28-135 mm Canon

What's going on with this lens? Everybody I talked to love the lens.
It cost around $ 500 has no wide angle to speak of and isn't very fast, f 4.
Unless the 52 diameter lens allows more light in Vs my 18-55 mm F 3.5.


Trek 9.8

There is more to a lens than speed, I imagine this lens will appeal to people that want more reach and aren't that concerned with the wide end. The kit lens is 1/2 a stop faster at the wide end but it is very quickly a full stop slower at f5.6.

Gerhard

Well, it shouldn't cost that much, i think they can be had for $389 or so. $500 is too much.

I find it to be a rather mediocre lens - not good, not bad and not great.

Softish, contrast could be better, color sat could be better, lots of CA around edges. build quality is not so great either. Overall, pretty mediocre.


J.

I found it to be a mediocre lens. I bought it a few days ago, put it through its paces and then brought it back. I didn't find it to be very sharp up to F8. We are talking about the IS USM right?

I bought this lens when I bought my camera. I love it. It is actually a f/3.5. I've used this lens to shoot sports, portraits and various others. I love it. You can't beat this lens for $389. Ok, sometimes it can focus a tad slow in low light, but I've still had good luck with it. This is my walk-around lens and am extremely happy with it.

I got this lens about 4 weeks ago and it has not left my camera as of yet ( Even over my 70-200mm) ... The IQ is fine, The IS is worth its weight in gold...

trek 9.8 wrote in post #3048068
Unless the 52 diameter lens allows more light in Vs my 18-55 mm F 3.5.

A wider filter diameter (which I believe is 58mm on the 28-135) does not necessarily translate to more light. For example, my 50mm 1.8 with 52mm filter diameter is several stops faster than this zoom.

As for your beef about lack of wide angle, this lens was originally designed to be used on film cameras, and not on digital crop cameras. When it debuted in the late '90s, it was considered the ultimate all-in-one consumer zoom, both for the available zoom range, IS (still novel then), and relatively good IQ. I had its predecessor lens, the 35-135, and enjoyed using it.

The digital crop equivalent with a range similar to the 28-135IS is the 17-85IS. It's not an L lens, but is a decent consumer zoom with the desirable IS.

I own the 24-70mm 2.8L and the 70-200mm 2.8L IS and find that the 28-135mm IS is also a fantastic lens...

It's a 72MM wide lens... The other "L's" I own are 77mm wide...

For low light photography, I presently use my 50mm 1.4 and 85mm 1.8... other wise, I find that the 28-135 IS is a great return for the money... the IS is great... the Macro capabilities are truly rewarding... The USM focuses quickly... Even the build is pretty good...

Maybe there is the occasional "bad" copy out there... If so, send it to Canon for calibration or return it for a different copy... for the small price, it's unbeatable...

I cut my teeth with the 28-135. I also happen to own the 70-200L F2.8 and use the 28-135 for 95% of my shooting. I find it a superb lens for the money.

I found it to be a decently good lens and what I used as my first walkaround. I replaced it about 5 months back with a 24-105L and I'm not looking back. Sharper, better color, contrast... but also over twice as expensive.

Once Igot it calibrated it stays on the camera at least 75% of the time. It's worked out great for me.

What does it mean to have a lens calibrated?
Whats the process involved?

It is a very versatile lens. It has a good range (although it lacks a bit on the wide side), it as a stabilizer and it is relatively cheap. What else can you ask ?

Sebastien

It was my third lens (behind the kits lens and bought at the same time as the 50 F1.8) and until I added the 85mm F1.8 and the 70-300 IS it was the lens I used most of the time.

Sharp from 6.3 with lovely colour and contrast for the budget, not to mention the IS and the relatively long reach I think it's a great walkabout lens for beginners thru advanced amateurs.

Sure it hasn't got amazing build or optical quality like the L's, but then it doesn't cost anywhere near the same!

BEEEsH wrote in post #3048960
What does it mean to have a lens calibrated?
Whats the process involved?

You send it in to Canon (preferably along with your camera) and they adjust both to make sure they are completely in spec against a "gold standard" test lens. Both have adjustments that can be made.

J.