Reviewed by Ben Lee, http://dslrlensesonline.com editor.

Buy the Canon EF 28-135mm from Amazon and receive FREE shipping.

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Today I want to review the Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras. Go into just about any photography forum and you will always come across questions along the lines of what is the best general purpose DLSR  lens, or what is the best beginner DSLR camera under $500?

While I believe there is no best lens per se, there are a couple of lenses that tick most of the boxes in each of the beginner, intermediate and professional categories. The Canon 28 135mm IS has two things that photographers love but rarely see together – decent quality at an affordable price.

Of course, many of this lenses benefits can be gleaned from looking at the product name. A highly workable zoom range of 28-135mm and image stabilization technology are the obvious points here. Simply put, you can cover more photographic situations with more assurance.

What you might not have known about this lens is that it is relatively lightweight and small for a lens which spans over 100mm. This is due largely to the plastic construction, but this does not take anything away from the good things about the 28-135mm IS.

So, who is this lens best suited to? It is probably best suited to photographers who are entering the world of DSLR photography for the first time and want a great lens that will ease them into the transition from point and shoot or film SLR photography.

Reasonably priced at just over $400 US, this lens is obviously not comparable to say the Canon 24-105mm L IS, the fact is they are worlds apart in price, image quality and the caliber of photographers who use then. I would say this lens is ideal for photographers who are trying to develop their style, but aren’t sure what direction they are heading in just yet. The large focal range gives you the best of wide angle and telephoto – the latter is amplified on a 1.6x FOVCF body where the reach extends to 216mm.

At a glance..

• Close focusing distance of 20 inches; 75- to 18-degree diagonal angle of view
• Measures 3.1 inches in diameter and 3.8 inches long; weighs 18.9 ounces; 1-year warranty

• Minimum Focal Range: 1.6 feet
• Maximum Aperture Range: F/3.5-5.6
• Camera Magnify Power: 0.19
• Lens System Special Functions: Zoom
• Focus Type: auto-focus, manual-focus
• Real Angle Of View: 76
• Weight: 17.6 Ounces
• Item Display Diameter: 3.8 inches
• Length: 3 inches

It could be argued that, dollar for dollar, this lens is the best that Canon has to offer. What I like about this lens is its affordable price coupled with important features like image stabilization and fast auto focus that should be in any lens, especially one ideal for photographers trying to find their feet in the industry.

To add to what has been said above, the Canon 28 135mm IS also has a pseudo-macro capability. It offers a surprising (if not refreshing) amount of detail that entry level photographers who love macro will enjoy. Obviously it is not a dedicated macro lens and as such should not be expected to be, but it is just another string in the bow of this very versatile lens.

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As for shortcomings of this piece of equipment, I would hazard a guess and say that most people in the market for the 28-135mm are not worried about a slight amount of vignetting or chromatic aberration at certain focal lengths. Those that are concerned probably have the knowledge to remove these imperfections in something like Lightroom anyway.

This lens is extremely popular for a reason, and most enthusiasts in the entry level niche who buy this lens will choose to forgive the minor bad points for the overwhelming number of good points.

Reviewed by Ben Lee, http://dslrlensesonline.com editor.

The Canon 300mm 2.8 is quite simply a superb lens – read on to find out why you should add it to your arsenal.

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The Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 L IS USM Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras is a very high quality, low aperture telephoto lens that is particularly ideal for nature and sport photography. Is it the best quality Canon lens ever made? Just about.

• EF mount; telephoto lens
• Ultra-low Dispersion glass with Fluorite elements; inner focusing ring; full-time manual focus; image stabilizer
• 300mm focal length
• f/2.8 maximum aperture
• Ring UltraSonic Motor (USM)
• Model: 2531A002
• Lens Type: Telephoto lens
• Mounting Type: Canon EF
• Minimum focal length: 300 millimeters
• Minimum Focal Range: 8 feet
• Maximum Aperture Range: F/2.8
• Camera Magnify Power: 0.13
• Lens System Special Functions: Tele
• Focus Type: auto-focus, manual-focus
• Real Angle Of View: 8.3
• Weight: 5.7 pounds
• Item Display Diameter: 5 inches
• Length: 10 inches

Another interesting feature of the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 are interchangeable focus distance settings and the ability to preset them for specific situations.

Focusing distance can be set to either 2.5m to 6.4m, 6.4m to infinity or 2.5m to infinity and limiting the focus range can improve focus lock time and accuracy.

Furthermore if you are revisiting a scene for example or know what your rough focusing distance is going to be before you shoot you have the ability to set that also.

Now about the secondary image stabilization mode  - the lens can actually sense that is it mounted on a tripod because of minute amounts of vibrations that occur when mounted compared to hand holding.

Canon 300mm f2.8 sample picture

If you are going to use a tripod the majority of the time (which you should), leave the IS turned on and the lens will automatically account for secondary sources of vibrations like mirror slap, tripod vibration and shutter vibration.

Obviously the size, weight and cost of this lens means it simply commands to be looked after well. It is highly recommended that you employ some sort of tripod support, not to mention a extremely sturdy tripod and tripod head.

Gimbal-type tripod mounts significantly reduce the risk of the tripod becoming too top heavy and sending the lens plummeting to the ground. Monopods are also good for shooting wildlife or sports photography from the sidelines.

So what do I think about the Canon 300mm f2.8? I think that it is a highly versatile lens that, on the outside, does not appear to do much more than give you 300mm at f/2.8. For some people this might be enough but for others looking to somehow justify the cost of attaining this lens they may be looking for some extra motivation.

Luckily that comes in the form of changeable focusing distances, secondary image stabilization and a happy marriage with 1.4x and to a lesser extent 2x extenders. Not to mention that the 300mm f/2.8 is more than ideal for sports, wildlife, portrait and even landscape photography making it highly versatile and reliable.

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My advice would be that if you are going to buy this lens, at least invest in a strong tripod head (such as the Wimberley head range) to preserve that supreme image quality you have invested so much in.

It goes without saying that if you look after this lens it will give you many, many awesome shots for years to come that other lenses would, simply put, not even be able to produce.

Reviewed by Ben Lee, http://dslrlensesonline.com editor.

Buy the Canon 17-55mm at Amazon today and receive FREE shipping.

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Sometimes mentioned as being comparable to the acclaimed Canon L series range, its fast, fixed aperture, high image quality and popular zoom range makes it a hugely popular lens in its own right.

Since the Canon 17-55mm comes from the EF S range, it is primarily designed for use on 1.6x Canon DSLR bodies which means that the actual focal range is closer to 27.2-88mm.

As a result this particular lens excels in a wide range of styles – everything from a family portrait to a wide seascape or landscape.

You may or may not be aware that there are already a couple of Canon zoom lenses in this range, namely the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens and the Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens.

For starters, the 18-55mm kit lens is vastly inferior in terms of image quality and construction. On the other hand, the comparison between the 17-55mm f/2.8 IS and the EF-S 17-85mm is more complex.

What the 17-55mm has over the 17-85mm is L series low dispersion glass lens elements and a fixed f/2.8 aperture.

However, what the 17-85mm brings to the table is that it is cheaper, lighter and has a greater focal length. There is no inherent winner out of these 3 lenses, it really comes down to which lens is best suited to you.

Anyway, the 17-55mm features both image stabilization (IS) and a USM (ultrasonic motor) – both hallmarks of a good Canon lens.  This lens is undoubtedly the fastest EF-S lens that has been produced and it is a real joy to work with in the field with the extra shallow depth of field allowing for nice some bokeh (soft, out of focus backgrounds).

The added image stabilization feature allows you to handhold the camera in situations where you might not have thought possible – opening up a whole new world of shooting locations and possibilities.

At a glance…

• Focal length: 17-55mm
• Maximum aperture: f/2.8
• Lens construction: 19 elements in 12 groups
• Diagonal angle of view: 78 degrees (at 30 feet) to 27 degrees (at 50 feet)
• Focus adjustment: AF with full-time manual
• Closest focusing distance: 1.15 feet
• Zoom system: 5-group helical zoom (front group moves 27mm)
• Filter size: 77mm
• Dimensions: 3.3 inches in diameter, 4.4 inches long
• Weight: 22.8 ounces

So who is this camera for? Again, it’s a horses for courses scenario as with most DSLR lenses. However, if this lens had to be best suited to anyone it would be those who like portraiture and low light photography.

Most other photographers who fall into the general category and cannot justify the extra expense of the 17-55mm f/2.8 would be best served to pick up the 17-85mm. Even if the widest it will go is f/4, it is still suitably priced and not a bad lens in its own right.

So in conclusion, there a couple of things you need to consider when weighing up whether to buy the Canon 17-55mm.

1. if you want more focal range at the expense of a faster aperture, then choose the 17-85mm
2. if you want a faster overall lens, perfect for low light photography and are not worried about reach, choose the 17-55mm.
3. if you are just starting out and don’t know what you want, buy a DSLR body with the 18-55mm kit lens or even ask a question below!

I thought this customer review was quite good, so I’ve included a portion of it below..

“Conclusion: This is one great lens! There’s nothing else out there for 1.6x crop digital cameras that gives you the sweet spot of zoom range, low light capability, depth of field control, image stabilization, fast and quiet auto-focus, and superior image quality rivaling prime lenses. And to put the considerable weight (22.8 oz.) into perspective, it is still 3.8 oz. lighter than the very good digital-only Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8, and the Nikon does not even have image stabilization (and costs more to boot). Game, set and match!”

- Steven A. Hoagland – Richmond, VA, USA.

If you want a few more reasons to buy the 17-55mm, read the rest of this Canon EF S 17 55mm f2 8 IS USM Lens review at Amazon.

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Reviewed by Ben Lee, http://dslrlensesonline.com editor.

The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens has all the hallmarks of a Canon L series lens – quality lens construction, very high image sharpness and superb mechanical operation. Buy it now on Amazon!

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It is no coincidence, then, that the 24 105mm is one of the most popular general purpose zoom lenses in use today.

There’s no getting around the fact that if you want the highest quality photographs possible, then you will need and want the sort of output that the 24-105mm offers.

Another obvious benefit of this lens is the large focal length and variety of uses this lens possesses as a result. Even on a 1.6x body it is moderately wide at 38mm on one end and almost telephoto at the other end at 168mm.

Worried about the filter size for polarizers and the like? This L series lens utilizes a 77mm filter which, while arguably not one of the cheapest filter sizes, is able to accomodate many other Canon lenses including the EF 17-40mm, EF-S 17-55mm and EF 24-70mm.

The 24-105mm f/4 L features a fast, quiet and highly accurate auto focus thanks to the Canon USM (Ultrasonic motor) which makes focusing a breeze and a joy.

Another awesome feature of this lens is the fact that the ring does not rotate when focusing or zooming so the attachment of a polarizing filter shouldn’t be a problem at all.

At a glance…

• Brand Name: Canon
• Model: 0344B006
• Lens Type: Zoom lens
• Mounting Type: Canon EF
• Minimum focal length: 24 millimeters
• Maximum focal length: 105 millimeters
• Minimum Focal Range: 17.7 inches
• Maximum Aperture Range: F/4.0
• Camera Magnify Power: 0.23
• Lens System Special Functions: Zoom
• Focus Type: auto-focus, manual-focus
• Real Angle Of View: 84
• Weight: 23.6 Ounces
• Item Display Diameter: 3.3 inches
• Length: 4 inches

It was really hard to find anything bad to write about in thisCanon 24-105mm review and this is typical of most Canon L series lenses really. The only thing that would stop you buying this lens would be the price, but the old saying that you get what you pay for still holds true. I personally own 2 L lenses and they pay for themselves many times over and will last many many decades if they are cared for properly.

Something else that people may have a “problem” (for want of a better word) is that they may be torn between the 24-105mm and the 24-70mm f/2.8 IS. Obviously the latter offers a wider aperture throughout but is more restricted in its focal length.

Conversely, the 24-105mm offers image stabilization which may be the clincher for some people because it may negate the fact that the lens is fixed at f/4.  Needless to say a lot of people would love to see a 24-70mm IS released at some time in the near future.

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A pretty good basic summary of this lens can be found below…

“This lens is often tagged a “walkabout” lens, and that’s a good description. There’s nothing better if you want to carry camera and lens about and get a variety of shots in the range from wide angle to short telephoto. It’s difficult for lens designers to make all the compromises necessary to have a lens go from wide angle to telephoto, and have a max focal length over four times the widest focal length, but Canon has done a good job here. The image stabilization works excellently when hand held (it cuts image quality if you use the stabilization from a tripod, though). The f/4 maximum aperture cuts the size and weight down quite a bit. Image quality is excellent for a zoom from about 30mm up to 90mm, good from 90mm to 105mm, and tolerable from 24 to 30mm (getting better in the 28 to 30mm range). As expected, image quality is best stopped down to about f/8, but is still good wide open at f/4.

I can’t say the lens has major flaws, but relative weaknesses are the wide angle performance, and the f/4 maximum aperture. The lens is not fast enough for shots of moving subject indoors. For stationary subjects, the image stabilization lets you take shots with slower exposure times than you’d expect, but stabilization won’t do anything to improve a moving subject. ” Read the rest of this Canon 24 105mm review here

Reviewed by Ben Lee, http://dslrlensesonline.com editor.

Canon EF S 55 250mm F 4 5.6 IS Lens

Buy the Canon EF-S 55-250mm IS Lens from Amazon today!

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The Canon EF S 55 250mm F 4 5.6 IS Lens is a fantastic light weight, economical lens in the Canon EF-S range which compares very well to many other general purpose zoom lenses.

As it is an EF-S lens, it can only be used on corresponding Canon APS-C bodies with the 1.6x focal length.

I won’t beat around the bush here – this is a no frills lens and of course its price reflects that. It is mostly plastic and the focus ring can be a pain to move sometimes, however these sort of things do not worry me personally.

Besides, I like to be able to feel like I’m using the lens in this automatic-everything world and the cumbersome moving parts help achieve this!

So what is good about the Canon EF-S 55-250mm IS lens?

The auto focus while relatively slow is at least accurate and the relatively narrow aperture range helps in this regard. This lens also retracts/extends when altering the focal range which is good for storage as it takes up less space when not in use. The fact that this lense features image stabilization (IS) makes up for the slower auto focus somewhat.

However, when the 55-2500mm IS moves in or out the front element has a simultaneous rotating motion which can be slightly problematic  for the attachment of polarizing filters because the filter itself needs to be rotated independently for the desired polarizing effect.

At a glance…

• Focal length: 55-250mm
• Maximum aperture: f/4 to f/5.6
• Lens construction: 12 elements in 10 groups, including one UD-glass element
• Diagonal angle of view: 27 degrees (at 50 feet) to 6 degrees (at 15 feet), with APS-C image sensors
• Focus adjustment: DC motor, gear-driven (front focusing design)
• Closest focusing distance: 3.6 feet (0.31x maximum close-up magnification)
• Filter size: 58mm
• Dimensions: 2.8 inches in diameter and 4.3 inches long
• Weight: 13.8 ounces
• Warranty: 1 year

Quite frankly, the Canon EF-S 55-250mm IS Lens will never win any prestigious photography awards or earn any great accolades. To me, this lens just goes about its business in the background is a quiet performer.

Obviously it’s not the highest quality lens out there, but its redeeming features are its image stabilization, light weight and sharp middle of frame image sharpness. All this for sub $300 and you have a winner that most definitely satisfies the casual or beginner photographer niche perfectly.

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Those wanting better image quality and performance should consider two other lenses in this category;

• Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM Lens
• Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens