twereliu's reviews

  • Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

    8 out of 10 points and recommended
    Good range, sharp out to around 300, 1.4x is ok but not outstanding
    Soft past 300, push pull isnt great, wouldnt suggest the 2x

    For flexibility it's the best you can do for Canon.

    I would like to see them update the lens and make it as phenominal as the 70-200mm f/2.8 is, in my opinion most would pay to get a better zoom.

    This lens is not that sharp past 300mm, shoot it side by side with a prime 400 and there is a very noticible difference.

    Yes I know a prime fixed is n/times more expensive, but even so you can see softness in the image at full zoom, if you use a 20D not so much, but use it on a full sensor and its much more noticible.

    1. Never turn on IS on a pod UNLESS the whole setup is vibrating from the wind.

    2. Wouldnt suggest the 2x, the 1.4x is useable, but again degrades the.

    Overall I give the whole setup an 8, it's as good as you can get in this category now, and overall it's pretty good and can be sharpned up post process and give pro results if care is taken, still if you really want wildlife tack sharp get a 500mm prime ($$$$)

    reviewed December 30th, 2005 (purchased for $1,200)

  • Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L USM

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Very good Bokeh (Amazing Actuall) and stunning minimum DOF
    Heavy, Very Slow focus

    I am not sure what other poster meant by the light issue.

    At 1.2 the images are a bit soft, but this is a portrait lens primarily and sharpness isnt that important there, can actually detract, at 2.0 it is very useable, sharp, and still has awesome bokeh.

    But if you want sharpness stop it down and bit more and it will perform, like wow perform.

    Also very useable with some extention tubes for selective focus macro's, I am talking abstract flowers etc, not insects or grains of rice etc.

    The background blur is amazing, cant really explain it but it is quite lovely.

    The major issue with this lens is that it is dog slow to focus and many times just cant in lower light situations.

    The manual focus is always on though, so for portraits or selective focus shots it really cant be beat in my opinion.

    It's not a must have lens, but I have fallen in love with it's bokeh effect and portait capabilities.

    reviewed December 30th, 2005

  • Canon TS-E 90mm f/2.8

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Very good for landscape, interiors, macro, and panoramics
    Heavy, Manual Focus, takes awhile to get used to

    If you have never used a tilt and shif you should rent one.

    This 90mm model is the most useable (in my opinion)

    For landscapes with fore/middle/back you can really get max DOF

    For pans vertical or horizontal you can just adjust the lens a full 30 in either direction, no need to mess with special heads, figure out nodal point etc.

    For interiors and exterior architecture (in wide angle version) just about all you need.

    For macro you can do some really serious selective focus or deep DOF with extenison tubes and the 1.4x or 2x doubled (yeah they work)

    Only down side is the manual focus, but with the tilt/shift thats kind of a nessecity.

    YOu should rent and try the above, a lot of pro's use these to get other wise very difficult shots.

    reviewed December 30th, 2005 (purchased for $1,100)

  • Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Good standoff, 1:1, useable with extention and 1.4x and 2x
    Very heavy, Slow to focus

    For field work I would use a TS lens or maybe the 100 which is also great.

    But for studio or out the tailgate this lens is just awesome.

    Very good macro, a little less DOF would be appreciated but that can be done with TUBES, though then the working range is very limited.

    Also works with the 1.4x and 2x which gives you good results and interesting effects.

    This or the 100 with a ring flash does awesome butterfly stuff.

    Both are great for flowers but I prefer the 180 for single subject and wide anlge with 12mm tube for multi subject shots.

    If they made this a 2.8 and updated the focus speed it would be legendary (in my opinion) though the 100 is the same or better and lighter and cheaper.

    Canon does good macro...

    reviewed December 30th, 2005

  • Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Sharp, Fast, Furious
    Bring a Crane

    The 300 prime is sharper, barely, but this thing is just awesome.

    Dont think your are goind to walk around with it and not notice though, the 400 is even heavier or course, but it's BIG.

    Fantastic lens, ultra sharp, as good as the 600 and you can double to 1000 and still get phenomenal results.

    I have rented 6 times and would buy it if I didnt have other bills to pay.

    reviewed December 30th, 2005