Canon lenses.

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Dear colleagues:

I am planning the purchase of one or two Canon lenses and would greatly
appreciate your feedback and opinions.

1. First I wish to purchase an all around lens and have heard good things in
general about the new EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens. This is the type of lens
that is versatile and a good one to have if I can only bring one lens along
with me. However, I have seen a few reports on the Internet about recalls
and complaints about image flaws.

1.1 - What are your feelings about this new lens ?


2. I planned on having a longer telephoto zoom lens to carry with me and was
impressed when I saw the EF 70-300mm F/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM lens for its very
small size and weight. This is the type of lens that is easy to carry around
because of its extremely compact size. It also has IS which is certainly a
benefit. Despite the size advantage, I have heard from several different
sources that image quality is lacking and some users have even returned this
lens to Canon and exchanged for another model. According to some
photographers I have spoken to the new EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IS USM is a
better lens that offers much higher image quality despite the fact that it
is a bit longer and heavier (but still much lighter than the L series
lenses). The price is also nearly half of the DO lens.

2.1 - What are your opinions about these two lenses ?

2.2 - In case you had to choose a telephoto zoom and wanted one that was
relatively small and lightweight, which one of these two lenses would you
choose ?


3. For higher quality and improved telephoto range I have considered the L
series lenses. The options include the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM zoom,
the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM and the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM.

3.1 - Since one of the 70-200mm lens offers IS while the other doesn't, is
there any reason that would make one choose the one without image
stabilization ?

3.2 - The 100-400mm lens offers the obvious benefit of improved telephoto
zoom range. However, the 70-200mm lenses could be fitted with the Extender
EF 2x II to transform them into 140-400mm lenses. I've been told that in
doing so the maximum aperture is reduced and I should be careful since the
minimum aperture compatible with autofocus is f/5.6.

3.2.1 - Is this correct for this extender ?

3.2.2 - In this case what would be the resulting aperture from adding the 2x
extender to the 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses ?

3.3 - The benefits of using the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens include
the simplicity of working with just one lens (no extender) and the greater
zoom range of 4x (100 to 400 mm). The major benefit of working with one of
the 70-200mm f/2.8L lenses is the larger maximum aperture, even across the
entire zoom range. The disadvantages include the need to work with one more
piece (the extender) besides the lens and the reduced zoom range of 3x (140
to 400 mm).

3.3.1 - What are your feelings about the choices here ? Which is the best
choice in your opinion ?

3.3.2 - In using the Extender EF 2x II, is the camera operation still
automatic in terms of metering and autofocus (I am almost sure that
autofocus is maintained but don't know if the camera compensates for the two
f-stops that are claimed to be required when working with it. How does it
work ?

Please forgive me for the longer post but these are issues I felt were worth
discussing not just to help me with my buying decisions but also to help
others who may be experiencing the same problems and may have the same or
similar questions.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Joseph

---

Dr. Joseph Chamberlain
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery


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