----- Original Message ----- From: "Alex Zabrovsky" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, October 12, 2002 1:05 AM Subject: RE: EOS Re: My First L Glass
> BTW, how would you rate the 28-135 in general ? > I just begun my EOS adventure (former Minolta user) acquired EOS-3 with > 28-135 for starter, though initially intent to get 28-70/2.8 L USM. Was > offered the EOS-3 + 28-135 USM IS for great price so jumped on that > opportunity having in mind to sell the lens and get the L one. > However, I see people in general praise this lens for it's performance and > versatility. > What can you say ? I't pretty nice general lens and at least sharp enough for me. I have shot about 10 000 photos using it. Range is great, much better than in other EF zoom in that class. Therefore I have problems with upgrading, I would like to get a lens with less barrel distortion, but the only real choice is 24-70 f2.8. And that range is too short for me. In parties and weddings the range is very good and without extra 65 mm compared to 24-70, it would be much more difficult to shoot around here. Sharpness of the lens is good enough, I usually shoot with f8 and have had no problems with it. I have had several covers and two page spreads shot with 28-135 and there is no difference in printed material with the results compared to my magazines' regular lenses like 28-70 f2.8. Handling of the lens is also ok, nothing to complain. I suggest you to purchase a hood if you don't have it yet, at lest for me it's very important and also a nice protector of the outer lens surface. I shoot much at sea and with hood sprays won't reach my lens if I shoot from inflantables and small boats. Barrel distortion of the lens is the only major bad feature. It's really notable at 28 mm, much worse than in 28-80 consumer zooms and actually it might be worse than in any EF wide angle lens! You note it at sea where horizon is clearly barrel-like and ruins easily the shot. There's no much to do with this phenomenon, I just try to compose photos in a way that distortion is not seen. I'v also noted some vignetting when shooting against the sky in certain weather conditions, but usually that doesn't bother me. What comes to IS, it's very useful. I seldom use tripod and on my assignments I just have to put camera on something solid and try take photos then. I just got my article out with one photo about helicopter cockpit shot in the middle of the night. It took some 1-2 second exposure time and I just hold the camera in my hands with PB-E2 laying on my Lowerpro AW bag. I thought that the shots would not succeed, but after getting the slides back I could even read the small text on green screens of the plane! In all I took about 10 photos using the same method and 8-9 of them came out perfectly. Anyway, I find 28-135 IS a good lens and very good compared to it's price. As I said, I have problems with replacing it even though I would like to get a model with less barrel distortion, so maybe I have to stick with my current model. I have recently gotten some nice clients like Boat International and Showboats International that keep very high quality in their photography. My 28-135 has completed the jobs, but I'd like to offer still better images with straight horizon. BR Jaakko Pitkäjärvi [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.pitkajarvi.net * **** ******* *********************************************************** * For list instructions, including unsubscribe, see: * http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/eos_list.htm ***********************************************************
