I wasnt sure if this would be the right place to post this, but I didnt see any other threads where people have posted reviews of the lenses they use.
I just got a new lens, the higly coveted
Canon 16-35 f/2.8 and thought I'd post up my thoughts on it.....OMG!!! This baby is the cat's meow!
Steve (XJBanker, Dont read this...LOL) Steve was one of the reasons I bought this lens. I used to have a Sigma 17-35, but it wouldnt work with my Canon 5D full frame body because that lens was made for the cropped sensor bodies.
I loved the wideness of the Sigma on our 30D, but couldnt see keeping it around when I almost use the 5D exclusively, so I started looking for an equivilent that would work. I figured if Steve bought mine, which he did, thank you sir, I could sell off some other gear that I'm not using all that much, and I have another photographer lined up who is going to rent the 16-35 for a week from me for a shoot, I could justify the high price of this lens.
It's way more than I wanted to spend on a brand new one, which would have set me back over $1600. I found one at Sportshooter.com for $1200 that was brand new. Lady said she had put a few hundred clicks through it on a shoot she did, but it was too wide for her liking.
Just got it a few days ago and this thing is amazing.
The focus is lightining fast and totally, 100% silent. I honestly looked away from the eye piece and watched to see if anything was moving when it focused because it does it so fast, it almost makes you think it's just always in focus.
I love, love, love the fact that it internally zooms and there is nothing that moves when you go from 16mm out to 35mm, this is one of my only complaints of the Sigma lenses, which we have a few of and really like them.
The internal zoom will help since we seem to always be shooting in the desert, on the water or other places that dirt, salt and crud can get into the inner workings of the lens.
The lens is a bit hefty, but I personally like the feel of the heavier lenses as they offset the weight of the camera and tend to even the entire package out more.
Plus, it's a fixed f/2.8, which means great low light shooting capabilities.
My only gripe with this lens is the front filter ring being a whopping 82mm. I've been trying to get to the point that all of my lenses have the same filter diameter so I dont have to have a bunch of different filters floating around in the bag. All of Canon's other L Glass lenses use the 72mm filter size, so I've got a pretty good collection of those sized filters. Oh well, only gripe I think of so far.
I'll be heading out later this week to do a few shoots with this thing and cant wait to see the results. On the 5D, it's amazing how wide you can go!! Almost like a fisheye without the distortion!
If anyone is thinking of buying this lens. I'd highly recommend it! Cant wait to use it on the upcoming U.P. Overland trip in August :victory:
). I also have few other starter lenses I use w/my backup D70, but the kit lens covers those (and takes better photos).