Free 16-35L [Archive] - Canon Digital Photography Forums

drisley

3rd of June 2005 (Fri), 15:47

If you were offered a free 16-35L lens, would you take it?
Well, schmoelzel offered me his. But, there was a catch.
He sells very high quality teas, probably the best in North America.
So, he said if I want to buy 3 bags of tea for hundreds of dollars each, he would throw in the lens as a bonus ;)
How could I resist!?

After much fun with the local postal outfit, the box arrived today. This lens is BEAUTIFUL!!! The colour and contrast are to die for, just as schmoelzel mentioned in his first post. And even at F2.8 this lens is sharp! This is definately a very good copy of this lens. The lens itself is light and the PERFECT size. I'm SO happy!
There is no way I'm selling this lens any time soon. I'm glad schmoelzel isn't a wide angle shooter. :) And I'm glad Canon lost his 28-70 lens.

Thanks schmeolzel for dealing with the post office too. :)

Below is my first picture taken at 16mm, F2.8 .

http://images2.fotop.net/albums2/sharpnsmart/miscellaneous/16mm.jpg

jfrancho

3rd of June 2005 (Fri), 15:51

That's awesome!
I wonder if Starbucks would do the same for me? I just bought $200 worth of Komodo and Peaberry.

Andy_T

3rd of June 2005 (Fri), 15:52

Nice package :D

Enjoy your luxury tea :wink:

Best regards,
Andy

cdhender

3rd of June 2005 (Fri), 15:53

I'll take one too! Wow, he gave you that for $300? Something smells awfully fishy here :p

Have fun with your new toy. We want to see some pics!

jfrancho

3rd of June 2005 (Fri), 16:00

I'll take one too! Wow, he gave you that for $300? Something smells awfully fishy here :p

Have fun with your new toy. We want to see some pics!He said each bag was hundreds each.

drisley

3rd of June 2005 (Fri), 16:01

Hehe, cdhender. I said each bag was hundreds of dollars each. I didnt give the exact amount.
;)
But, I'm sure if you ever want some of this fine tea, you could probably get it for $10 or so :)
I guess he charged me so much because he doesnt like me :(

cdhender

3rd of June 2005 (Fri), 16:02

He said each bag was hundreds each.

I think someone is missing the joke :)

Hehe, cdhender. I said each bag was hundreds of dollars each. I didnt give the exact amount.
;)
But, I'm sure if you ever want some of this fine tea, you could probably get it for $10 or so :)
I guess he charged me so much because he doesnt like me :(

LOL.

drisley

3rd of June 2005 (Fri), 16:10

You know, it's funny. I haven't used a zoom lens in almost a year. It takes some getting used to. :)
Here is a 100% crop, taken wide open. I think this lens may be sharper than my 50/1.8II at F2.8. It definately has better colour and contrast, very much like the 28/1.8 I just sold.

http://images2.fotop.net/albums2/sharpnsmart/miscellaneous/16mm_crop.jpg

who me?

3rd of June 2005 (Fri), 16:14

Uh, oh......drisely has been corrupted by a ZOOM lens !!!!
WHAT is this world coming too !?!?!?!?

Congrats on the new toy.

blue_max

3rd of June 2005 (Fri), 16:17

That's surely "L" tea then.

I could probably run to a teabag or two if the freebee was up to it!

Graham

ddelallata

3rd of June 2005 (Fri), 16:18

I hope you enjoy the tea as much as I'm going to enjoy the almost $700 styrofoam popcorn that I'm getting on Monday. Read my sig to see what's coming to PaPa.

DocFrankenstein

3rd of June 2005 (Fri), 16:21

Tsk tsk tsk drisley...

There's only one kind of tea that sells that high.

But I can imagine the face of the customs officer. LOL

jfrancho

3rd of June 2005 (Fri), 16:26

I think someone is missing the joke :)

LOL.I got the joke. I didn't get your math.

drisley

3rd of June 2005 (Fri), 16:33

Uh, if any officials are reading this... it was only tea! HONEST! :)

GTogs

3rd of June 2005 (Fri), 17:19

Awesome! Enjoy the new toy and your L Teas!

drisley

3rd of June 2005 (Fri), 18:50

Thanks, I have tried some tea and it is awesome!
I also just took some pictures tonite I want to post later.

Dante King

3rd of June 2005 (Fri), 18:53

Reminds me of a seafood deal I made once, but included lots of ahi tuna and stoli vodka. Never mind... Wow Drisley, that looks wonderful! I just sold my 10-22 today and I have been eyeing this lens. Too bad the money is slated for a epson p2000. Well, for now I have to dream and wait. This will be the next lens I get.

schmoelzel

3rd of June 2005 (Fri), 21:04

Nice shot!! That Honeybush Orange sure does look sharp (and I bet it tastes good too!!) Glad you finally got the lens and I'm glad that it is capable hands! Yeah, the colours amazed me as well....

One of my last shots with this lens........last Sunday after the London Knights had won the Memorial Cup......

http://theteahaus.netfirms.com/DRebelPix/nfpicturepro/albums/userpics/10001/16-35f2.8%20L-35-F4.JPG

drisley

3rd of June 2005 (Fri), 21:18

Good Lord MAN! That is awesome!
I think having a 1.3x crop allows you to get more DOF blur. Are you sure that wasn't with the 300/4L? I tried some F2.8 shots at 35mm, and didnt get anywhere near that kind of blur.

I notice the guy in the pic is wearing "matcha green" :lol:
I was just out tonite shooting in aweful direct sunlight, but this lens still rocks.

I have so many mixed reviews of this lens, I often wonder if there is a quality control problem.
The reason I jumped at this offer is because I knew it was a good sample because schmoelzel gave it the thumbs up.

ron chappel

4th of June 2005 (Sat), 14:00

schmoelzel

4th of June 2005 (Sat), 14:31

Drisley........yep, it was the 16-35 at F4. I was REALLY close to the guy and asked him if I could take his picture. With the 300 F4 that background would be creamy smooth!!!

OMG......just realized that this is one of the first pictures that I have posted that is NOT of my daughter Julia!!!!!

As I said before, glad the lens has a good home with a good photographer.

drisley

5th of June 2005 (Sun), 00:42

Schmoelzel, yes that is the first non-Julia picture. But it is still a doozy!
Just goes to prove that it's not just Juilia that makes your pictures look so amazing (but she does help). That's seriously one of the sharpest, most colourful images I've ever seen.
I was out shooting today, and I took a shot RIGHT up close to someone, even closer than in your picture, at 35mm and F2.8, and I don't get anywhere NEAR that much blur. Even my 50mm lens at F1.8 doesn't give me that much blur. The difference has to be the crop factor. But I'm surprised that it would make that much difference going from 1.6 to 1.3.
But still this lens has exceeded all my expectations.

Edit: I just read your post again, and realized you said F4!!!! At F4 I would get very little blur at 35mm, no matter how close. However, when I do get really close, this lens is almost capable of macro shots (well not really, but the best of any lens I have). And the blur I do get is exceptional.

drisley

5th of June 2005 (Sun), 00:49

Nice buy!
Isn't it great being able to get a great copy of a lens first go?:)

Hey remember-at less than infinity distances DOF has only two influences- magnification and aperture.So the larger aperture of the 16-35 will give less DOF than a 300/4 when used at the same magnification (same cropping)
Ron, that is good information to know. Thanks.
I guess we can also incluse cropping factor, as schmoelzel is using a 1D (1.3x crop), and I use a 20D (1.6x). Yes, no?

schmoelzel

5th of June 2005 (Sun), 06:13

oops......now I feel really silly!! After Drisley mentioned that he couldn't get the the same backgrounf blur out of the lens, I had to go back and check my acrchives; lo and behold, I have linked the wrong shot!!! The linked shot was actually shot with the 70-200F2.8 at F4........here is the shot I thought I was posting........apologies to Drisley for making him crazy trying to get the same type of OOF background with the wide angle.......(but glad you liked the picture!!):lol:

http://theteahaus.netfirms.com/DRebelPix/nfpicturepro/albums/userpics/10001/16-35L-1D-F.jpg

Bruce Hamilton

5th of June 2005 (Sun), 09:03

So... Is the tea as awesome as the lens? :lol:

schmoelzel

5th of June 2005 (Sun), 09:36

So... Is the tea as awesome as the lens? :lol:

I would have to say a lot better than any lens could ever be!!!:D (I'm being paid by my wife to say that of course.......)

drisley

5th of June 2005 (Sun), 11:17

schmoelzel

5th of June 2005 (Sun), 13:59

Schmoelzel!!!!! I've been pulling my hair out trying to get buttery smooth backgrounds!!! *lol*
You're plan was to drive me insane, and then get me to sell the lens back for $100 or something. ;)
However, this last shot is just as amazing!!!! My god! I bow down to your photo skills!
Btw, are you sure your wife didn't take this last picture of you? ;)
This lens is a 10/10 in my books. I can't wait to post some pictures I took a little later.
Oh, I haven't had a chance to try this batch of tea, but I have had his tea before, and it is soooo goood!

Thanks!! And sorry for posting wrong picture.......as you can see, maybe there is a 70-200F2.8 in your future afterall!! Hope to see some pics of the Street Festival you were mentioning.........sometimes I wish I looked like that last guy in the shot (at least I feel like that often!!). Do not drink the Matcha before you want to go out and shoot anything that requires a steady hand!!

nat869

5th of June 2005 (Sun), 14:14

Wow, great lens, you are stoked!!! I have been thinking about that one for my next big purchase..........after the old bank acoount recovers, LOL.

schmoelzel

6th of June 2005 (Mon), 10:34

Wow, great lens, you are stoked!!! I have been thinking about that one for my next big purchase..........after the old bank acoount recovers, LOL.

No need for a bank account.....just send Canon Canada and old lens for repair, have them lose it, and they will happily replace with a brand new 16-35F2.8 L!!!:lol:

Works everytime.........

roanjohn

6th of June 2005 (Mon), 13:11

HAHAHHAHAHAHA!!! Too funny with the first photo!!!

Drisley - Congratulations on the new lens!!! Can't wait to see what amazing shots you will produce with this one...........and BTW, you won't have to zoom with your feet on this one ;-) OH.........and hope you enjoy your tea in the process.

Ro1

drisley

6th of June 2005 (Mon), 13:23

Thanks Nat, yes I am stoked!
I definately recommend this lens highly.
Roanjohn, thanks, and yes, it takes getting used to not zooming with my feet.
I actually dont usually mind zooming with my feet. However, the reason I chose a zoom for wide angles, is that for many items you just can't move yourself far enough back, so a zoom is a must have.

cc10d

6th of June 2005 (Mon), 13:47

Hey drisley,

Glad to see you are happy with this lens. I am confident that you will not tire of this lens. I would not give mine up for anything!! Some zooms rock, and this is one! Happy shooting.

PS: Hows the grip working now?

drisley

6th of June 2005 (Mon), 16:43

CC10d, the only reason I would possibly give this lens up is if I needed money badly, or if I decided I would never shoot this range. The latter is the reason that schmoelzel sold this lens.
As far as my grip goes... that is a good question. It's STILL at Canon service! *lol*
I've owned the grip for 2 1/2 months, and it (and it's replacement) have been at Canon for over 2 months. :(