Sorry this is not timely - tried to send it on Thursday but I think my "From" address didn't match the list...
Michal Birnbach wrote: > Recently I have started to think about the following problem. I own > an EOS 3 and 28-135 IS USM + 75-300 IS USM lenses. I usually take landscape > pictures using only slides (mainly Fuji Provia 100F, 400F ar Velvia). I > 20x30 cm paper copies of better pictures. Only very rarely I enlarge to > 50x60 cm if a picture is worth it. > Hello, Well if you have some money available I'm inclined to think you _should_ get a new lens. But I have at least two suggestions. I used to use the 28-105 and the quite old 70-210/3.5-4.5. I take mainly landscapes (well 'scapes, anyway) on slide (still a Kodachrome 64 man). I now use a 28-135 IS and a 70-200/4L. The old 70-210,which I bought new just as it was being discontinued, had a good reputation against the 75-300 set of three lenses and offered slightly more aperture, which I felt I needed as a slow film user, so I went for that. I think Canon discontinued it because practically all the punters were seduced by the extra 75mm. (Ahem!) I got this when I bought an EOS kit to replace defunct FD stuff. I was pretty happy with it. Meantime I got one of the first 300/4 IS and though was spending more on photography, wasn't tempted to a 70- 200/2.8 because I reckoned I couldn't manage two lenses of this size and weight in my standard bag. (Since I take many of my photos on holiday leaving a lens "at home" isn't usually an option because of security issues so I usually carry everything. Besides, the 300/4 IS is very versatile.) When the 70-200/4L was first out I had the opportunity to try one for a day. I took some side by side comparison shots with my 70-210, in excellent light, at 70mm f4 and at 200 f4.5, so they were strictly comparable. I didn't bother with f8 'cos most things are pretty good by f8. Under a high powered magnifier the slides on the L lens seemed a bit better but not dramatically so. I initially projected them on one of these little back projection viewers with an 8 inch plastic imitation ground glass screen. The difference was startling - my wife, who claims to be not critical regarding sharpness, said "Oh, that's much better!". Interestingly, although the L lens has a flourite element to particularly help at the long end, the difference was most obvious on the 70mm shot. I later happened to get a good deal so I got one. OTOH, I have kept wondering about the 28-70L, but it is heavy, and weight is a big issue for me, and I know I will find the zoom range restrictive. When they make a 28-105/2.8L IS you will see me fighting with other members of this list to be first in the queue but till then... But I got the 28-135 IS last summer because a mate offered me his for a good price (he went Nikon digital). I have used it a lot and the IS was a life saver on numerous occasions. The point is, with landscapes there are many occasions when you can use it to allow you to reduce the shutter speed and use f8 or even f11. You have to start thinking tripod with the 70-200/4 at the longer end if you want this for DoF reasons under many lighting conditions. You already have IS in this focal length range. So it all comes down to how you would like to work and what you like to take. What I actually think you should do first is get a wide angle zoom. The 20-35/3.5-4.5 is a decent lens, not too heavy at 340g. There are some reasonable third party alternatives which are a bit cheaper of similar quality and much in the archives about this. The new 17-40/4L might be very interesting for you depending on the price. In your position I would be very tempted by this as I find the 20-35 rather soft wide open and although one doesn't need this too often with wide angle, combined with a low shutter speed it can be very good for interiors. Since I am not too price dependent and there is not much difference in weight I will probably myself go for the 16-35/2.8L. I'm not much of a wide angle man, and you might be the same,but you will still find that this will give you a lot more picture taking opportunities. Hope this helps, Richard Stephenson * **** ******* *********************************************************** * For list instructions, including unsubscribe, see: * http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/eos_list.htm ***********************************************************
