Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Cameras, Lenses and Shooting gear => Topic started by: Hening Bettermann on October 24, 2008, 03:43:49 pm

Title: Lens recommendation for Canon 5D2?
Post by: Hening Bettermann on October 24, 2008, 03:43:49 pm
I exspect to buy the 5D2 as soon as it becomes available, but am still in doubt about the lens. I am looking for good performance and light weight, don't need IS, no large aperture nor top performance at full aperture, on the contrary, I would prefer the best performance at the smallest possible aperture (I'm shooting landscape exclusively).

The Canon 28-135 has just the right zoom range, weighs less and has 1/2 the price of the 24-105. It is supported by DxO (for the 5D1). Dare I buy it, based on the exspectation that DxO will turn a maybe mediocre lens into a good one? Even Zeiss follows the line of combining compromises in lens design with software corrections...

I am also scared of Canons quality control, there have been so many reports of inconsistent quality of the 24-105 (and other lenses). My dealer claims that this problem was limited to the first specimen (of the 24-105) and is now solved, but I don't believe him.

The Leica Vario Elmarit 28-90 is toooo expensive...

Thanks for your comments.

Title: Lens recommendation for Canon 5D2?
Post by: Anthony R on October 24, 2008, 04:33:56 pm
You want to spend nearly $3,000 on a body and dumb it down with sub-par lenses? Glass is the most important thing as bodies are disposable. Save and look to buy used or buy a lesser high end body.
Title: Lens recommendation for Canon 5D2?
Post by: DarkPenguin on October 24, 2008, 04:37:22 pm
If you really want to save money try something like that tamron 28-75 f2.8.  Sharp, light and cheap.  I don't know that spending $3k on a camera and $300 on a lens is a great plan, however.
Title: Lens recommendation for Canon 5D2?
Post by: spotmeter on October 24, 2008, 09:09:46 pm
Quote from: Hening
I exspect to buy the 5D2 as soon as it becomes available, but am still in doubt about the lens. I am looking for good performance and light weight, don't need IS, no large aperture nor top performance at full aperture, on the contrary, I would prefer the best performance at the smallest possible aperture (I'm shooting landscape exclusively).

The Canon 28-135 has just the right zoom range, weighs less and has 1/2 the price of the 24-105. It is supported by DxO (for the 5D1). Dare I buy it, based on the exspectation that DxO will turn a maybe mediocre lens into a good one? Even Zeiss follows the line of combining compromises in lens design with software corrections...

I am also scared of Canons quality control, there have been so many reports of inconsistent quality of the 24-105 (and other lenses). My dealer claims that this problem was limited to the first specimen (of the 24-105) and is now solved, but I don't believe him.

The Leica Vario Elmarit 28-90 is toooo expensive...

Thanks for your comments.

If you shoot landscapes, you are much better off with prime lenses. You'll get better resolution and sharper corners.

If money is a problem, you can buy Zeiss Contax lenses on ebay for very little money. You will need an adapter for the Canon--I recommend Cameraquest or Fotodiox Pro. Avoid Chinese adapters--they are cheap in quality and price.

One step up from the Zeiss Contax are the new Zeiss lenses, now made with Canon mounts. I have the 24mm, 28mm, 35mm and 50mm macro--all extremely sharp.

Above 50mm, you can go with Canon. Their 85mm 1.8 is very sharp, as are the 135mm f2 and 200mm 2.8.

Everyone who has gone to a 21 megapixel sensor has said the first thing they notice are problems in their lenses, problems they did not see with fewer pixels.
Title: Lens recommendation for Canon 5D2?
Post by: stevesanacore on October 25, 2008, 09:36:56 am
Quote from: Hening
I exspect to buy the 5D2 as soon as it becomes available, but am still in doubt about the lens. I am looking for good performance and light weight, don't need IS, no large aperture nor top performance at full aperture, on the contrary, I would prefer the best performance at the smallest possible aperture (I'm shooting landscape exclusively).

The Canon 28-135 has just the right zoom range, weighs less and has 1/2 the price of the 24-105. It is supported by DxO (for the 5D1). Dare I buy it, based on the exspectation that DxO will turn a maybe mediocre lens into a good one? Even Zeiss follows the line of combining compromises in lens design with software corrections...

I am also scared of Canons quality control, there have been so many reports of inconsistent quality of the 24-105 (and other lenses). My dealer claims that this problem was limited to the first specimen (of the 24-105) and is now solved, but I don't believe him.

The Leica Vario Elmarit 28-90 is toooo expensive...

Thanks for your comments.


Your best bet would probably be the Zeiss Primes or used Leica R lenses. I think landscapes are usually the most demanding subjects unless you keep your print sizes down to under 13x19.  For most commercial work the Canon optics are fine. I don't think any of the lower cost zoom lenses will hold up under big enlargements. The new 16-35II is better than any previous zoom from Canon but still not as good as German primes.



Title: Lens recommendation for Canon 5D2?
Post by: Hening Bettermann on October 25, 2008, 07:46:25 pm
Thank you for your advice. So I think I'll go for Leica R or Contax primes.

Good light! - Hening.
Title: Lens recommendation for Canon 5D2?
Post by: eleanorbrown on October 25, 2008, 08:17:14 pm
Canon 35mm 1.4L is a knock out lens...absolutely awesome, color, resolution and bokeh, (should you decide to shoot with wide apertures.    With any lens don't forget to check auto focusing accuracy using live view and make appropriate adjustments if needed with the back focusing adjustment .....Can make a good lens much better. eleanor

Quote from: Hening
Thank you for your advice. So I think I'll go for Leica R or Contax primes.

Good light! - Hening.
Title: Lens recommendation for Canon 5D2?
Post by: The View on October 25, 2008, 09:59:39 pm
I'd not put a third party lens on it, except a Zeiss or other high end lenses, if you really want it, and don't mind about manual focus.

The 24-105 is probably the best first lens choice for the 5D.

Don't indulge in internet horror stories about quality control. To me it sounds like an excuse to buy an awful lens (the L lenses might not be that good, so I can go with a cheapie as well and save money in the process).

Don't save money.

Get good gear.

Downgrade to a 50D if you can't afford good lenses on the 5D.
Title: Lens recommendation for Canon 5D2?
Post by: smthopr on October 25, 2008, 10:57:32 pm
Quote from: Hening
I exspect to buy the 5D2 as soon as it becomes available, but am still in doubt about the lens. I am looking for good performance and light weight, don't need IS, no large aperture nor top performance at full aperture, on the contrary, I would prefer the best performance at the smallest possible aperture (I'm shooting landscape exclusively).

The Canon 28-135 has just the right zoom range, weighs less and has 1/2 the price of the 24-105. It is supported by DxO (for the 5D1). Dare I buy it, based on the exspectation that DxO will turn a maybe mediocre lens into a good one? Even Zeiss follows the line of combining compromises in lens design with software corrections...

I am also scared of Canons quality control, there have been so many reports of inconsistent quality of the 24-105 (and other lenses). My dealer claims that this problem was limited to the first specimen (of the 24-105) and is now solved, but I don't believe him.

The Leica Vario Elmarit 28-90 is toooo expensive...

Thanks for your comments.

If you're willing to go with prime lenses...I bought the 24 f2.8, 35 f2.0, 50f1.4, and 100f2.0.  Each performs extremely well at f5.6-f11 on my 5d. I'm pretty sure that the 5d sensor is limiting the resolution these lenses are capable of.

I made this choice because I like small, lightweight lenses and also need to shoot with wide apertures for non-landscape work.  The cost of this set is only a little bit higher than the 24-105 L lens, and I believe performs better overall.  The 24mm is the weakest of the bunch, but I'm often surprised by how good it looks at wide apertures when focused on the important part of the image.  At smaller apertures, it is an excellent lens though.

An additional bonus is that the fast lenses on my 5d allow shooting handheld in some pretty low light. And a 5dII would allow shooting very high quality images in very very low light with these lenses.  I've found that I've used the camera to make some photographs that I would never have attempted without the fast lenses such as handheld nightscapes and nighttime street photography.  They've really expanded my shooting by allowing hand held low light stuff and I would think that the 5dII will expand dramatically these possibilities. Lastly, the auto focus is really handy for hand held photography, and you'll loose that with the ziess lenses. The auto focus is much more accurate than I can focus quickly by eye in low light.

Enjoy your new camera when it arrives!
-bruce

Title: Lens recommendation for Canon 5D2?
Post by: Hening Bettermann on October 26, 2008, 02:19:21 pm
Thanks again for your comments. - The problem has found an unexspected solution: a good friend of mine has an impressive line-up of Zeiss primes for the Contax, from 28 to 300 mm! And I can borrow them for use on a long term basis - the only camera he cares to use now is the one in his cell phone. Now the only thing I lack is a horse to carry all these lenses... Lucky me! :-)

Good light! - Hening.
Title: Lens recommendation for Canon 5D2?
Post by: mike.online on October 26, 2008, 07:19:11 pm
Getting back to the EF 28-135, has anyone looked at what happens when this lens is paired with a high resolution cameras (the 1DsMkII)? I have a 28-135, will I need to upgrade to the 24-105?
Title: Lens recommendation for Canon 5D2?
Post by: marcmccalmont on October 26, 2008, 08:10:51 pm
You might reconsider the Canon 24-105 4.0 IS
At the package price it would be hard to beat  
DxO raw convertor makes it even better
A few Jpegs as examples (5D+24-105)
Marc
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Title: Lens recommendation for Canon 5D2?
Post by: Paul Williamson on October 26, 2008, 10:33:17 pm
Quote from: mike.online
Getting back to the EF 28-135, has anyone looked at what happens when this lens is paired with a high resolution cameras (the 1DsMkII)? I have a 28-135, will I need to upgrade to the 24-105?

Yes, if you're really picky and you make big prints. I've found the 28-135 just a little disappointing on the 1Ds and 1Ds Mark II.

Upgrade all the way to the 24-70 if you're super picky and don't mind a heavy lens.
Title: Lens recommendation for Canon 5D2?
Post by: mike.online on October 27, 2008, 08:35:08 am
Quote from: Paul Williamson
Yes, if you're really picky and you make big prints. I've found the 28-135 just a little disappointing on the 1Ds and 1Ds Mark II.

Upgrade all the way to the 24-70 if you're super picky and don't mind a heavy lens.


Thanks! I think I'll try it out, but more than likely i'll be getting the 24-105. If you have some examples of CA from the 28-135, I'd love to see them
Title: Lens recommendation for Canon 5D2?
Post by: bill t. on October 27, 2008, 12:35:11 pm
You should take a look at the 5D2 sample images on dpreview.com.

Download the full size images, there are examples of various lenses at various focal lengths.  What's clear is that you need a super-primo lens to keep the full potential of sensor out towards the edges.  In almost every case the edges are deteriorated enough to show up as such on say a 16 x 24 inch print.  Even my homely 12MP DX2 can tell the difference between a really good prime and a really good zoom.
Title: Lens recommendation for Canon 5D2?
Post by: Plekto on October 27, 2008, 05:48:18 pm
Quote from: marcmccalmont
You might reconsider the Canon 24-105 4.0 IS
At the package price it would be hard to beat...

I'd honestly take a Digital Rebel with this lens over a $3000 body and a cheap piece of glass.

As has been said before - bodies are expendable.  And you can always bracket, stitch, or whatever to get larger resolutions and better ISO.  But cheap glass is exactly that...  cheap.
Title: Lens recommendation for Canon 5D2?
Post by: Geoff Wittig on October 27, 2008, 06:00:22 pm
Quote from: mike.online
Getting back to the EF 28-135, has anyone looked at what happens when this lens is paired with a high resolution cameras (the 1DsMkII)? I have a 28-135, will I need to upgrade to the 24-105?

On the full frame D-SLR's, the 28-135 mm lens shows its age. Corners go soft at almost any aperture, especially toward the wider end, and center sharpness is just adequate at the long end. The 24-105 L is much, much better at the wide end, and still quite good at the long end; its Achilles heel is vignetting at anything wider than f:10 or so, which becomes a real problem if you include the sky and plan on stitching. If stitching is in your gameplan, the 24-70 is much better in this regard, worth the inconvenience of having to swap lenses to go longer.
Title: Lens recommendation for Canon 5D2?
Post by: feppe on October 27, 2008, 06:57:20 pm
Quote from: Geoff Wittig
On the full frame D-SLR's, the 28-135 mm lens shows its age. Corners go soft at almost any aperture, especially toward the wider end, and center sharpness is just adequate at the long end. The 24-105 L is much, much better at the wide end, and still quite good at the long end; its Achilles heel is vignetting at anything wider than f:10 or so, which becomes a real problem if you include the sky and plan on stitching. If stitching is in your gameplan, the 24-70 is much better in this regard, worth the inconvenience of having to swap lenses to go longer.

Vignetting is not an issue with the latest stitching software. Even then, since you'll be stitching images shot with similar settings, you can just fix the vignetting in LR and copy it across the set.
Title: Lens recommendation for Canon 5D2?
Post by: jani on October 29, 2008, 08:13:05 pm
Quote from: mike.online
Thanks! I think I'll try it out, but more than likely i'll be getting the 24-105. If you have some examples of CA from the 28-135, I'd love to see them
Here's a shot that shows typical CA for this lens:

(http://folk.uio.no/jani/hobbies/photo/test/thumbs/ca-example.jpg)

Lamp detail (http://folk.uio.no/jani/hobbies/photo/test/crops/ca-example-crop1.jpg) -
Tree detail (http://folk.uio.no/jani/hobbies/photo/test/crops/ca-example-crop2.jpg)

Technical info:

Canon 20D, 28-135mm @28mm, f/11, 1/320s at ISO 100

The aberrations are correctable. Keep in mind that the 20D has a smaller sensor than the 5D MkII, and a slightly smaller sensor pixel size, so the aberrations may seem smaller with the 5D MkII, but the sharpness near the picture edges would probably be worse.

I no longer own this lens, I upgraded to a 24-70 f/2.8L and a 70-200 f/2.8L IS instead, and I haven't regretted it (though my bank account has...).

If I'd been starting out fresh, the 24-105 f/4L IS would be on the short list.
Title: Lens recommendation for Canon 5D2?
Post by: ZoltanZZZ on November 06, 2008, 07:36:31 pm
There is a rumor the 24-105 shipped with the 5dMkII will be an upgraded version of the lens.  It won’t be a MkII but it will be improved, it one of those improvements Canon makes from time to time without any fanfare.