> -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of > Ken Durling > Sent: Friday, March 09, 2007 5:53 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: EOS EF 135mm f/2L > > I've known about this lens for a long time, read all the > raves, etc., and last night a fellow photog let me borrow > his at a concert we were both shooting. I'm using a 30D. > All I can say is I've joined the choir - wow, what an > incredible lens. I've been reviewing > images from the evening and the best just blow me away. It has > shot right up to the top of my buy it now list. This lens strikes > me as almost perfect, handled well. > > Question: what other lenses in the Canon line-up have had > this impact on you? > > Ken > >
Hi Ken, Long time no see! The list of EF mount lenses that made me lust after one may seem long (LOL), but here goes. Mind you I was primarily shooting motorsports when I bought into the EOS system but I also shoot a lot of people and houses. My number one mind altering lens was the EF 135 2L followed closely by the EF 300 2.8L and IS version, EF 600 4L, EF 70-200 2.8L IS, EF 50 1.0L, EF 15 2.8. For a 35mm or FF shooter who shoots people the EF 135 2L lens is the ultimate lens. The EF 135 2L can deliver incredible detail and blur but know this, it's also BRUTALY honest and will show all of your flaws AND your subject's. The EF 300 2.8L/IS what can I say, just as sharp as the EF 135 2L and extremely versatile (surprisingly I've shot many portraits with an EF 300 2.8L!), for a sports shooter especially when you add the EF 1.4X and EF 2XII converters to your bag. For a motorsports shooter who has to carry all of his own gear around a road racing course for days on end this is a very good lens option. Sure an EF 400 2.8L or EF 600 4L are nice and potentially sharper than an EF 300 2.8L when used with an EF 2XII but being less than half the weight means that you can haul a lot of the other glass you need to get the bread and butter shots. The EF 400 2.8L and EF 600 4L are fantastic lenses but have very limited utility due to focal length, size and weight. The EF 300 2.8L can cover these ranges, admittedly with some limitations but you can't even get many of the shots you need if you make the commitment to carry an EF 600 4L, you will just not have the glass and you will be too tired to work. The EF 15 2.8 fisheye, you ask why the heck is he talking about? This little bugger is a gem in terms of Canon wide-angle lens sharpness and we all know there are not many killer EF mount lenses from any maker. If you are an EOS 1Ds shooter and want to buy a wide angle lens the EF 15 2.8 maybe a good choice for you if you want an ultra wide FOV and good sharpness. Ah, you say this is a fisheye lens and I say yup. The trick is to run your converter RAW images through a program to defish the image which yields about a panoramic shaped 12mm FOV. Shooting interiors this thing is a life saver for me and it's even a cheap lens to buy used! There were also a couple of ground breaking zoom lenses at the time which have been improved and replaced including the EF 28-70 2.8L, EF 16-35 2.8L and EF 70-200 2.8L All were so good and so heavily depended on by the running press that these lenses HAD to be updated and improved. The EF 24-70 2.8L, EF 70-200 2.8L IS and EF 16-35 2.8L II are impressive lenses at almost reasonable prices. Sure I think there are similar lenses on other mounts that may edge them out in terms of sharpness and contrast but they'll cost your children's education to buy. Anywho, my two cents. Cheers/Chip * **** ******* *********************************************************** * For list instructions, including unsubscribe, see: * http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/eos_list.htm ***********************************************************
