Lawrence88's reviews

  • Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Cheap, Sharp for the price
    None for the price

    This is my first prime lens, as everyone I know suggest that I get this lens with my DSLR to try out what a prime lens is all about. So far it hasn't disappoint me for its price. Since I have a 30D, I use it mainly for headshots and other portraits for my dogs mostly. Get one! You won't regret it... The 50mm f/1.4 is nicer for sure but it costs more than 4 times than this...

    reviewed November 23rd, 2006
  • Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Wiiiiiide...., light..
    No hood, no lens bag, don't be cheap with your EF-S Canon!

    This is a wiiiiiide lens for Canon's 1.6x bodies. The images it delivers are good IF the lens is used correctly. because it's very wide, you need to hold the lens (and your camera) parallel to the ground to get the best possible picture, unless you want to get the special effect by holding it otherwise. Part of my travel kit along with the 24-105 f/4L, which covers 16mm through 165mm (FF equiv.) Short distance from the lens will result in distorted image, can be fun to play with...

    The recommended hood is not supplied and is quite expensive, which is really annoying, coming from Canon. I paid around US$ 80 for it

    reviewed November 23rd, 2006 (purchased for $650)
  • Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Very useful range, IS, L-build
    none

    I've gotten this lens for 6 months now and this is the lens that stays on my 30D 80% of the time, the range equivalent to 38mm - 168mm, covers most of my travel and daily needs. The build is nice, not too heavy (compared to 24-70) , quick focusing, IS and the red ring! Sometimes I wish it is a little wider, but mostly it's because of my 1.6x crop factor, not the lens itself. If put on a FF body it will be perfect...

    People report a little distortion on the short end but I can't really see it. Overall a VERY nice lens to have.

    A little strange bonus is that when I put my Kenko 1.4x extender on it, the max aperture stays at f/4 where it should go to f/5.6.... I put the Kenko 1.4x with my 70-200 f/2.8 and it showed f/4 as it should. Weird? who knows but I'm not complaining for a 53-235mm f/4 IS lens!

    reviewed November 23rd, 2006 (purchased for $1,100)
  • Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 SP AF

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Sharp lens, light
    Extending barrel, hunting AF in low light

    The Tamron 90mm f/2.8 is a very good macro lens for the price. It is a very sharp lens and does what it's supposed to do, good color, contrast and excellent sharpness. The build quality is decent, although I am worried about the long term life of the mechanism used to switch focusing mode from auto to manual.

    Most of the use of this lens should be in manual mode, as macro is about working distance. Here the lens allows very fine manual focusing as it turns around 180 degrees compared to Canon's 100mm. Its AF performance is also inconsistent in available light (room with ambient lighting), where it will keep hunting without stopping to focus. It's not a problem with a flash attached (580EX in my case).

    Last thing, due to its extending barrel (about 50% of its total length), hunting bugs/live small animals could be a problem.

    All in all, a very nice macro lens for the price. I highly recommend it.

    reviewed November 24th, 2006 (purchased for $310)
  • Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Awesome IQ, bokeh, build quality
    none

    What more can be said about this lens? It's one of the main workhorse of many professionals. I use mine mainly to cover events/concerts/publicity events/etc with superb results. You can't beat the bokeh except with the fast long primes, but then they won't be flexible. In the beginning my focusing sight shakes a little from holding it although most of the time it will not usually affect image sharpness in the end (I am spoiled by IS I guess) but after getting the lowepro slingshot 200 AW I can use it for handholding. I use monopod also but in some events it is not easily setup given the situation.

    Some people say the weight is a problem but it's really not that heavy. Of course it will be a different story if you hold it all day... Get a nice shoulder strap for your camera for an easier time lugging it around...

    Is the IS worth the extra $500? Maybe but I chose to go without and got an extra lens with the savings instead... Or you can go get a flash with the savings to freeze motion in available light. You will do fine in daylight with it.

    reviewed November 24th, 2006 (purchased for $1,100)