About
Gene was born in the wild hills of West Virginia, raised in the mountains of western Maryland and currently lives in north central Pennsylvania.
Higher education: Theological Studies & Audio Engineering
Higher education: Theological Studies & Audio Engineering
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Reviews (23)
Aug 17, 2006
This is NOT the new MARK II, but that's fine with me!
32 of 40 found this helpful Obviously, there is not about a Canon EF 35-105mm lens (eBay's infinite wisdom is showing here). The review is for the Canon EF 28-105,, f/3.5-4.5 USM.
This is definitely one of the very best and most versatile “affordable” lenses ever produced for the Canon EOS camera line. Unless you have unlimited financial resources (in which case, buy the superior Canon EF 24-105mm IS USM "L" professional model for about $1,200.00!) Otherwise, please keep on reading.
I have owned several examples of this model. This glass is mounted on my EOS 10D camera nearly all of the time, because it is usable in almost any situation. I can always change it if I need to, but when I am in a hurry to catch a fleeting shot, I know that I will at least have a chance with this baby. My camera is always in the bag beside me, with the EF 28-105mm 1:3.5-4.5 USM "MACRO" mounted and ready for action.
THERE HAVE BEEN THREE DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THIS MODEL. A new fourth variation has been released as a replacement model, but it is no where near the same class as the other three. It has a slow f/4-5.6 aperture. The superior f/3.5-4.5 model was updated a few years ago. The newest one is called the Mark II, and has had a Roman numeral II added to its model number. The previous version, which is the actual subject of this review, is commonly referred to as "THE MACRO". These two most recent versions are basically the same in optical and mechanical performance. The "Mark II" had a minor facelift to allow it to match the "look" of the current mid-grade USM "Ultrasonic" lens lineup, but the "innards" are essentially the same. The very first version of this model was not quite equal in performance to the two newer variations. All three “Made In Japan” versions are now out of production and have become very desirable.
I owned the original version on my old EOS 10S in the mid 90's, but I didn't like it very much. It was the one with the yellow "flower" icon on the side and in the distance window. It had a simple five-blade aperture that noticeably distorted the points of light in blurred backgrounds. It created geometric shapes (pentagons) instead of nice smooth circles when I took close-ups of flowers and insects. It also had a mild case of "zoom creep". When I pointed my camera downward, the lens would tend to slide out a bit.
The "MACRO", on the other hand, is a fantastic zoom lens. I truly believe that the "MACRO" version or the RARE "MADE IN JAPAN" Mark II should be in every Canon EOS camera bag. It covers about 85% of the common focal lengths that most people need, and it has been completely reliable. Photos that were shot with this model are very sharp and they have great color with better than average contrast.
Anyone who is still using the cheap "kit" lens that came with their EOS should consider the "MACRO" as the very first upgrade lens for their camera. It has the super heavy-duty stainless steel lens mount and the very best "Ring" type USM auto-focus motor that you can get. (This is the same motor design as the one in the professional "L" lenses!) It focuses unbelievably fast and it is almost completely silent. If you have a lot of extra money lying around, go get the "L" lens, if not, this may be the perfect glass for you.
Sep 30, 2007
This Big Off-White Bazooka Won My Heart... And My Eyes!
35 of 38 found this helpful This lens isn’t inexpensive, but especially if you shoot outdoors, this is the ultimate EOS tele zoom lens for under £400.00. Compared to most other EF professional "L" lenses, this is the least costly of all, but its PROFESSIONAL LEVEL PERFORMANCE and CONSTRUCTION are definitely NOT COMPROMISED in any way.
In the world of Canon EOS EF mount lenses, there are three levels of quality classifications. The inexpensive models are commonly referred to as “consumer grade”, designed primarily to meet competitive price points. The upgrade models are known as “mid grade” lenses. These can be very respectable in optical performance, but they are not as durable or "high performance" as the real pro gear.
The top level is reserved for true working pros, and those who are very dedicated to the art of photography. These are the “L” Series Professional lenses. Most “L” lenses are designed with very effective weather & dust seals and special optical elements to deliver superior performance and the ultimate in rugged reliability. Canon's “L” models all have a bright red ring around the front of the barrel.
This telephoto “L” is a great choice for nature lovers, hikers, street photographers, adventurers and especially for the parents of budding sports stars. You really command respect when you whip out your Canon EOS with this big off-white bazooka locked ‘n loaded. You instantly become the “Pro” (whether you actually are or not). It is amazing to watch the crowds at the soccer game part to let “the real photographer” get a little closer to the action. If you prefer to not call any attention to yourself, avoid this lens! Otherwise, be prepared for the envious stares from the guys & gals with the long skinny black lenses.
This is a real "rough & tumble" lens, with optics delivered directly from the great glass gods. It will keep functioning properly, even when the rain or snow begins to fall during the last quarter of a game or out on a long nature hike, unlike the consumer and mid-grade lenses.
However, there are other reasons to commit to this fairly costly model. The optical resolution, colour richness and contrast are absolutely superb! Chromatic aberrations and lens flare are extremely well controlled. There is almost NO DISTORTION visible through this lens, at any focal length. This is especially true on a smaller frame digital camera because these bodies take advantage of the lenses “sweet spot”, by primarily using the glass near the center portion of the lens. The Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L USM produces incredibly sharp photos time after time, after time, after time...
This model is threaded for 67mm filters, not the easiest to find. You may have to buy some relatively expensive filters that will only be usable on this one lens, like I did, but it is definitely worth it. The front element is always stationary, so using a circular polarizer is never a problem. The zoom and focus rings are plenty wide enough, even for the most gorilla-fisted photogs out there, and yet, both rotate as smooth as a well-powdered baby’s behind.
There is no doubt that this is a real "L" lens. It is just oozing with that magic "luxury" stuff that makes it such a great optical instrument, as well as a very good investment. Considering how close it is in performance, and the high cost for most "L" models, I can easily call this one a true bargain!
Copyright 2006 All rights reserved. ProfAudio1
Oct 06, 2006
Excellent True Macro Lens Reveals A Whole New World!
30 of 36 found this helpful The Canon EF 50mm “Compact Macro” is one of the most important lenses in my bag. I am finding that really close-focus photography is a fantastic way to capture truly interesting images. A whole new world is revealed when you look through this outstanding optical glass.
This is a “mid grade” model that is very affordable. It takes INCREDIBLY SHARP photographs, truly as sharp as a pro lens. It features a useful “distance scale window” with indications for macro ratios. It is well constructed and has the superior stainless steel lens mount. This fantastic lens has proven to be completely reliable.
The “Compact-Macro” features nine elements in a “floating” optical system for improved focusing accuracy, especially at very close distances. The front element extends as you focus, but it does not rotate, so circular polarizers and special effects filters are never a hassle. The front glass is deeply recessed behind the 52mm filter threads, so a hood is not needed, it’s “built-in”.
The Canon EF 50mm f/2.5 Macro Lens has a 1:2 magnification factor. The “half life-size” images are awesome. You can make a coin look like a manhole cover. This is especially true on “small frame” digital SLRs like any of Canon’s Digital Rebels, 20D, 30D or the new 40D cameras. It becomes the equivalent of an 80mm lens on Digitals, which is an extremely useful focal length.
The Canon Compact-Macro is very comfortable to carry around, for hours on end. It “balances” beautifully on semi-pro camera bodies, making it a joy to handle.
I am amazed at how beautifully this model performs for non-macro applications. The six-blade aperture is fast enough for almost any “low-light” situation and the optics are incredibly free of distortions. Best of all, it is really, really sharp, and I mean “L class” sharp! Color and contrast are consistently superb and very pleasing to the eye.
This model employs the AFD “Arc Form Drive” auto focus design. It is not the quickest and not as quiet as a USM lens, but for the price it is excellent. Besides, for close-ups, you will want to use manual focusing anyway. Really tight shots require that you get the exact subject element that you intend to “feature” into crisp focus. The extremely fine focus adjustment gives you the ability to be incredibly precise.
This lens produces absolutely beautiful “bokeh”, thanks to the nice "fast" aperture. Portraits really have that vibrant 3-D quality, with the most pleasant blurred backgrounds that you will ever see from an affordable lens.
As a “walking around” lens, this is as good as any prime in its price range. The macro feature is like icing on the cake! It is faster and sharper than almost any zoom lens. It does a great job of performing many tasks extremely well. It’s a killer portrait lens, a great lens for “street” photography, it’s a fine choice for nature hiking and adventure photos. If it were not a Macro, it would still be worth every single penny, but fortunately, it is a Macro too!
Macro photography is where this lens really shines. To get the most out of it, you need to wake up your creative juices and look at things directly through its magical Macro eye. You can capture the most artistic shots that you have ever seen. Just glue your eye to your viewfinder and you will find beautiful things to capture everywhere you look.
If you want to have a lot of fun, get a Canon EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact-Macro and turn yourself loose in a brand new small world!
Copyright © 2006