EF 35-80mm F/4-5.6 I/II/III/USM

[fatdeeman]

These lenses seem to have a terrible reputation and if you search the net it's not hard to find such descriptions as "worst lens in world" and "only good as a dust cap"

I was looking for this lens a while ago for dirt cheap to convert into a macro lens with the old frontal element trick, I bid low on two separate lenses on ebay and ended up winning both.

I was pleasantly surprised by the performance of the lens, I was expecting poor results with bad colour and contrast and a lack of sharpness but this was not what I saw when I loaded up the raw files. Admittedly capture one tends to be one of the sharper raw converters but even so I found the images were very much of a usable quality with plenty of colour and punch. Even wide open the sharpness is acceptable at both ends of the zoom range.


A little bit of curves and levels in Photoshop and the images were easily keepers. Maybe my 8MP sensor puts a relatively low demand on the lens but it just seemed to perform a lot better than all the reviews led me to expect.
Obviously it's not perfect and the build quality is low (although it brings the benefit of light weight) but for the price it's a bargain, the only real downside I found was that the autofocus was not outstanding and it was wise to recompose each shot a few times to make sure the lens got it right one of the times, maybe this is why the lens gets a reputation for softness?

You can click on these to go the the flick page and view full size versions:

80mm F/5.6 (wide open):
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4392499428_b355a28cb7_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fatdeeman/4392499428/)

35mm F/5 (half a stop from wide open):
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2729/4392496534_e37295ba5e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fatdeeman/4392496534/)

80mm F/5.6 (wide open):
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4056/4392319016_2795f114d0_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fatdeeman/4392319016/)

35MM F/5.6:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4391546593_6876dc9d7f_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fatdeeman/4391546593/)

[deathcake]

Not bad at all. I've been looking at ebay listings as well and thinking about getting one of these for cheap to play with. The images certainly seem sharp enough.

[Brikwall]

I got one of those lenses with my original Rebel film camera back in 1991. Shooting film, the only thing I didn't like about it was that it was too long on the wide end. I didn't have any other issues with it that I can think of, and I don't recall sharpness being an issue at that time. Of course, I didn't print anything larger than an 8x10 and slides looked fine when viewed in an average-sized living room.

That being said, I wasn't happy with it after I switched to digital (which came after a hiatus from photography of several years). I may have used it once or twice on a D-SLR, but that was it. I'm not sure if the digital camera simply magnified its flaws, or if I had become much more discriminating. Probably a combination of both.

But it's like many other things in photography - we tend to dismiss some things too readily when a little patience, and a lot of understanding of the inherent flaws, would make a world of difference. I was aware of the flaws but just didn't have the patience to deal with them. It looks like you do, and are doing fine at making a silk purse out of one of Canon's sow's ears.

[CheshireCat]

This has been my only lens for a few years on my EOS [Analog] Rebel XS.
I have the III version and I swear it is the crappiest lens I've ever used on a SLR.

Back then, it was my first reflex camera and the film was almost always B/W, so I didn't notice or didn't care much.
But looking at all the shots I made with that lens, I can now see how bad it was and I wish I had known better !

Shooting digital you may mitigate in PP the lack of microcontrast, the dull colors, the huge CA... but even so I think the results are poor and the time better spent otherwise.

My copy R.I.P. with the Rebel XS :)

[Persephone]

Outdoors and stopped down a bit it has been my impression (from reading these boards at least) that most lenses will produce decent photos.

[ernieboikastoinko]

Here's my 35-80 contribution. f/11 @ 74mm + 5D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/vvg2002/HBWL-5-800.jpg

[LiberationFrequency]

Bumping this up!

Modded for macro:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_ou1QozlPvcc/TI6od1kxZoI/AAAAAAAAACA/r9rZwVQjnxE/s720/Edge.jpg

[fatdeeman]

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4121/4899683088_eed25228b5_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fatdeeman/4899683088/)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4077/4899682634_5a28185f71_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fatdeeman/4899682634/)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4898017903_aa3e8fe2e2_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fatdeeman/4898017903/)

[ernieboikastoinko]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/vvg2002/wog-12.jpg

[Austin.Manny]

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5203/5352874727_372a084b48.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/clearpointphotography/5352874727/)
Ashley Malia-1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/clearpointphotography/5352874727/) by ARM Photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/clearpointphotography/), on Flickr

[fatdeeman]

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5222/5604017555_b224f30a10_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fatdeeman/5604017555/)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4111/5604016801_ba1f0fd6b3_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fatdeeman/5604016801/)

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5227/5604600850_3ce2086c23_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fatdeeman/5604600850/)

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5067/5604015143_f9f153abdd_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fatdeeman/5604015143/)

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5066/5604014549_b0251b83ab_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fatdeeman/5604014549/)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4105/5604013851_4fcb51e63a_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fatdeeman/5604013851/)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4101/5604597818_9ee82399a1_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fatdeeman/5604597818/)

[fatdeeman]

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5230/5639875757_0aa84996f7_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fatdeeman/5639875757/)


http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5103/5639875313_4d51140aa0_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fatdeeman/5639875313/)



http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5268/5639874137_6297ee9472_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fatdeeman/5639874137/)


http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5109/5640447264_bac4923388_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fatdeeman/5640447264/)


http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5108/5639873403_f2e4fb3c7e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fatdeeman/5639873403/)


http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5148/5639873035_ede7c870bf_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fatdeeman/5639873035/)


http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5309/5640446062_008f61bd9d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fatdeeman/5640446062/)

[fatdeeman]

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5146/5639874895_ddb4c31283_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fatdeeman/5639874895/)


http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5183/5640447974_56ef5c89f3_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fatdeeman/5640447974/)

[TS656577]

This is more of my every day lens. I use it for shooting projects I'm doing such as car work, detailing etc. I know it's not the best lens in the world and I have other lenses I like much more, but for the price, it's not THAT bad. Here are just a few shots

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3245/4564385219_7d478c50a7_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3571/4564385241_f5f53d33bd.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4011/4564378983_3ef809bffd_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4565010126_09c346fff0_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/4566689599_251c306b55.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4566689519_2187899853.jpg

[llazlok]

I used my 35-80mm (from my old RebelG film camera) on my wife's 40D while waiting for some new lenses to ship. It worked pretty well.
http://michaelamyphotography.smugmug.com/Other/Summer-Wheatly/i-62nxB4C/0/XL/IMG2341-2-XL.jpg
http://michaelamyphotography.smugmug.com/Other/Summer-Wheatly/i-C4pBrqz/0/XL/IMG2350-XL.jpg
http://michaelamyphotography.smugmug.com/Other/Summer-Wheatly/i-2JNhDm4/0/X2/IMG2380-X2.jpg

[maverick75]

This is currently the only lens I have on my 10D, getting a nifty fifty in a few days.
Then upgrading to a T2i.

It's a very difficult lens to work with even compared to a cheap $100 kit lens,
but it's teaching me to learn more.

Here are some of my best(I've only had my SLR for about a month now,
before this I had pure point and shoots)

35mm F4,1 second, ISO 100
http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/2883/newport122.jpg

61mm F5, 1/125, ISO 400
http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/6070/toyota11rz.jpg

35mm F4, 1/30, ISO 400
http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/1103/scion1rz.jpg



I actually like the bokeh, when you get decent lighting it comes out beautifully.

35mm F4, 1/30, ISO 200
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/7941/20120626crw4615.jpg

35mm F4, 1/30, ISO 100
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/5167/20120626crw4575.jpg

[maverick75]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8230/8516517091_d1720b67bd_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexcorona/8516517091/)
Cosina STL 1000 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexcorona/8516517091/) by AlexxxCorona (http://www.flickr.com/people/alexcorona/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8147/7584133704_65222cb065_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexcorona/7584133704/)
Street Bows (http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexcorona/7584133704/) by AlexxxCorona (http://www.flickr.com/people/alexcorona/), on Flickr

[samsen]

Getting better.

[maverick75]

Getting better.

I'd say! The first post I had no idea what I was doing, I was only 4 weeks in... now I have a couple of months under my belt :D

[jonrmoore]

I pulled this lens out of my closet to give it a whirl and forgot how incredibly loud it is. Not sure if it's a malfunction or not, but I'll get some shots with it on my 6D.

[maverick75]

I pulled this lens out of my closet to give it a whirl and forgot how incredibly loud it is. Not sure if it's a malfunction or not, but I'll get some shots with it on my 6D.

Mine sounds the same as the 18-55, not quiet but not obnoxiously loud either. I have the non USM one.

If they made a new version with a fixed 2.8 I'd be set for a long time! :D

Still use it every now and again:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8512/8573005953_4edaf94e1d_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexcorona/8573005953/)
Hamburger (http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexcorona/8573005953/) by AlexxxCorona (http://www.flickr.com/people/alexcorona/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8380/8597007542_d70a1e1a7e_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexcorona/8597007542/)
Pizza Fries (http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexcorona/8597007542/) by AlexxxCorona (http://www.flickr.com/people/alexcorona/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8105/8597864113_6fe3950bc7_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexcorona/8597864113/)
Auto-Promura C.P. Hi-Lux 28mm 2.8 Macro (http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexcorona/8597864113/) by AlexxxCorona (http://www.flickr.com/people/alexcorona/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8365/8572876627_7d489fc699_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexcorona/8572876627/)
The Doors (http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexcorona/8572876627/) by AlexxxCorona (http://www.flickr.com/people/alexcorona/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8119/8619642447_3f542a467e_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexcorona/8619642447/)
Petri Compact E (http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexcorona/8619642447/) by AlexxxCorona (http://www.flickr.com/people/alexcorona/), on Flickr