Your thoughts on Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM please

SlowSteve

SlowSteve

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Hi all.

Had a play with the Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM in Jessops today. Seems a very nice lens as a general purpose walking around lens - which is something I am after at the moment - and the price isn't horrific either.

I have spent an hour or so reading reviews accross the next, and more than any other lens I have studied, it seems to get hugely mixed reviews - some praising it, and some cursing it.

I will only ever be using it for family shots, days out at the zoo etc. Largest print I will ever make from it is a 6" x 8", so ultra sharpness in the fine detail is not hugely significant ( although obviously it's nice to have )

Thanks in advance

Steve
 
Personally I would give that a miss and look for more modern 15-85mm IS if f/5.6 isn't too slow for you. 28-135 won't be wide enough when you need it, IS is very outdated, and the optics aren't so good anyway. For something longer look for 70-200mm f/4L.
 
I have this lens and it is on my camera all the time.
I bought it because it was cheap (bought mine second hand) with the view to upgrade when the time came. My next lens will be that upgrade.
It has served me well, if you you are new to photography and on a bit of a budget then it should be fine, for what you are wanting to shoot

spike
 
I had one and it was a cracking lens. Almost as sharp as my 100 macro and despite many people saying it's not wide enough for a walk around lens I used it as my walk around lens. Surely the focal length of a walk around lens depends on your shooting style. My walk around lens is now a 70-200.

This photo was taken on the lens on my 50D


Wolf pup 4 by Mike Jackson1, on Flickr
 
It lived in Canon's mid range area, in price, buiold quality and IQ, not a pro lens but not a kit lens, for most amateurs its a good lens at a good price and unless you are pixel peeping its fine. IS is a bonus at this length as tbh at the long end 135 a hand held shot at 1/150 would be fine. For what's its designed for (a walk about lens in daylight normal conditions) it will serve you well.
It lives on my 5D at present but I'd be happy for it live on a crop body too, at 28mm x 1.6 you're looking at about 50mm at its widest in effect which used to be the "standard" lens in film terms, dont think photography has changed that much.
Matt
 
Guessed I would get mixed responses!

Thanks for the replies so far.

Just to check - stuill a newbuie at buying lenses. I was using this with a 550d. It'll be fine with my 400d? Auto-focus etc?

the 70-200 was suggested - but a little wider at the narrow end. I am using a 50mm prime currently, so this - I think - lets me get a little wider to a fair bit closer. Or at least I think it does - but now MatBins comment has confused me a bit.

I tried a couple of 70-200mm's and a 70-300mm and they were a bit to heavy and a bit too awkard for generally toddling around after the kiddie with.

Also - realised that IS is an essential for a 300mm lens!
 
I have only had 550D a few weeks.
I looked at the 28-135, ended up getting the 18-135. Reasons - cheaper, newer/better IS, wider and read a few reports of dust getting in the 28 - 135.

28-135 is 44.8 on a crop body so slightly wider than your 50mm
 
nog said:
I have only had 550D a few weeks.
I looked at the 28-135, ended up getting the 18-135. Reasons - cheaper, newer/better IS, wider and read a few reports of dust getting in the 28 - 135.

28-135 is 44.8 on a crop body so slightly wider than your 50mm
Click to expand...

28 is quite a lot wider than 50. Both being used on a crop body, after all.

I went from the kit lens with my 300D to a 28-135 and the focus speed simply blew me away.
 
I had the 28-135mm on my 5D for a couple of years, used as a walkabout lens, it served me well and I got plenty of decent shots. Maybe I had a decent copy...
 
SlowSteve said:
Guessed I would get mixed responses!

Thanks for the replies so far.

Just to check - stuill a newbuie at buying lenses. I was using this with a 550d. It'll be fine with my 400d? Auto-focus etc?

the 70-200 was suggested - but a little wider at the narrow end. I am using a 50mm prime currently, so this - I think - lets me get a little wider to a fair bit closer. Or at least I think it does - but now MatBins comment has confused me a bit.

I tried a couple of 70-200mm's and a 70-300mm and they were a bit to heavy and a bit too awkard for generally toddling around after the kiddie with.

Also - realised that IS is an essential for a 300mm lens!
Click to expand...


Sorry!
If you are comparing similar lenses on one body then the focal lengths are all as described i.e a 28/135 will be wider than a 50mm (on the same body). My comments were meant that a 28mm lens will give the same angle of view as an old fashioned 50mm on Full Frame (or film body) which was the standard lens we all used years ago so perfectly adequate for most users.
Your current 50mm lens on a crop body gives the same angle of view as an 80mm on a Full Frame body.
So yes the 28/135 will be wider at 28mm setting and longer at 135 than the 50mm you have.
Tbh the 28/135 was primarily designed as a walkabout for a Full Frame camera but is still a good lens on a crop body, it has the advantage of being usable on any Canon body.
The EF-S lenses can only be used on crop body cameras i.e. not on 5 or 1 series cameras, probably wont worry you just yet if ever.
The 70/200 (f4 IS) is a brilliant lens - expensive and probably not appropriate for what you want, the 70/300 is ok but a little soft at the 300 end.
IS - usefull if you shake a bit, I do and I feel I need it, my wife doesnt so doesnt need it as she can hand hold slower thanI can, horses for courses.
Please dont be seduced by the latest/greatest/most expensive, there are some good lenses at reasonable prices.

Matt
 
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I use this, the other half uses a 24-105L. I much prefer this.
 
I have right now a 28-135mm lens used it as my walk around lens... and it did the job.. got a few great shots but a lots of times missed wider end, so basically what im trying to say - You need to try your self how it feels for you :)
 
I had this lens a couple of years ago, before i went nikon. I really loved this lens, it was ideal for portraits and family stuff. I sold it on to a friend and he uses it in the studio and loves it too. If its just a hobby its fine, some on here are pro's so will go for higher spec lenses. Could you try it on your body and see how you get on, or are you in a camera club, and someone may loan one to you to see how you like it. Its always mixed thoughts, best to try for yourself.
 
The 28-135 is a everyday great lens. I bought mine cheap, second-hand and it's used more than I thought I'd use it. Gets the thumbs-up from me.
:thumbs:
 
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