older L lenses

[msvadi]

There are several 100-300 5.6 L lenses on ebay going for about $250. Do you guys think it's a fair price given that the lens is in excellent condition?

Also, I was watching ebay for 80-200 2.8 L and did not see any. Is there any chance to find it for something like $500?

[msvadi]

does anybody know where I can find MTFs for 100-300 5.6 L ?
I searched the web but did not find the MTFs. However, there was a nice discussion with 100% crops and comparison to non-L at dpreview.com:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1029&message=6389881

[JZaun]

You can buy a NEW Canon 100-300 4.5-5.6 for $270 at B&H. wil have a 1 yr warranty :D

JZ

[msvadi]

You can buy a NEW Canon 100-300 4.5-5.6 for $270 at B&H. wil have a 1 yr warranty :D

JZ

Thanks, Jerry.
The other one has L glass. I know it's an old design, but I would trade convinience for picture quality.

[PacAce]

Try this link and click on "EOS Lens FAQ". Then do an Edit | Find and type in "100-300/5.6L". It won't show you the MTF chart but it does give you ratings compared to other "L" lenses.

http://www.photozone.de/bindex2.html

[Icecamp]

I haven't checked for a while but KEH has 80-200 f/2.8Ls for around $700. I bought one from them a few years ago and love the lens. I dont have any experience with it but the 100-300 f/5.6L is supposed to be a fine lens as well. Photodo has the MTF's for both the lenses as well as a lot of canon lenses. http://photodo.com/nav/prodindex.html
Bob Atkins on Photo.net writes favorable reviews for both of these lenses as well. IMO the 80-200 is a bargain for L glass.

[nosquare2003]

My little experience of 100-300/5.6L:

1. Lightweighted
2. Good optics
3. Slow autofocus speed
4. I hate the push-pull zoom design

[msvadi]

I haven't checked for a while but KEH has 80-200 f/2.8Ls for around $700. I bought one from them a few years ago and love the lens. I dont have any experience with it but the 100-300 f/5.6L is supposed to be a fine lens as well. Photodo has the MTF's for both the lenses as well as a lot of canon lenses. http://photodo.com/nav/prodindex.html
Bob Atkins on Photo.net writes favorable reviews for both of these lenses as well. IMO the 80-200 is a bargain for L glass.

unfortunately, photodo has no MTFs for 100-300 5.6L, only for the non-L version.

[msvadi]

In the last 3 days 4 copies of 100-300 5.6 L were offered for sale: 3 on ebay and 1 at KEH. How many did I buy? Zero :twisted: I was outbid twice at the last minute. I did not want to pay more than $300 anyway, but just to be sure I placed a bid of $350. One copy went for $355 and another for $360. Another copy was sold only a few hours after it was put on ebay with "buy it now" for $370. Finally, I saw one in excellent condition at KEH for $300. It did not have the case and the lens hood, so I decided to play with ebay. Needless to say, it was gone when I came back to KEH. Now I feel stupid.

I hope they'll keep on showing up at the same rate. May be I'll get one eventually. At least, I know the market price now, $370 ;)

Or may be I should buy 70-200 f/4L instead. The Drebel does not have mirror lock-up, so shooting at 200+ probably is not a good idea anyway.

Finally, I also saw one 80-200 2.8L for $700 at KEH. Gone too.

[RichYoung]

What is really better:

100-300 L glass only f5.6
Or 100-300 non-L but f4-f5.6?

I have the latter and it out performs my Tamron 28-300 xr at 300mm.

Thanks,
...Rich

[AzzKicker]

I have an older PUSH PULL type NON-L glass 70-210 f/4 that works really well. you can find them for 100.00 on ebay

[msvadi]

check out this thiscussion in dpreview.com:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1029&message=6389881

they posted comparison pictures of 100-300 L vs. non-L. IMHO, the L version looks much-much better. photo.net review also says that the L version clearly offers better quality glass. However, it has old design and may be not very convinient to use.

I plan to use it mostly in 200-300 range, so, in terms of f-stops, for me, L and non-L are equally fast.

[Volatile]

The Drebel does not have mirror lock-up, so shooting at 200+ probably is not a good idea anyway.

I don't understand this statement.

My advice on ebay: be patient. If you chase one auction, you will likely pay more than you want. More of the same will always come along.

[msvadi]

when the mirror flips, it produces vibration. such vibration can affect quality of images some cases: shutter speeds between 1 sec and 1/30 sec, extreme telephoto (longer than 300mm in 35m equivalent, macro).

Some SLRs have mirror lock-up function: one can lock the mirror before the shutter opens. Unfortunately, it's not available with the DRebel.

Nobody can say for sure how bad is the mirror slap on the DRebel. Some tests I've seen show that it gets quite bad around 500mm. Of course, the mirror lock-up is not important for handheld shots. The distortions from the camera shake caused by pressing the button are much worse than the mirror slap.

Regarding the ebay: I know what you mean. I don't really understand majority of bidders on the ebay. They are totally irrational. People wait till the last minutes and then start to increase bids gradually untill they get the product or the auction ends. There is a much better strategy. Decide how much the product is worth for you. Place the bid equal to maximum amount you will be willing to pay for it. Wait for the outcome. If you get it - great, if you don't win - it's not too bad either, since the price is higher than the product value for you.

[CyberDyneSystems]

... I rarely use mirror lock up.. and I shoot 500mm all the time..

[AzzKicker]

Nobody can say for sure how bad is the mirror slap on the DRebel..

Makes you wonder if it really exist or if it's just Bull SH*t. :roll: :roll: