004189@N05/5460415121/)
Glasshouse (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53004189@N05/5460415121/) by LJG_Images (http://www.flickr.com/people/53004189@N05/), on Flickr

Canon 50 f1.8 or "nifty fifty", delivers sharp images at above f2, great value for the money but you will get sick of the pentagonal shaped highlights very quickly, bokeh not as good as the f1.4 although sharpness in the mid range F stops is comperable, cheap build quality - all plastic and quite noisy. My son now has it.

http://i915.photobucket.com/albums/ac352/LJG_photo/Test1.jpg

Canon 50 f1.4, sharp as a tack at most focal lengths except slightly soft at f1.4, (this was shot at f1.4 and the focus is on bottle to the right of shot), good bokeh and highlights, light and compact, well worth the extra money over the f1.8, great build quality. Definitely a keeper.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5219/5495429443_58c71475dd_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53004189@N05/5495429443/)
XXXX summer beer (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53004189@N05/5495429443/) by LJG_Images (http://www.flickr.com/people/53004189@N05/), on Flickr

Canon 28-135 f3.5-5.6 IS USM, a bit of a hit and miss lens (although better than the 18-55 kit) I have a love/hate relationship with it, build quality not as good as my other lenses - it has a trombone style zoom and wobbles on full zoom, can be soft on either end of the zoom range, great if you stay somewhere in the middle (this shot is at 100mm) and can deliver some really great images if you get everything right, smooth and silent. I hardly use it these days and may yet sell it or give it to my son.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/5197226333_09108dd13a_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53004189@N05/5197226333/)
Kerri & Scott 2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53004189@N05/5197226333/) by LJG_Images (http://www.flickr.com/people/53004189@N05/), on Flickr

Canon 18-55 f3.5-5.6 IS, kit lens, a great starter lens, OK for the price, reasonable IQ, a lens you will tire of quickly though and lust for something better, smooth and reasonably silent, build quality is kit lens quality. My son now has it.

http://i915.photobucket.com/albums/ac352/LJG_photo/LJG%20AP%20album/Railway.jpg

Canon 55-250 f4.5-6 IS, kit lens sometimes called the "nifty 250". For a kit lens it can deliver some great shots, amazingly sharp for the price, great bokeh, smooth & reasonably silent, build quality is kit lens quality but still a good value moderate zoom lens that I would never part with no matter what.

http://i915.photobucket.com/albums/ac352/LJG_photo/LJG%20AP%20album/OOF.jpg

[Bennymiata]

Canon 24-105 F4 IS L.
IMHO, one of the best walk-around lenses.
Sharp as a tack, fast, silent focussing and good for almost anything.
This was taken hand held with my D60's in-built flash
If I could only have one lens, this would be the one
I rate it a 9/10
69486

Canon 100-400IS L.
Great to use outdoors in reasonable light.
It can do more than people think.
Big and heavy, but worth it!
I rate it 8/10. If it was smaller and lighter, it would rate a 9.
69487

Canon EF-S 60mm F2.8 Macro
Small, light, fast, accurate focussing and sharp as a tack.
For the money, it's a bargain.
I rate it 9/10
69488

[Andrew]

I am saving my pennies for the macro!!!! Have you used it for any portrait work???

No I havent but I would imagine it would be great for candids.

[Andrew]

nice thread. I noticed the first two got 7.5/10 but there was no problems mentioned with them.

No problems as such just not quite as good as the others. They cant all be 9's :D

[Andrew]

if I had the purchase over again I would probably bite the bullet and get a 50-500 or more than likely the Canon 100-400 or 400 prime.
Now that the 50-500 has OS I would probably get that if buying now as the IQ is apparently better. Having said that, the 150-500 is VERY good, particularly at the current price.

[Andrew]

I must admit the title through me abit but I like what you have written. Short and sweet as Mongo stated. It is always good to see several quick type reviews with photo's as I'm sure most of us poor people are looking to buy another lens at some time or another. This re-inforces the fact that I have also ordered one of thses lenses so it justifies my choice. cheers Brian

Yeah it is a bit "agressive", I probably could have come up with a better title like "First hand opinions of lenses". I cant edit it so I guess we're stuck with it.

Whichlens have you bought? Post your opinion in here when youve had it for a while. :cool:

[fabian628]

here is another lens.
35mm f/1.4
This lens is fast focusing, and (my copy at least) is very sharp wide open which is important. Colours and contrast are very good, but get better stopped down slightly. Almost too sharp at f/2.8 and narrower :) . Cons, not weather sealed (would like to be more confident taking it into rain), the build is a bit plasticky. There are pretty epic CA's wide open, but thats life :eek:

I have samples on each crop factor. All at f/1.4

1.6x
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg60/natural_defence_plant/IMG_6621-Copy2And2more_tonemapped3bw.jpg

1.3x
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg60/natural_defence_plant/ninja/ID3_9634-3.jpg

1x
http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af352/Natural_Defence_Plant2/IMG_9685.jpg

[ricktas]

Thread closed. The camera gear forum is not for critiquing photos, which this thread has become.

UPDATE: I have gone through this thread and removed all posts that were critiquing the photos, and now opened the thread back up again.

[Old Skool]

Canon 200mm F2.8 L Prime. Love it - sharp as even wide open. Great colour, no CA & super fast focusing. Also a reasonable price. Reckon a 10/10

http://quickshot.zenfolio.com/phillipisland2011classic/h10dc0499#h2acf47d9

http://quickshot.zenfolio.com/phillipisland2011classic/h10dc0499#h2acf47d9

[Old Skool]

Canon 85mm F 1.8 Prime. Suffers from CA from F1.8 to 2.2. Great lens as long as you remember to use F2.5 as min, otherwise just more PP work. Ring USM focus is fast, I bought this lens for Basketball photos as indoor stadiums aren't the best for light. The added benefit on a crop camera is that this lens is an ideal length for a Basketball Court if you sit opposite the middle of the Court. Reasonable price as well, i give it a 8/10.

http://quickshot.zenfolio.com/taylorslakesbasketballu181stfinal/h21f3bc8f#h21f3bc8f

[Old Skool]

Canon 28-105mm USM F3.5-4.5 II. An older lens that you will have to hunt around for on EBay etc. Metal mount, fast Ring USM focus and F3.5 ( later lenses were F4 -5.6 and micro USM) Bought this for Basketball photos, ideal zoom length for a Court with crop frame camera. Unfortunately my version suffers from soft focus on the side - should get it adjusted but can't be bothered. Does the job for what I want, a couple of hundred dollars second hand makes it good value. about a 7/10.

http://quickshot.zenfolio.com/taylorslakesu18basketballround11/h16e1083d#h16e1083d

[Old Skool]

Canon EFS 55-250 F4-5.6 IS. As stated above by Lloyd, this lens is a cracka. I haven't noticed any CA, really sharp with nice colour. Also has a UD element. Only downside is slow focus compared to Ring USM and plastic mount. Great focal length & bonus is the really cheap price,- for what it is & designed for I rate it about 8/10. I compared this with a EF 70-200 L F4 non IS lens just on image quality on back to back test shots. They were basically the same, I couldn't see the price difference in the pics. Handling both lenses and tracking action shots, the 70-200L wins hands down.

At 55mm

http://quickshot.zenfolio.com/avalonairshow2011/hfa79877#hfa79877

At 120mm

http://quickshot.zenfolio.com/avalonairshow2011/h895f62a#h895f62a

At 250mm

http://quickshot.zenfolio.com/avalonairshow2011/h3d83ac2#h3d83ac2

[fairy bombs]

A good thread for those looking at various canon lenses,I hope they do not close it again.

Here is one not mentioned so far.I have a Canon 400 mm 'L' prime F 5.6 lens,almost lives on my 450D for birding.
Also very good with 50D,Its very light,the girth of the lens is the same as the 70-200 F4,the lens ring fits both.

It is very fast,easy to carry around,at f 6.3/7.1 very good for sitting birds.This lens is also great for aircraft.

I rate this lens 10,apparently all the very elite bird watchers in the world,who have the 600 L still also have the 400 L
as is reputedly the best BIFF lens in the world! (birds in flight).

I also have the EF-S 60 mm macro,very very good -so sharp!,also got the EF_S 17-55 F 2.8,great lens
certainly better than my kit 18-55 and a few notches up from my old 17-85 ef-S lens.

Hope this helps someone out there FB

[Old Skool]

Canon EF 70-300 IS USM F4-5.6. Supposed to be really good reading reviews, I have had 2 of these, both were ordinary & both were sharper in portrait orientation rather than landscape, or was it landscape rather than portrait. Been a while and can't remember exactly. The lens did give excellent colour with no CA. Prob Ok for landscapes or still life, I bought it for sports pics, but too slow. USM is Micro not Ring USM. Also think the barrel turned so no good for polarizer filter. Sold one thinking it was the lens and later on got another. Same issues, sold that as not worth the big price tag, I find the EF-S 55-250 a better lens.

Canon EF 100-300 USM F4.5-5.6. An older lens now that can be found for less than $200 on Ebay. Metal mount, internal focusing and super fast Ring USM focusing. Tracks sport no problem, only issue is heaps of CA (purple fringing). Needs to be stopped down for sharpest results.