Advice needed: EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

[spartacus.ret]

i guess maybe some one should weigh out the pros and cons for you:

canon ef 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

pros:
- IS USM

cons:
- zoom creep
- slow aperture
- IS only worth 2 stops
- no hood included

tamron 28-75mm SP

pros:
- constant f/2.8
- zoom lock
- hood included

cons:
- relatively noisier and slower focusing

 

[yZong]

Not to mention that after a period of usage, there will be zoom creep. The lens will extend on its own should you face it downwards. :think:

Really that bad??? like sagging eh.... :bsmilie: :bigeyes:

 

[Netbaby]

Not to mention that after a period of usage, there will be zoom creep. The lens will extend on its own should you face it downwards. :think:

HUH!!!!!!!!! Zoom creep!


Zoom creep

A problem often suffered by push-pull zoom lenses. Such lenses have their focal length settings held in place by friction, and sometimes this isn’t enough to counteract the weight of the lens.

If you have a lens which slowly slides, changing focal length, when it’s pointing up or down then you have a lens which exhibits zoom creep. Two-touch zoom lenses usually do not suffer from this problem to the same extent. Some lenses have locking friction rings to help deal with the problem.

Taken from: http://photonotes.org/cgi-bin/entry.pl?id=Zoomcreep

Sound serious to me...... hai.....

 

[Stratix]

Was playing with this lens and my own Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 over the weekend.

The 135mm end is really cool especially with IS. got a few keepers way down to 1/15s...

somehow, tempting to switch to IS over bigger aperture... what are you guys' advice?

 

[user111]

With a budget of $700, should I get that lens?

And I like to shoot wide angle and potrait.

I am a 350D user, with 1.6x crop factor, is the 28mm sufficient for wide-angle?
Cuss I've checked the lens angle at 28mm, almost the same as the kit lens 18-55mm angle, does it mean it can achieve the same wide angle ?

Is this lens a performer under low-light ?

Thanks!

no dont buy it:

cons 1: not wide enought obiously on 1.6x crop
cons 2: this lens exhibits zoom creep
cons 3: at 50mm, max aperture is f4. when u zoom to 70mm, max aperture is only f4.5. at 100mm, max aperture falls to f5.6 already. there are other zooms that still retain max aperture at f4 even up to 70mm. go figure which ones they are..

use the $700 and aim for a 70-200 f4 L

 

[spartacus.ret]

there are other zooms that still retain max aperture at f4 even up to 70mm. go figure which ones they are.. use the $700 and aim for a 70-200 f4 L

quite obvious huh.

 

[calebk]

This isn't the only lens from Canon's standard zoom series that exhibits zoom creep. The 24-85 f/3.5-4.5 USM and the 28-105 f/3.5-4.5 II USM also exhibit zoom creep IIRC. There are also others, but I have not used them.

 

[kayheem]

Go for the Canon EF-S 17-85mm IS. On the cropped sensor, it gives the same view as the 28-135mm.

The used price is about $700-$800.

 

[GhoulOfTheEast]

Go for the Canon EF-S 17-85mm IS. On the cropped sensor, it gives the same view as the 28-135mm.

The used price is about $700-$800.

Cant use this lens when you go full frame though...just so that you keep that in mind. So - if you buy a 5D body - you need to get rid of the EFS lenses as well. Right, guys?

I'm still in favor of the 28-135...get something for the wide end and you've got good focal range covered.

 

[calebk]

If you go FF, then sell the EF-S?

 

[varf]

let's face it, the bulk of Canon DSLRs going around are 1.6x crop factor cameras. in terms of perspective (viewing angle), what used to be a great all-rounder lens has now become a mid-to-short-tele lens, drastically reducing its usefulness.

unless you're using full frame, this lens no longer fits the purpose that it was designed for -- to be a relatively affordable and convenient multi-purpose lens.

the other problem with buying this lens new is that it doesn't really retain value.

you could probably get it second hand between $450-550, possibly with hood (yay!) and filter depending on seller and condition.

 

[fooey]

Go for the Canon EF-S 17-85mm IS. On the cropped sensor, it gives the same view as the 28-135mm.

The used price is about $700-$800.

however the 17-85 isnt as sharp as the 28-135 which has shown to produce images that are comparable with the 24-105f4LIS. this for being less than half the price and a non L lens. It's a great walkaround lens to have.

 

[fooey]

let's face it, the bulk of Canon DSLRs going around are 1.6x crop factor cameras. in terms of perspective (viewing angle), what used to be a great all-rounder lens has now become a mid-to-short-tele lens, drastically reducing its usefulness.

unless you're using full frame, this lens no longer fits the purpose that it was designed for -- to be a relatively affordable and convenient multi-purpose lens.

the other problem with buying this lens new is that it doesn't really retain value.

you could probably get it second hand between $450-550, possibly with hood (yay!) and filter depending on seller and condition.

It still is a great all rounder lens. all you need to do is supplement it with a few wide angle zooms or a prime or two. having 45-216 is a pretty good lens to carry around in one lens when u dont have the time to swap around many lenses. If you need a wide angle, just get a 20-35 zoom or others. that'll cover 32-56

just to see a comparison go here

http://www.acapixus.dk/photography/24_to_105/

Lastly, IS lenses hold their value better than non IS lenses so you can be sure you won't have a big hole in ur pocket.

 

[GhoulOfTheEast]

It still is a great all rounder lens. all you need to do is supplement it with a few wide angle zooms or a prime or two. having 45-216 is a pretty good lens to carry around in one lens when u dont have the time to swap around many lenses. If you need a wide angle, just get a 20-35 zoom or others. that'll cover 32-56

just to see a comparison go here

http://www.acapixus.dk/photography/24_to_105/

Lastly, IS lenses hold their value better than non IS lenses so you can be sure you won't have a big hole in ur pocket.

I agree. And $550 is still a good price for a used copy (from a seller's perspective as well) since a new copy is now available for around $700.

 

[calebk]

Flipside is it's quite a dark lens, and TS will still need budget for another proper wide angle lens (OR, he could stick with the kit lens for WA work.)