Are "L" lenses worth the $$$$?

[timmciglobal]

Is it worth it?

Well,

It's sorta the posche vs ford argument. It's not that a ford can't do the job but in every way the porsche is better.

The 24-104 F4L is a fantastic lens. Focuses VERY rapdily and the shots are very nice with excelent bokeh) and is my most expensive L to date. My next purchase will most likly be a 70-200 2.8 L IS.

Tim

[jamison55]

Just wondering, do you still have the peleng - and if so, do you like it? I'm really thinking about getting one.

Thanks

Yep, and yep. Very fun lens!

[jamison55]

Is it worth it?

Well,

It's sorta the posche vs ford argument. It's not that a ford can't do the job but in every way the porsche is better.

The 24-104 F4L is a fantastic lens. Focuses VERY rapdily and the shots are very nice with excelent bokeh) and is my most expensive L to date. My next purchase will most likly be a 70-200 2.8 L IS.

Tim

Enough talking abut it Tim...post some pics, man. I'm dyin to see that lens in action! It tempts me...

My 70-200 IS is in town, but UPS won't deliver it until Tuesday

[Rhys]

I'm glad I re-read your article, Jamison. I was toying with the idea of changing some lenses myself. I had idly thought about an IS lens or a fast lens. I had in mind replacing my 70-300 Tamron with a 70-200 Sigma f2.8. Now I'm not so sure. I'm looking at the 70-200L with interest as it's $1200 at B&H.

I'm also toying with the idea of getting another tripod. I've had poor experiences so far with tripods though, having been through 3. I had a cobra CT-30 with a flexible plastic head. I binned the head and used the tripod with a Manfrotto 3d super junior head. That was pretty much OK except the legs vibrated in a breeze. Then I tried a Benbo Mk II. That was better but had the same kind of problem. At the moment I have a cheapo Target tripod. The head's not too bad but the legs still vibrate a little. Looks like I need something that won't vibrate as much. Maybe I'd better get a wooden tripod.

As I see it, the vibration is caused by the materiaL'S inability to cope with high frequency harmonics such as wind. The legs don't flex but while they're rigid against low-frequency vibration, they still vibrate.

[Mr. Peabody]

Enough talking abut it Tim...post some pics, man. I'm dyin to see that lens in action! It tempts me...

My 70-200 IS is in town, but UPS won't deliver it until Tuesday

I've had my 70-200 f/2.8L IS for about 2 weeks now.

I've used it at 4 Indoor basketball games, an outdoor hunting/birthday party, and a couple of indoor school activities.

I'm not too happy with my COPY.

I read all over the Fred Miranda sight about people bragging about how "tack" sharp there lense is even at f/2.8. Of course I've read a couple of instances where people said they got a soft copy.

I think I'm one of those Soft Copy folks. My 70-200 is not tack sharp. It has a soft focus. The colors and saturation are excellent but the sharpness is not there. My 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lense took much sharper pics than my new 70-200.

I'm going to send it back to B&H Photo tomorrow and request another copy of the lens.

Btw, UPS is delivering my 24-70mm f/2.8L USM lens tomorrow afternoon. Can't wait.

[cwphoto]

I've had my 70-200 f/2.8L IS for about 2 weeks now.

I've used it a 4 Indoor basketball games, an outdoor hunting/birthday party, and a couple of indoor school activities.

I'm not too happy with my COPY.

I read all over the Fred Miranda sight about people bragging about how "tack" sharp there lense is even at f/2.8.

Mine is not. The colors and saturation are excellent but the sharpness is not there. My 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lense took much sharper pics than my new 70-200.

I'm going to send it back to B&H Photo tomorrow and request another copy of the lens.

Btw, UPS is delivering my 24-70mm f/2.8L USM lens tomorrow afternoon. Can't wait.

Something's definitely wrong. The 70-200 is arguably Canon's sharpest zoom.

[jamison55]

I've had my 70-200 f/2.8L IS for about 2 weeks now.

I've used it at 4 Indoor basketball games, an outdoor hunting/birthday party, and a couple of indoor school activities.

I'm not too happy with my COPY.

...I think I'm one of those Soft Copy folks...

Before you write it off as a soft copy, check your shutter speeds in the EXIF. Sounds like you were using the lens at a lot of low light activities where there was a lot of movement. Could it be a little motion blur?

PS - Mine's on the UPS truck for delivery today! I'll post some comparison shots against my 28-70L@70 and my 135L@135.

[ReF]

Before you write it off as a soft copy, check your shutter speeds in the EXIF. Sounds like you were using the lens at a lot of low light activities where there was a lot of movement. Could it be a little motion blur?

PS - Mine's on the UPS truck for delivery today! I'll post some comparison shots against my 28-70L@70 and my 135L@135.

70-200 vs 135 - that'll be interesting.

damn jamie, 135 f2 L, 35 f1.4 L, 70-200 IS - you trying to make all of our dslr set-ups look inadequate? your kit almost seems like it NEEDS a 1 series body now.

hmmm, seems like i'm the only one here without a 28-70L or 24-70L. guess i'll be needing one of those when full frame hits the lower cost market.

[D70FAN]

Probably one of the best sources I have found for info on Canon lenses (and some 3rd party lenses) is photozone. They seem to do a fairly thorough analysis and have most of the Canon lenses covered.

EF 70-200 L:

http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/len...0_28/index.htm

EF 24-105 L:

http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/len...4_is/index.htm

[aparmley]

. . .
PS - Mine's on the UPS truck for delivery today! I'll post some comparison shots against my 28-70L@70 and my 135L@135.

Ya. we're still waiting. LOL Are you? Those UPS guys know when you want something real bad and wait until 5pm to deliver it. . .