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Canon's 24-35mm f/3.5-4.5 USM wide angle to telephoto zoom lens was introduced as the "kit" lens companion to the Canon EOS IX APS slr. Given the 16x24mm APS film frame,it functioned as a 35-105mm mild wide angle to portrait lens on that camera. However, unlike the current EF-S lenses,which fit Canons APS-C digital cameras only, Canon designed all their APS film lenses to work with their 24x36 full frame camera. Thus Canon eventually offered this lens in a black housing for the 35mm market. Its advantages are that its compact, and it covers a good, useful set of focal lengths, from true wide angle to a short portrait telephoto. It's disadvantages are that your filter size is 67 mm, there is no macro setting and, there is noticeable barrel distortion at 24mm, noticeable especially when you are taking a picture of a brick wall, a single tree, or anything that is vertical or horizontal. It has also been more expensive than it's better known relative, Canon's 28-105 USM which I consider the best lens of its kind other than a Canon "L" model lens. So, why by it? Well, I got a good price, and despite some six years with the original owner, this particular lens is still in good shape. Finally, there are the above listed advantages, plus the fact that it is the designated normal lens for my Canon EOS 7ne, the last film SLR I will ever buy. Besides, my photography has changed. Once I took pictures of people. Now, it's more often landscapes and architecture, things were a 24mm focal length is desirable. However, there is still that classic 85mm portrait focal length at the other end. With careful consideration, you can get some really good portraits with that one. So that's my reasons. My one bit of advice is that before you buy, take a look at it and see if it fits the bill. John Bateson -Canon owner since 1972Read full review
I bought this lens used and used it for about 2 months. I had a couple fall day trips planned and I wanted something to reach a little farther than my 70-200mm. I picked this lens because there are one or two other long zooms I plan to try and I feel this lens was the standard to compare them to in the Canon arena. I liked that the lens is fairly compact for a lens with 400mm reach. When at 100mm, its about the same length as my 70-200mm f2.8 IS. Its a bit heavier than the 70-200, but not very noticeably. It seems well made. The zoom action is push-pull like some of the old Canon fd lenses except you use a separate ring to focus. The focus is quite fast, I was able to keep track on some relatively slow birds as well as some football players in action. This lens can be hand held in decent light (sunny), since its relatively light and fairly short compared to other pro-level solutions. The zoom does not creep as long as you tighten the variable friction ring before you sling the camera. The lens isn't very fast aperture-wise, but its as good or better as any other zoom in its class. You have to spend a lot more money and move to a prime to get a large aperture in these focal lengths. The Image Stabilization works well, but I can't help think this lens should have been updated to the newer 4 stop system Canon is using now. I have heard that a new version is right around the corner (early 2010). While don't mind the push-pull zoom, it makes accuracy a little more difficult. I tended to over-zoom, then under-zoom before getting the composition right. Also I think this type of mechanism tends to move the lens barrel around more during action which can make it hard to keep the lens on target while tracking moving subjects. While I liked this lens a lot and may end up with another one in the end, I'm anxious to try out the Sigma 150-500mm OS lens first. One additional detail I will add is that I recently dropped my 70-200mm f2.8 IS lens and had to ship it to Canon for repairs. The cost was very reasonable for the work required and the lens literally works better than it did when I bought it (and it was new!). The turnaround time was fast. MY point? Canons repair service reputation is another good reason to consider a Canon lens over other manufacturers, especially for the L lenses. WadeRead full review
This lens has perfect image quality, seemless zoom and focusing controls, and the optimum telephoto range for outdoor and sports photography. Clarity is continuous from 100mm all the way to 400mm. With my old 100-300mm lense, I rarely shot over 250mm because I began to lose clarity. I compensated by cropping when I got home. With this lense, 95% of my wildlife photos don't need cropping (not to mention the improved color and clarity). It does work well with my 2x extender, but I find that I don't need it very often any more. I don't think you could find a better lense for photographing wildlife and sports. Drawbacks: 1. You pay for what you get. Even though clarity, focus, and zoom are the best available, I wouldn't say they are 10x better than an off-brand lense that you can get for 1/10th the price. 2. Weight. Did I mention wildlife photography? This lense rarely goes hiking. Though when it does, it is worth a few extra aches and pains in your shoulders, back, hips, thighs, quads, knees, calves, ankles, and feet. You WILL need to add the weight of a tripod to your pack as well. You won't be holding this lense up waiting for an animal to strike the perfect pose for long without some support.Read full review
My wife and I both have Canon Eos digital cameras. We have several nice long zoom lenses and a nice wide angle, but I felt we needed a high quality all purpose lens for our trip to Europe. I did lots of research and decided on the Canon EF 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 lens. I got the lens and my wife used it in Paris and Venice and I was blown away with the quality and versatility the lens provided her. She really never put any other lens on her camera. I was so impressed that as soon as we got home I got the same lens for my use. If you love to walk around taking photos and don't want to tote around extra lenses, this is the lens for you. The lens is famous for its smooth and quiet focus and great clarity. It is very close in quality to my Canon L series pro lenses at one third the price.
Although certainly not a lightweight, and not one I'd carry around on a daily basis in my camera bag, the Canon 100-400 zoom does exactly what it's supposed to do.....and it does it well. A very well built piece of equipment,and with a good solid feel. Some reviewers have been, shall we say, less than enchanted with the push-pull zooming function. I admit, that though my prefernce would have been the more conventional rotating barrel design, the push-pull {with a little practice} becomes second nature. Hand held zooming with the 100-400 is, at best, awkward.....but since it really is meant to be a tripod lens anyway, there is not a problem. My copy is amazingly sharp throughout the focal lengths, but does get ever-so-slightly softer at both ends of the f-stop range. The USM motor is fast and very quiet. A great complement to any serious amature's, or professional's arsenal.Read full review
I'm in a project of taking photos of birds in flight. I had success with a Sigma 150-500mm on my Canon 50D. The Canon 100-400mm focused fast and I got better light on my Canon 5D Mark II. The combination was a better match for better results. I bought the Canon 100-400mm because I was looking to get more light at a distance with less shadows. Birds in flight make that difficult but fun! I do get more light with the Canon, so I got what I was after. Both the Sigma and Canon lenses are heavy, bulky and on cameras with battery packs it's not something I'd reccommend you'd want to take along mountain climbing. As a matter of fact, I had to design and build a camera sling/bag that allows me to carry my two camera bodies, my two longest telephoto lenses and a Canon 28-300 lens, extra batteries, filters, a tripod and a monopod.All that, a 50mm and a 28-120mm, a 1.4 and 2X teleconverter lenses fit in my self-manufactured sling bag. I'm proud of that!Read full review
Before purchasing this lens, my longest lens was 70-200mm f/4L EF lens(non IS). Although it does the job, often I wish for little longer zoom when shooting wild life and nature shots. Initially thought about getting 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM lens, but there seems to be little problem with this lens that Canon hasn't addressed - some flare problem. Spent little more and got 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS. What an amzing lens it is. I initially thought it would be really heavy by its size, but surprisingly it was ok to me. Image quality? I think they are better and sharper than my 70-200mm and even my 24-70mm f/2.8L lens. Perhaps I got a real sharp copy. ^_^ The other reviewer didn't mention anything about IS. When shooting in this zoom range, you really need a tripod. Otherwise, your shot will be all blurry by hand shake. But with IS turned on, I was able to save 90% of the shots shooting at maximum 400mm @ 60~100 shutter speed. Normally you'd need 400+ shutter speed to get sharp images. Sure, you can get cheaper lens with this zoom range, but you won't get IS nor its known "L" quality sharpness and color rendering. Build quality is awesome and has push pull zoom instead of rotating zoom. Some people may prefer rotating zoom, and I had worried about it, but it's not much big of a deal. You just need to get used to it. If you were thinking of purchasing this lens, I highly recommend it!!! Happy Shooting~~Read full review
This lens is an absolute must have for any avid sports photographer or wildlife photographer. Smooth...not too loud when zooming in and out, which is great for wildlife shooting. Fast...a must when shooting sports. Example of capabilities: I can stand on one end of the football end-zone at the Tennessee Titans stadium and literally read the wording on the T-shirt of a fan sitting on the other end of the end-zone...it's that good. The glass gives sharp, clear images for daylight photos. Because of the f/4.5-5.6 I would not use it past early dusk hours...not reccommended for nightime or lowlight shooting. Overall: Totally satisfied and well worth the money. You can find these on eBay at great pricing.
I use this lens primarily for shooting swimmers at swim meets. The zoom range, rapid focusing, image stabilization and high quality optics are what sold me on this lens. I also plan on using the lens for nature photography. Although I shoot exclusively 35mm, this lens is just as effective on a digital Canon camera. My only complaint is the weight of the lens which is certainly understandable given its focal length, rugged construction and quantity of glass.
L series is living up to its reputation. Stunning. Have pushed this lense (1000 pics in a week) in all conditions but rain. Low light conditions need patience and an ability (willingness) to trust and play with the camera body (T1i). As an advanced AMATEUR, am VERY pleased with lense. Showed me flaws in my technique. More practice will fix that I hope. Take wildlife or motion pics most. Haven't had time to mess with still life yet. Busy paying it off workin. Wife indulged me and now she a bit jealous but knows what I'm doing ( it's 1st week). More to come as I have time to push this lense somemore. Going to shuttle launch 2/24/11. Yee Haw! (Wife goin' too)