What is your favorite lens? I'm interested in knowing.

[Benjamin]

As the title says, what is your favorite lens?


The answer doesn't have to be a lens you own or a lens branded Canon. But it will be better if you can share your opinion on why you like it.


To make a start. My all time favorite is the Canon 16-35/2.8L II. It's a high quality lens both in terms of its construction and the pictures it produces. It's a lens wide enough to contain the world around me and yet i can filter it with ease. There are just so many things you can do with it, and it is the lens on my camera most of the time.


Let me know what you've got.[:)]

[Garrett-Grimsley]

I love my 85 f/1.8, I've taken some amazing shots with it. I've used it from everything fromportraits to photographing animals in Zooexhibits. Examples;


http://sleekupload.com/uploads/5/img_0087edit.jpg


http://sleekupload.com/uploads/5/img_4330_1.jpg


Canon Rebel XT - Canon 85mm f/1.8 USM - @f/1.8





But I rented the 35L this past Thanksgiving, and I completely fell in love. It SO sharp wide open, even on my Rebel XT. Here's my two best shots with it I just posted in a another thread.


http://sleekupload.com/uploads/5/smll.jpghttp://sleekupload.com/uploads/5/smll2.jpg


Canon Rebel XT - Canon 35mm f/1.4L - @f/1.4 ISO100 - 1/500 - 1/800

[Sean Setters]

I'd have to say the 17-55mm f/2.8 IS. On my 50D, that lens could stay on my camera 90% of the time and I'd be doing just fine. It produces high quality images, has a wide f/2.8 maximum aperture coupled with image stabilization, and encompasses the most useful focal range for a crop body (for me, especially).

[musickna]

That's a difficult question to answer. Different needs argue for different lenses. Part of the challenge of owning a SLR is accumulating all the lenses you will need to cover these varying contingencies.


That said, I think my favorite lens is the Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5 L Tilt-Shift Lens ("http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-TS-E-24mm-f-3.5-L-Tilt-Shift-Lens-Review.aspx). This is the older version, not as optically fine as the brand new version (but, then again, neither was it as expensive). I bought it about a year and half ago, and have had a lot of fun with it both in terms of creating unusual landscape and portrait depths-of-field and for tweaking architectural photography to get more (or sometimes less) realistic perspectives. I'll probably upgrade to the newer lens at some point, but right now it suits me very well.

[Colin]

it varies.


I just had my 16-35 as my favorite, before that it was my 24-70, and before that my 180 macro..


I guess whatever's on the camera that I'm holding at the time :)

[neuroanatomist]

I guess whatever's on the camera that I'm holding at the time :)






+1 for that!

[Brendan7]

my personal favorites are:


ef 300mm f/4l is usm: light, cheaper, good image quality, can be used for macro.


ef 24-105mm f.4l usm: don't own it but have rented it several times. Always delivers [:D]

[Sinh Nhut Nguyen]

Of course, it's my EF 400mm f/5.6L USM.

[Keith B]

It's not what I use the most but I have to say my favorite is the 16-35 2.8 II.

[BCalkins]

I would have to say my favorite lens is the 24-105L. I use it all the time! It is well built, handles nicely and hits my usual focal length range. Plus, it focuses nice and close for closeup work.


Going outside Canon, my new favorite lens is the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 that comes with the GF1. Sharp and tiny!

[mattsartin]

the Canon 300mm f/2.8 IS, all complaints of weight and size are tossed away the first time you see the pictures it produces, fast, bright and sharp!

[weclickyoupick.com]

It's like picking your favorite movie....so hard (Saving Private Ryan BTW)


I'd almost have to do Zoom and Prime:


135mm f/2 L


24-70 f/2.8L


Whew...stressful....LOL


Jeff

[Dan Fleming]

currently my 150mm sigma macro

[jimgarvie]

As others have pointed out, the 85 f1.8 is a lovely lens that lets you do everything from great portraits to indoor action sports with equally superb results. It's my people portrait lens and my indoor dog show candid lens. It's the perfect focal length on a 1.6 crop body and it's obscenely sharp at any aperture less than wide open. And then there's that bokeh. Lovely, creamy and smooth. Oh, and it's affordable. One of the best "bang-for-the-buck" lenses out there together with the 50 f1.4 and the 200 f2.8L -- which I also have and love. Yup, for me it's the 85 f1.8.





Jim

[peety3]

Of what I own: 70-200/2.8IS - versatile, quick-focus, great images


Of what I can borrow locally: 85/1.2L - quite crisp look, solves low-light challenges so well


Of what I've used: 200/2IS - you think the 85/1.2 is sharp? This one taught me what my camera can do, let alone the lens' ability.


What might have a chance at the "of what I've used" list: TS-E 17/4 - I'm renting this right now, and I'm already really impressed.

[Manofmayo]

My favorite right now is the Canon 100 f2.8 macro (non-L).

[STL]

For me, it's a tie between 85 mm f/1.8 and the Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 (not the new version).


The wide angle perspective always manage to put a smile on my face when I use this lens. It's also perfect for fireworks events (you can see what I mean on the Pyrotechnie section ("http://www.logiquefloue.ca/pyrotechnie/) ("fireworks" in french) of my website).


STL

[Daniel Browning]

what is your favorite lens?


24mm f/1.4 II. On the 5D2 this focal length gives just the right angle of view for so many shots that I find it very versatile. I can get very close to the action, which allows me to have unusual perspectives, while still pulling in the surrounding environment for context. I can get a pretty thin DOF if needed, and even blur the background, which can result in unique shots if the background still contributes value to the photo when blurred. Great in low light. This baby is on my camera the most.

[Jeff Lucia]

24-70/2.8L is my pick. I agree with the folks who praise its sharpness and bokeh, and of course 2.8 is great to have, but what cinches it for me is something I never hear anyone talk about: Color. My 24-70 renders colors with striking accuracy and beauty, time after time. It also has something else I never hear anyone speak highly of: lens flare. Let the sun hit the front element and it creates beautiful results (not something you want to do for every shot, of course).


The 300/2.8L IS is also pretty darn nice, for all the usual reasons. (Notice I didn't say "my" there [;)])

[Keith B]

24-70/2.8L is my pick. I agree with the folks who praise its sharpness and bokeh, and of course 2.8 is great to have, but what cinches it for me is something I never hear anyone talk about: Color. My 24-70 renders colors with striking accuracy and beauty, time after time. It also has something else I never hear anyone speak highly of: lens flare. Let the sun hit the front element and it creates beautiful results (not something you want to do for every shot, of course).





I agree the 24-70 is a really great lens and it was tough for me to pick my fav between it and the 16-35. The colors are really great on this lens but I have to disagree about the flare. It is actually my one complaint./cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.25.81/_5F00_MG_5F00_1601sm.jpg


The oval shaped flare toward the top by the outermost lights really bug me. Maybe I'm being to critical. I don't know.

[Jeff Lucia]

Mm, Keith, I agree on the flare in that shot, although I haven't see that effect in anything I've shot. Let me see if I can find one that illustrates what I'm talking about...more of a dreamy, washed-out look that goes with hair blowing in the breeze in late afternoon. (Am I a little too much in love with this lens? Probably!)

[Keith B]

This is the only time I've had issues with it. I genuinely love this lens too. I don't often shoot stuff like this.


I can tell this is an issue of the light reflecting off the sensors, I'm sure this was a tough shot. I always mean to go back and shoot it with my 16-35 and see if the same thing happens.

[Jeff Lucia]

This sort of explains it....I think I added a little contrast back in on this one. There's little if any flare that looks like a rainbow, but I don't think it would be objectionable if that did happen here -- maybe because it's fairly obvious that we're looking toward the sun.


/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.22.74/20090331_2D00_3947.jpg

[Keith B]

Nice shot Jeff. Flare in that shot is nicely controlled. I can handle flare and sometimes approve of it. It is just weird in these shots.


Now that I'm looking at them and remembering how they were shot, I think it probably has to do with long exposures. I know the 5DmkII has issues with the mirror reflecting back on the sensor. It just never looked like this. So probably not the lens at all now that I have given some thought to it.


/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.25.81/_5F00_MG_5F00_1607sm.jpg


In this shot I remembered seeing the flare from the light in the view finder but not that oval to the right of the frame.

[Bombsight]

Canon 100-400 L


It does everything from making me invisable to the subjects scared of me .... totaking me to the moon.


Its stealth and it does all of the leg workfor me.


I'm from Texas and the only thing better is bigger.


I wish I could afford a 1Ds MKIII so I could use a 2x with auto focus.

[Keith B]

Canon 100-400 L


It does everything from making me invisable to the subjects scared of me .... totaking me to the moon.


Its stealth and it does all of the leg workfor me.


I'm from Texas and the only thing better is bigger.


I wish I could afford a 1Ds MKIII so I could use a 2x with auto focus.









Do you use the 1.4x with it? If so how is the focusing and performance? I love my 100-400. I use it on a 40D for surf pics and need some more reach. I' cropping away about 4-5MP of my 10MP image right now.

[Don Burkett]

I own most of the f/4 L series of lenses, plus the f/2.8 100mm macro.


My favorite is the one I need for the shot, they're all good.


But the one I gravitate to more than any of the others is the Sigma f/3.5 180mm macro.


It's the one lens I try to find an excuse to use.


http://www.pbase.com/dbrasco/image/120711394/original.jpg

[musickna]

It changes from day to day. It's usually the lens I last used for my last really good shot.[:D]


Right now, though, it's the 24-105mm f/4 L. Versatile and dependable.

[Bombsight]

I dont have either one, Keith


I shoot surfing also .... but cant justify buying a 1.4 or 2x because all of the sports I shoot are fast in nature.


If I understand correctly, the 1.4 & the 2x dont work in auto focus on my 5DMKII or my 7D.


The only use I can see right now for a manual focus multiplier is shooting the moon. I'm thinking rental next time Hale Bop comes around.[;)]

[Keith B]

Thanks Bomb


I have 5DmkII but I don't use that for surf shots due slow frame rate. The 40D's 6.5 fps is good but I'm seriously thinking about the 7D for 8fps and the crop ability of 18MPs. I'd love a 1D4 but I can't justify that.

[peety3]

Canon 100-400 L


I wish I could afford a 1Ds MKIII so I could use a 2x with auto focus.
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AFAIK, even a 1-series can't autofocus the 100-400 with a 2x. Natively the lens is f/4.5-5.6, so with a 1.4 it becomes f/6.3-8, and f/8 is the limit of AF on the 1D/1Ds. F/5.6 is the limit on all other bodies if I remember correctly.

[tancanon58]

100 2.8L IS. It is an excellent macro and portrait lens on 5D2.

[Jeff Lucia]

Thanks Bomb


I have 5DmkII but I don't use that for surf shots due slow frame rate. The 40D's 6.5 fps is good but I'm seriously thinking about the 7D for 8fps and the crop ability of 18MPs. I'd love a 1D4 but I can't justify that.






I hope nobody gets all technical on me, but I would think that the 7D's crop ability of 18MPs would give you similar reach to a 40D with a 1.4x teleconverter -- not to mention the vast difference you'd see in AF performance and image quality (both from better AF and sensor performance in the 7D and from not using a TC). Yes?


With respect to the OP's question, upgrading your body could very well give you a whole new set of reasons to support your choice of "favorite lens" -- or it could give you new-found appreciation for glass you don't use that much.

[Keith B]

I hope nobody gets all technical on me, but I would think that the 7D's crop ability of 18MPs would give you similar reach to a 40D with a 1.4x teleconverter -- not to mention the vast difference you'd see in AF performance and image quality (both from better AF and sensor performance in the 7D and from not using a TC). Yes?





Yeah that is why I was asking. I didn't realize the limitations of converters. 7D is the route I'll take.

[divine_evo]

My favorite lens is the 70-200 f/2.8 IS.

[Jon Ruyle]

My favorite lens is the 70-200 f/2.8 IS.



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Ditto. I still haven't decided if I should upgrade to the II. (Guess the decision will be easier when I know the price :) )

[Daniel Browning]

Ditto. I still haven't decided if I should upgrade to the II. (Guess the decision will be easier when I know the price :) )


Hopefully it wont be a matter of "if you have to ask how much it costs, you can't afford it." [:D]

[kitaoka]

My EF 70-200 f2.8 L IS is my workhorse.

[Fast Glass]

By far it would have to be my Minolta 600mm f/6.3 converted to Canon mount. Almost all my pictures on my acount are taken with that lens.


This was taken with it, the 600mm focal length gave me lots of working distance so he was very relaxed!


/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.28.86/_5F00_MG_5F00_8464.TIF-reduced.JPG


Enjoy,


John.

[BuddyO]

The Canon 24-105L on my XTi (sold), and now my new 50D. Awesome for outdoor vacation pics, people shots, landscapes (although not as wide on a 1.6x body). Also works well forindoor family pics. Very sharp.