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

[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.[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.25.81/_5F00_MG_5F00_1601sm.jpg[/img]


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.


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

[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.


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


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.

[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.[]