Canon 28-70L Performance Query

[psk4363]

I've had this heavy beast for some time now and I've developed mixed feelings about the results I'm getting from it. Sometimes the images are extremely sharp :D , but others are lacking that 'bite' :( . I'm beginning to believe that stopping it down a couple of stops is the only sure way of getting results that equate to my other lenses :? .

'Cos I guess I'm either too lazy to do some detailed research, or just too knackered after 10 hours of sorting out the motoring idiots here in Manchester, I was wondering if I could ask you guys for your experiences with this lens. Any opinions?

Cheers,
Barry

[sGu]

i don't have 28-70mm L, but i do have the newer version 24-70mm L, which i have to say is a very heavy piece of equipment.

i do find inconsistant sharpness from this L glass every now and then, in general when i throw aperture wide open, sharpness level drops significantly, however, couple of f stops down, it'll go back to the best quality. but in low light condition where flash can't be used, i find it a bit disapointing, compare to 70-200mm at f2.8, 70-200 is sharper, from my experience.

I like it despite the weight, it's versatility plus image quality is superb as long as aperture is not at 2.8.

what do you mean by "sorting out the motoring idiots here in Manchester"?

[psk4363]

sGu,

Thanks for your reply - your opinions mirror my experiences, particularly when I use the lens wide open and, as you say, in low-light conditions.

"what do you mean by "sorting out the motoring idiots here in Manchester"?" - I'm a traffic (sorry, Roads Policing Officer now Mr Todd has arrived with his Met ideas) police officer in GMP and some of the motorists I have to deal with are clowns who shouldn't be behind the wheel of any vehicle - under maybe but definitely not behind :lol:

Cheers,
Barry

[sGu]

cool, we have a police man on the forum :D

back to the topic, because its sharpness when use large aperture, i bought 50mm f1.4 to use in low light, it gives extra stops while retaining amazing sharpness, next i would get a 85mm f1.8 so i will have some extra reach.

[mikeg]

Talking about 28-70L image quality and compared to 24-70L :

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/24-70-review.shtml

Hope this helps.

MikeG

[jooka]

i do find inconsistant sharpness from this L glass every now and then, in general when i throw aperture wide open, sharpness level drops significantly, however, couple of f stops down, it'll go back to the best quality.

Pretty much same experience here too with 24-70L.

[Canuck]

I want my speeding ticket on the A74M in Lockerbie Scotland binned...oh the bloody hassle for blooming £60! It is by far the largest road I have ever seen and the mobile camera units have the audacity to setup on a flyover and shoot on a wide open road, like American-size road huge! What are sheep that scare in Scotland? I think not! That was about all I'd hit. The offence was committed in late April this year (2004) and it has taken this long to not even get the actual ticket, just my plead guilty. They have had my license for an eternity...seems like sheep can do it faster! Maybe they should hire some sheep. I think these mobile speed cameras are bollocks! I can see the ones that are always there, so be it. This is more about ££££££ than saftey, imho!

[sGu]

maybe i shouldn't ask psk4363 about his job ... Canuck, you just remind me that i've got a stupid parking fine at 1am in the morning! it's ridiculours ... whatelse can you do? don't people just hate traffic wardens?

[psk4363]

Oh s**t, I knew this would happen.

sGu - thanks! (not!)

Canuck - Scottish law is totally different than the rest of the UK. I don't even have police powers up there so sorry I can't help! You're entitled to your opinion, of course, but if you'd seen the mayhem, carnage and utter distress I have as a traffic sergeant over the past 11 years after idiots, who thought they could drive at speed, managed to cause :cry: then maybe you would have a different opinion.

I am not advocating the overkill use of speed cameras because some are only revenue collectors for Blair's Treasury, however you, as an individual, cannot be in possession of all the facts re a particular stretch of road to generalise that "mobile speed cameras are bollocks" :shock: .

Such comments merely supports the fact that until a substantial number of self-opinionated, selfish UK motorists drive properly and stop killing thousands of people each year :evil: , causing GBH to lots more :evil: , the role of the UK traffic cop will have to remain - at the expense of using those police resources to tackle other crimes :roll: . IMHO!

Anyway, what about my question?

Barry

[sGu]

i'm really sorry about that, mate, didn't see it coming at all.

but go back to the topic on the lens, at one point i was actually thinking about selling it and get 50mm f1.4 and 85mm f1.8 instead. now i've got a 50mm one, which is extremely sharp, make me wanna 85mm even more. i'll do some research on the price for used 24-70mm n see if it's worth to swap for a 100-400mm L

[psk4363]

sGu - no worries!

I must admit that I was looking at the 85mm 1.8 before I bought the 28-70 but I was offered the L lens at an exceptional price, one I couldn't resist. That 85mm has had some great reviews - so too has the 100-400L (and I can vouch for that lens!)

Cheers,
Barry