EF28/1.8 or EF28/2.8 or EF35/2.0 ???

[Rudi]

Hi everyone,

Being the perfectionist that I am, and also just because I want to :), I am looking to buy another prime lens for my D30 (also to be used on my film EOS33 and the next digital body, which will most probably be the 1D replacement).

This is an ongoing quest to have the focal range up to 200mm covered by nothing slower than f/2.8. I have come closer to the Holy Grail today, buying the EF20/2.8 prime.

I currently have the Tokina 19-35mm f/3.5-4.5 (which the 20mm prime will most probably replace), EF 50mm f/1.4, EF 28-135 IS, EF 70-200 f/2.8 L, EF 300 f/4 L and the EF Extender II 1.4x.

As you can see, there seems to be a gap that's too large between the 20mm and the 50mm (the 28-135 IS is slower than f/2.8 ), and I'd like to fill it with another prime. I am leaning towards the EF 28mm f/2.8, as that gives me a nice "normal" lens on the D30, and is an interesting focal length for film and a future full-frame sensor, of course. (The focal length of 35mm is not terribly interesting, IMO, as far as film coverage goes). Is that what you'd do, or would you go for another one of my choices? If so, why?

Or would you go for something completely different, such as the EF 28-70 f/2.8 L?

Over to you... :D

[Pekka]

I have same questions in mind :)

Actually I have told my local photo shop that I'll buy the first secondhand 35 f/2 they'll get in - but I have also been noticing that 28mm would be very useful in many people candid situations and as general city walkabout lens - my 20mm is good indoors but outdoors the perspective effect is a bit too pronounced.

I think one day I'll have them both.

[Rudi]

Pekka wrote:
I have same questions in mind :)


Great minds think alike... :D

[oops]

I can see your delima! In answer to your curiosity about the 28-70L I recently purchased and took on vacation:

Lotta glass, lotta money, lotta potential in the right hands. This lens may prove to be the most challenging I have ever owned because now I have no excuse. When my images suck it is because I suck. End of story.

I looked through a long list of images taken with this lens trying to find a 28mm shot at a decent aperture and high shutter speed to rule out my intrinsic errors (hand held). The 28mm was chosen because this is your greatest need and on this lens it is the worst image. It only gets better from here, all things being equal.

http://www.pbase.com/image/4241353/original.jpg

File: CRW_2597.CRW
File size: 3,884KB
Image Serial Number: 125-2597
Camera Model: Canon EOS D30
Firmware: Firmware Version 1.02
Date/Time: 2002.08.15 11:25:22
Shutter speed: 1/400 sec
Aperture: 5.0
Exposure mode: Tv
Exposure compensation: +2/3
Flash: Off
Metering mode: Center-weighted average
Drive mode: Single frame shooting
ISO: 200
Lens: 28.0 to 70.0 mm
Focal length: 28.0 mm
AF mode: One-shot AF
Focus point: [Center]
Image size: 2160 x 1440
Image quality: Raw
White balance: Auto
Saturation: Normal
Sharpness: Normal
Contrast: Normal
Custom Functions:
CFn 1: Long exposure noise reduction: ON
CFn 4: Tv/Av and exposure level: 1/3 stop
CFn 6: Shutter speed in Av mode: 1/200 (with flash)
CFn 8: Shutter curtain sync: 2nd-curtain sync
CFn 11: Menu button return position: Previous
CFn 12: SET button function when shooting: Change ISO speed


I converted both .tiff and linear and combined using Fred Miranda's Highlight Recovery and sharpened. I was in a hurry (as usual) and forgot I was at 200 ISO and +2/3 exposure compensation with a bright lens. Oh well.

This image does not show you a lot so below is a link to the same image @ 6x9, 240dpi. It is over one meg in size, so go turn the shrimp and it will be ready when you get back.:) It has a lot of great lines and contrasts that may really help.

And, yes it has some lens flare and no, I didn't have the gaudy lens hood in place.8)

http://www.pbase.com/image/4241320/original.jpg

I really hope this helps and I'll work on some 40+mm shots later where this lens really excels.

Chris

[bnsfr]

Rudi, I just two weeks ago sold a 28-135 IS and debated fiercely with myself what to do next. I've recently ordered a 35/2 second hand -- deciding it was the best compromise between some kind of wide angle and a lens that would be useful for indoor portraits without flash. (Indoors, I've found the difference between 2.0 and 2.8 can be significant, if you don't want to go up to an 800 ISO and thereby create a fuzzier picture than one taken at 200 ISO or 400 ISO.)

I've read great reviews of the 24/2.8 and 28/2.8 Canons, as well as the 24/1.8 and 28/1.8 Sigmas. I'll probably go to one of these next -- and I am thinking it will be a 24 mm lens because the difference between 28 and 35 just doesn't seem to be enough to justify the additional expense.

As for 28-70 -- I can't afford the L. From what I've read, quality zooms have caught up significantly to primes, but not all the way. Some comment that with a digital camera, the problems zooms have around the edges are not as noticeable. Anyone else have thoughts on that digital-specific issue?

[Rudi]

Update - the 35mm f/2.0 is definitely still in the running!


I asked myself: "What are the advantages of a prime?"

1) smaller size and lighter

2) better optics (generally)

3) FASTER APERTURE!


So, if I am to live with the DISadvantages of a prime, then I might as well buy one that is MUCH faster than the competimg zooms. That means the 35mm f/2.0 or...

... the 28mm f/1.8 !!! :D

Why do I always end up considering the more expensive option ???

[Rudi]

Well, it is done!

I have gone out and bought... drumroll please....

the EF 28mm f/2.8!


Went out and tried it out in the shop, and although it hasn't got USM AF, I immediately fell in love with it! Focus is fast and accurate, and I think that my D30 is now broken, because this thing focuses in the dark! :D (Seems that way, anyway).

It's not as fast as the 70-200 f/2.8 L, but its close, and just as accurate! The focus just snaps in. Very nice...

I haven't been able to thoroughly check the image quality yet, but from reviewing the photos I have taken tonight, I don't think that I will be disappointed. :) (No glaring defects, anyway)

I like the perspective it gives on my D30 (equivalent to 45mm on film) and on film also. I like the way it makes me work harder to compose the shot, but at the same time frees me from having to make a decision about zooming and just how tight to crop... (I have always liked this about my 50mm standard lenses in my film days... there is a certain simplicity about zooming with your legs!). I like how small and light it is. I like the close focusing (another thing you don't realise you are missing with zooms, until you start using primes again...). And I like the fact that with my EF 20mm f/2.8 (which should arrive tomorrow) and my EF 50mm f/1.4 and my EF 70-200 f/2.8 L I now have a fast set of lenses all the way up to 200mm (not that the 300 f/4 L is *slow*...).

The 28-70 f/2.8 L was in the running for a while, but the cost and the short zoom range has turned me off it in the end. I have always loved my 50/1.4 and recently I have been noticing how "dark"and flat"" my 28-135 IS images look straight out of the camera, especially compared to the 50mm (the only other lens I had in that focal range), so the decision to buy two more primes was just a matter of time, I guess. :)

The EF 35mm f/2.0 lost out in the end, because I prefer to have the slightly wider perspective, rather than telephoto, when working around the "standard" 50mm. Mechanically, the 35mm should work similarly to the 28mm and, of course, you gain an extra stop! Nothing to sneeze at, if you can live with the 56mm equivalent (I prefer 45mm, that's all!).

So, it looks like my 28-135 IS might be out the door soon... :O

[Pekka]

Rudi wrote:
Well, it is done!

I have gone out and bought... drumroll please....

rattakarattakaratakataratakatarattakarattakarataka taratakata ratataratatarataratatarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr rrr!

the EF 28mm f/2.8!


Good choice! :)


I have always loved my 50/1.4 and recently I have been noticing how "dark"and flat"" my 28-135 IS images look straight out of the camera, especially compared to the 50mm (the only other lens I had in that focal range)

I've told that dozens of times about 28-135, and most people didn't get the point - the differences start to show when you have better lenses for comparison.

So, it looks like my 28-135 IS might be out the door soon... :O

Mine has already gone out ;)

[Rudi]

Yup! I've made a decision to stay with the simpler lenses, with the only exception being my 70-200 f/2.8 L!

So, my current line up is:

- EF 20mm f/2.8 (arrives tomorrow)
- EF 28mm f/2.8
- EF 50mm f/1.4
- EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L
- EF 300mm f/4 L (actively looking for a second-hand 300 f/2.8!)
- EF Extender 1.4x II


The following are now officially for sale:

- Tokina 19-35mm f/3.5-4.5 (nice lens, especially for the price, but I only ever used it at the wide end, where the 20/2.8 will do better)
- 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS (my first IS lens, but lately a bit of a disappointment...)
- Sigma 135-400mm f/4.5-5.6 APO (another nice lens, very sharp and contrasty, the AF is a bit slow, but I didn't like the way it handled in my hands).

[Rudi]

BTW, the thing that really brought out the 28-135 IS deficiencies was that I shot two assignments on Tuesday, both for new clients, and in BOTH instances I noticed a drop in image quality which I backtracked to the use of that lens.

This was especially noticeable in the second assignment, where I took some baby photos. Now, the light in the room didn't change (it only took me about 30 minutes to shoot the lot using available window light), but the change from the 50/1.4 to the 28-135 was HUGE when I was scrolling through the photos in BreezeBrowser after the shoot! I then went to the first shoot and noticed the same thing. :(

Oh well, I gave it nearly a full year! It's had a good run, but it's time it went! :D

It's not a BAD lens, I am just too much of a perfectionist! :)

[bnsfr]

Rudi, Pekka -- your comments on the 28-135 echo my own thoughts and are the reason I sold it. I found the photos often muddy, dark, harsh contrast, particularly in strong sunlight. When it worked, it took fairly clear (though not always crisp) photos with beautiful coloring, but it was very hit and miss. So I concur -- I don't think it deserves its popularity. That said, I've seen others' photos taken with it that are striking -- usually not in direct sunlight, though, which is where I had the most problems.

[Rudi]

bnsfr wrote:
Rudi, Pekka -- your comments on the 28-135 echo my own thoughts and are the reason I sold it.

So I concur -- I don't think it deserves its popularity. That said, I've seen others' photos taken with it that are striking

Don't get me wrong! I took some very nice photos with the 28-135 IS! But, as you say, it seems to be a bit of a "hit and miss" experience. Not too bad with digital, where you can check and re-shoot immediately, but with film??? Plus, who needs the extra work all the time? I'd like to feel confident that I'm capturing what I think I am. I don't need any surprises!

[Rudi]

Hi everyone,

well, after running too late to pick it up on Saturday afternoon (the shop closes at 2PM), I picked up my brand new 20mm f/2.8 plus lens hood yesterday.

Damn! What a nice lens! :D

I could get used to this "prime" feeling! After using my new 28mm f/2.8 for most of the weekend, and now this new toy for a few hours, I can see that this will be addictive!

I have taken my 28-135 IS out of the camera bag, so as not to divert my attention from my other lens choices in that focal range (20/2.8, 28/2.8, 50/1.4 and the short end of the 70-200 f/2.8L), and I don't miss it at all! I have also just sold my Tokina 19-35mm zoom, and while I will miss it a little (it did such a good job for so little money), I always used it on the wide end, so the 20mm prime will replace it rather nicely. Plus, I found it a good home, even if it is in the colder climates. :)

So, keep your eyes peeled for an update of my "Rudi's lenses tested" page in the next few days:

http://www.users.bigpond.com/ruda/demo/lenstest/lenstest.htm

I will also post some new shots in the "critique corner" forum as soon as I get the chance.

Anyone want to offer me any money for a mint 28-135 IS with all original documentation and packaging? (I have had an offer of $325 so far...)