Andy
Oct-01-2005, 07:42 PM
lots of folks asking about this lens. here are some early comments:
build - it feels like an L - solid, great feel
weight - it's a tad heavier than 28-135i.s. - feels good on 5d, 20d, 1Ds Mark II
zooming - it's not a push/pull but it does extend when it zooms. it does not rotate when zoomed, grad filters and c-pls will be fine.
24-105 focal range is convenient for most "everyday" applications. i used it on the soccer pitch, and for a portrait shoot.
usm is nice and quiet
the i.s. works as advertised. depending on how steady you are, you'll get at least two stops of help, and i've gotten as many as four stops worth of handholdability out of it.
some think that f/4 is limiting - not for everday stuff - remember the i.s. will buy you a lot of light :D and if it's creamy-dreamy bokeh you're looking for, then this isn't your lens anyhow. the bokeh is pleasant.
color is nice - saturation, contrast are L-like
sharpness - i've done no tests other than standard shooting but i find it to be sharp when properly focused and exposed. the sweet spot for this glass is probably just inside of wide open and fully zoomed i.e. ~30-90mm. this does not mean that you can't / won't get sharp shots at 24mm or 105mm, i'm just reminding folks that, as with all zooms, there are compromises.
ca - the lens performed for me very well in extreme, backlit high contrast situations - zero ca in fact. there was some color fringing in tree leaves distant, against a blue sky. this is easily corrected in ps - and can be further mitigated at shoot by stopping down more (i was not tripodded).
i think this lens is a keeper. it's the only zoom i own presently, and i'll hang onto it for a while i think. i suspect it'll be very useful in travel situations, where packing one lens instead of three is important.
hope this helps. i'll try to put up some example pics in this thread tomorrow. all of the 5D shots i've posted have been with this lens.
build - it feels like an L - solid, great feel
weight - it's a tad heavier than 28-135i.s. - feels good on 5d, 20d, 1Ds Mark II
zooming - it's not a push/pull but it does extend when it zooms. it does not rotate when zoomed, grad filters and c-pls will be fine.
24-105 focal range is convenient for most "everyday" applications. i used it on the soccer pitch, and for a portrait shoot.
usm is nice and quiet
the i.s. works as advertised. depending on how steady you are, you'll get at least two stops of help, and i've gotten as many as four stops worth of handholdability out of it.
some think that f/4 is limiting - not for everday stuff - remember the i.s. will buy you a lot of light :D and if it's creamy-dreamy bokeh you're looking for, then this isn't your lens anyhow. the bokeh is pleasant.
color is nice - saturation, contrast are L-like
sharpness - i've done no tests other than standard shooting but i find it to be sharp when properly focused and exposed. the sweet spot for this glass is probably just inside of wide open and fully zoomed i.e. ~30-90mm. this does not mean that you can't / won't get sharp shots at 24mm or 105mm, i'm just reminding folks that, as with all zooms, there are compromises.
ca - the lens performed for me very well in extreme, backlit high contrast situations - zero ca in fact. there was some color fringing in tree leaves distant, against a blue sky. this is easily corrected in ps - and can be further mitigated at shoot by stopping down more (i was not tripodded).
i think this lens is a keeper. it's the only zoom i own presently, and i'll hang onto it for a while i think. i suspect it'll be very useful in travel situations, where packing one lens instead of three is important.
hope this helps. i'll try to put up some example pics in this thread tomorrow. all of the 5D shots i've posted have been with this lens.