BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: To Be Categorized

untitled

The EF 28-70 f2.8L USM OR
The EF 28-135 IS USM AND

The EF 70-200 F4L USM OR
The EF 75-300 F4-5.6 IS USM

Any advice you can give to help me make up my mind would be greatly appreciated.

To love this question, log in above
March 26, 2001

I've owned a couple of the lenses that you mentioned - I'll give my comments on it

1) Th 28-135 IS USM lens is pretty versatile. It's a good travel lens because of the zoom ratio, and the IS helps in low light. Note that just because it lowers the "effective" aperture 2 stops, does not make it anywhere near as good as a genuine f/2.8 lens.

When IS kicks in, the photos are usually clear, but sharpness falls somewhat. You probably wouldn't want to enlarge a photo taken using IS.

2) The 75-300 IS is a similar lens. I've found at this length IS starts becoming less useful. At 300mm f/5.6, it's hard to handhold the lens in anything short of broad daylight, even with the IS. If you're expecting to shoot under anything but perfect conditions, a monopod is highly recommended.

I've also got the 70-200 f/2.8L the big (and I mean 5 pounds big!) brother of the other lens you mentioned. I swear by this lens. Sharp, contrasty and fast focusing (not to mention bright) it's the best lens I've used. However, you're short 100mm lens...

My recommendation is this:

If you are shooting in good conditions, and need large photos to be produced, go the 28-70 f/2.8L + 70-200 F/4L. On the other hand, if you need a very versatile set of lenses where capturing the subject and feel quickly is more important than quality of enlargements, then your money would be better spent on the 28-135 and the 75-300.

Hope this has helped.

To love this comment, log in above
March 26, 2001

If I can pick your brain once more, we are planning on doing a fair bit of travelling - mostly bus tours. If you were to take one zoom lens with you, which one be would it be? Would mostly be used for landscapes, street scenes and inside churches.

Thanks again, Ken.

To love this comment, log in above
March 28, 2001

In that case, I feel that the 28-70 f/2.8 with light monopod would be ideal. The reason?

1) Landscapes and street scenes rarely use anything longer than about 50mm so the zoom ratio is fine.

2) The f/2.8 would be good indoors in Churches where flashes are not permitted or not practical. The monopod will also help you hold the camera still for those longer exposures.

3) With a closest focusing distance of 50cm, it's not what I would call a macro lens, but you can get reasonably close to small objects (Artefacts etc, inside churches)

4) It's pretty compact. A monopod can fold up to a pretty small stick too.

Have fun with your trip!

To love this comment, log in above
March 29, 2001