Need input on new lens

Hey guys,
I am about to buy a Canon 28-135mm IS lens tomorrow for $250 local. Do you guys think its worth it? Is this a good lens?

thanks!
Adam

It is a mid-grade consumer lens that was originally conceived as a wide to moderate telephoto walkabout lens on a FF film camera.

Canon started kitting this lens with the 40D for a while, which always seemed strange to me (it is a really wierd focal length range on 1.6X bodies for most people) and this led to a glut of the lenses appearing on the used market.

That price seems reasonable. What body do you have, what other lenses do you have and what do you want to use this lens for?

If you have a crop camera and you're more interested in the long end of things, I would take that $250 and buy a 55-250 IS. Better IQ, better IS by several generations, and more reach for the same price.

JeffreyG wrote in post #6306431
It is a mid-grade consumer lens that was originally conceived as a wide to moderate telephoto walkabout lens on a FF film camera.

Canon started kitting this lens with the 40D for a while, which always seemed strange to me (it is a really wierd focal length range on 1.6X bodies for most people) and this led to a glut of the lenses appearing on the used market.

That price seems reasonable. What body do you have, what other lenses do you have and what do you want to use this lens for?

I currently have a Rebel XT with kit lens. i just sold my 70-300mm lens. So thats all i have for now. I am wanting it for the IS part and the extra zoom. Nothing outragous tho. The 70-300mm wasn't really useful for what i need. that is why i sold it.

Have you looked at the new version of your kit lens, the 18-55 IS? It's a MASSIVE improvement and you can get it on US1Camera.com for $119 right now.

cptrios wrote in post #6306531
Have you looked at the new version of your kit lens, the 18-55 IS? It's a MASSIVE improvement and you can get it on US1Camera.com for $119 right now.

Where are you seeing them at? What do i look under?

Is this one worth getting over the 28-135mm?

thanks!

http://cameras.pricegr​abber.com …4819345/search=​18-55%20is

The 28-135 has better build quality and better (faster/quieter) AF, but the 18-55 IS has better IQ (especially at the wide end) and better IS. And for me personally, the lengths between 18 and 28 are a lot more important than between 55-135. But that part is obviously up to you!

whoami? wrote in post #6306483
I currently have a Rebel XT with kit lens. i just sold my 70-300mm lens. So thats all i have for now. I am wanting it for the IS part and the extra zoom. Nothing outragous tho. The 70-300mm wasn't really useful for what i need. that is why i sold it.

OK. From a strictly traditional POV, your 18-55 lens covers a wide to short telephoto zoom range. This is a very common lens type for most people, and I urge you to keep it for the versatility.

The 28-135 on a film camera (or FF digital) is a lot like your 18-55 - wide to short telephoto. On your 1.6X body though it is a normal to medium telephoto. In fact, the 28-135 on a 1.6X behaves a lot like a 70-200 does on FF.

The reason I think that people find the 28-135 to be a little bit of an odd duck on 1.6X though is that it is too slow to fill the same role that the 70-200 does on FF - namely indoor sports and portraits.

But don't let me ramble, if the range is what you want the 28-135 is otherwise a decent if not stellar lens.

JeffreyG wrote in post #6306665
OK. From a strictly traditional POV, your 18-55 lens covers a wide to short telephoto zoom range. This is a very common lens type for most people, and I urge you to keep it for the versatility.

The 28-135 on a film camera (or FF digital) is a lot like your 18-55 - wide to short telephoto. On your 1.6X body though it is a normal to medium telephoto. In fact, the 28-135 on a 1.6X behaves a lot like a 70-200 does on FF.

The reason I think that people find the 28-135 to be a little bit of an odd duck on 1.6X though is that it is too slow to fill the same role that the 70-200 does on FF - namely indoor sports and portraits.

But don't let me ramble, if the range is what you want the 28-135 is otherwise a decent if not stellar lens.

Jeff, i probably won't be doing a lot of zoom shots, more close up to mid range shots. Maybe some scenery too. But other than that, thats about it. Do you think i should go with the 18-55mm IS instead like cptrios was saying?
thanks!
Adam

It's a good deal but, if it's range you're looking for, I'd get a 55-250. If you want to upgrade your kit lens than I'd go for something else as well. I'd only go for it if you find you're never really using the wide portion of your kit lens but that's just me.

It depends on you. I personally would find 28-XXX mm lenses to not be wide enough on a 1.6X body for generalist use, especially landscapes and indoors.

Early zoom lenses on film were 35-XX range, which is already significantly wider than the 45mm equivalent range the 28-135 starts with. As the technology progressed standard zooms dropped to 28mm and then 24mm.

The 28-135 gives you an effective (FF) 45mm - 216mm (which is why I think it analogous to using a 70-200 on FF). This is thus a lens that lacks a wide angle range, and so most people will want to team it up with something wider like the 18-55 or the 10-22.

I might just grab the 18-55mm IS for right now and go with a 55-250mm IS later on. Don't think ill ever need anything else.

cptrios wrote in post #6306604
http://cameras.pricegr​abber.com …4819345/search=​18-55%20is

The 28-135 has better build quality and better (faster/quieter) AF, but the 18-55 IS has better IQ (especially at the wide end) and better IS. And for me personally, the lengths between 18 and 28 are a lot more important than between 55-135. But that part is obviously up to you!

cptrios, i just ordered that 18-55mm IS lens off there. Thanks for showing me that! i think i'll look for a 55-250mm IS next week sometime

No problem. Bookmark Pricegrabber; it's an excellent source for finding photo stuff, because (as far as I've been able to tell so far) it only searches reputable sites. And when in doubt, check the site's rating on http://www.resellerati​ngs.com

You're not going to be disappointed in that lens!

Thanks again! Im sure its going to be a great lens! I'm looking forward to getting it in. Once i start playing with it, i'll have to let you know how i like it. I'll definitely bookmark pricegrabber. I use that sometimes for computer stuff. Half the time when im looking at lenses, im not sure what is a good price or not. i've been looking at bhphoto.com to compare some.