Canon Lens Reviews | Photocrati

Canon 28mm f/2.8 EF Review Round-Up

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Get information and user reviews for this lens at Amazon: Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

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The Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 may not be the most attractive lens on the market but it is still interesting nonetheless. It is very affordable in combination with a pretty impressive optical performance (except CAs) and quite decent mechanics. However, it faces pretty stiff competition from the Sigma AF 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM which is a little better in the center but worse at the borders. The Canon is much cheaper though. READ FULL REVIEW

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Canon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II EF-S Review Round-Up

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Get information and user reviews for this lens from Amazon: Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II Lens for EOS Digital SLR Rebel XT, XTI, 20D & 30D Digital Cameras

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In lens land there’s no such thing as a free lunch and the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II is an example for that. Under controlled conditions (stopping down two stops at 18mm) the lens can provide very decent results – certainly more than enough for casual users who are the target group anyway. However, technically the resolution is mediocre all-in-all and at 18mm @ f/3.5 it’s downright poor. Distortions and vignetting are very high at the wide-end but no big issue at the tele end. The construction quality is soso at best. In its price range there’re few alternatives in Canon EOS mount and they probably aren’t better either. However, serious users looking for a good quality lens should save a little longer and look elsewhere. READ FULL REVIEW

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Canon 20mm f/2.8 USM EF Review Round-Up

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Get information and user reviews for this lens at Amazon: Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 USM Wide Angle Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

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Since the release of the EOS system we have seen several updates to Canon ultra-wide zoom lenses but they didn’t really care about their fix-focals in this range ever since their initial release back in the early 90s. The Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 USM feels a little dated by now – less so regarding its mechanical qualities but optically it isn’t really something special anymore. Most good quality zooms can match its quality by now. The fix focal lens can still convince regarding distortions and CAs. Resolution-wise it is still a good to very good lens for sure – just not more than that. Vignetting is a little on the high side at f/2.8 which is a little disappointing for a full format lens tested on an APS-C DSLR. So unless you require an affordable, large aperture lens in this range there’re few reasons left to favor this lens over e.g. the Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 USM L. READ FULL REVIEW

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Canon 35mm f/1.4 USM L EF Review Round-Up

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Get information and user reviews for this lens from Amazon: Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM Wide Angle Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

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The Canon EF 35mm f/1.4 USM L is highly regarded in the Canon community and it also shows in the lab. The resolution figures are exceptional and among the best tested so far. Typical for ultra-large aperture lenses vignetting is a little on the high side at wide-open aperture even on an APS-C DSLR but the issue remains correctable via imaging tools and stopping helps to resolves the issue if needed. CAs are a little on the high side unfortunately. Apart from the sheer lab related figures it’s simply pure fun to use the lens and the large aperture option is an inspiration for creative photography. The build quality is typical for a Canon L grade lens – simply superb. The EF 35mm f/1.4 USM L is not exactly a cheap lens but nonetheless – highly recommended. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE READ FULL REVIEW

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Canon 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM EF Review Round-Up

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Get information and user reviews for this lens from Amazon: Canon EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

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In terms of optical performance the Canon EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM is about in line with other consumer grade tele zoom lenses. The resolution figures are excellent and 100mm but unsurprisingly tMORE’s a penalty at longer focal length specifically at 300mm @ f/5.6. At 200mm and more so at 300mm you should stop down a little to lift the resolution and contrast level. Distortions and vignetting are usually nothing to worry about whereas CAs are a significant although largely correctable weakness at 200mm and 300mm. On the positive side the tested sample showed a very good center (lens alignment) which is quite rare for a lens in this class. The mechanical quality is a step up from the typical kit zoom – this is most obvious in the IF (internal focusing) design and the very fast ring-type USM drive. Unless you can afford the (substantially better) EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 USM IS the EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM is a remains good choice in the sub-300â‚¬/US$ tele zoom lens league. Just don’t expect any wonders at longer focal lengths. READ FULL REVIEW

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Canon 180mm f/3.5 L USM macro EF Review Round-Up

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Get information and user reviews for this lens from Amazon: Canon EF 180mm f3.5L Macro USM AutoFocus Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

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The Canon EF 180mm f/3.5 USM L macro is an interesting lens with a very good optical performance and exceptional mechanical qualities. Nonetheless the lens wasn’t really able to fulfill the high expectations associated with a Canon L grade lens – there’re even some zoom lenses performing better in terms of resolution. Beyond the resolution aspect the lens showed pretty perfect performance figures – minimal vignetting, next to non-existent distortions and marginal chromatic aberration. The bokeh, the quality of the out-of-focus blur is relatively decent although not stellar. The AF performance of the lens is a bit of a mixed bag. If the in-focus point is in a relatively close proximity to the current setting the AF is fast. However, if the camera has no guidance where to go the AF is extremely slow. That said AF speed isn’t really relevant for pure macro photography where you tend to use manual focusing anyway. Macro photographers will certainly appreciate the “true” IF design (constant physical length) as well as the increased working distance compared to the EF 100mm f/2.8 USM macro. If macro capabilities aren’t on your wish list you may prefer to look elsewhere though. READ FULL REVIEW

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Canon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS EF-S Review Round-Up

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Get information and user reviews for this lens from Amazon: Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS SLR Lens

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There were a few moments when I considered not to publish the results due to “political correctness” because to date it was a quite absurd thought that such a cheap, or better “affordable”, lens can perform this good and I’m sure that some will not believe the findings even though they’re supported by the published field images. Anyway, the resolution capabilities of the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS is nothing short of amazing. Its resolution characteristic is similar to the (much higher priced) EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 USM IS at comparable aperture settings, quite a bit better than the EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 USM IS and naturally vastly improved over its non-IS predecessor! The Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS is certainly a value king, priced below 200â‚¬/US$, which is a good match for the resolution potential of the current generation of Canon’s APS-C DSLRs. READ FULL REVIEW

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Canon 24mm f/2.8 EF Review Round-Up

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Get information and user reviews for this lens at Amazon: Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 Wide Angle Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

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At the optimal focus distances the EF 24mm f/2.8 is an excellent performer capable to deliver images as sharp as it gets on an 8MP APS-C DSLR. For most situations this is generally true but residual spherical aberration can be a problem at close-focus distances (as explained in the MTF chapter above). Other than that vignetting is a little on the high side at f/2.8 but no issue beyond and the slight barrel distortions are usually very acceptable as well. The construction quality is decent though not stellar. So at the end of the day it remains an excellent lens … with a little bug. READ FULL REVIEW

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Canon 100-300mm f/5.6 L EF Review Round-Up

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The Canon EF 100-300mm f/5.6 L can still convince optically with very high resoltion figures, low distortions and quite low vignetting (on APS-C). However, mechanically the lens is totally outdated and clearly substandard compared to current Canon L lenses. In fact most of today’s consumer zooms are better in this respect. If you cannot afford the new EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 USM IS the ancient EF 100-300mm f/5.6 L remains still worth a serious thought regarding its much lower price tag on the used market and it still puts most other xx-300mm zoom lenses to shame specifically regarding contrast. READ FULL REVIEW

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Canon 135mm f/2.8 SF EF Review Round-Up

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Get information and user reviews for this lens from Amazon: Canon EF 135mm f/2.8 with Softfocus Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

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The Canon EF 135mm f/2.8 SF may be old but it was still able to delivery very good performance figures in all aspects. Nonetheless there ´re many lenses including zooms which are capable to deliver similar and even better. So at the end of the day the only real differentiator is the soft-focus feature. On paper it may be worth a thought (if this is your thing) but if you ´re into digital photography you should be able to achieve a similar effect using Photoshop. A real plus is the very affordable price though. READ FULL REVIEW

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