rfwilliams's reviews

  • Canon EF 100mm f/2 USM

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Sharp wide open
    None for the price

    I bought this lens on ebay and expected to get what I paid for. Man, I got lucky! This thing is tack sharp @f/2.2 and sharp enough @f/2.0.

    I liked this one so much, I bought the twin sister - 85mm f/1.8 USM. While the 85mm is a really nice lens, I prefer the 100mm because of the consistent sharp pictures I am able to get.

    If there is a con to this lens, it would be that 15mm down you have the 85mm f/1.8 and 35mm up you have the 135mm f/2.0. Then on the other hand, if you need a lens in those focal ranges, maybe the 100mm f/2.0 is a good compromise?

    reviewed August 7th, 2009 (purchased for $300)

  • Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Fast, sharp, and cheap
    Wide open it is not too sharp

    After buying the 100mm f/2.0 and falling in love with it, I decided to get the lens everyone was suggesting for a good cheap prime, the 85mm f/1.8.

    While I am not disappointed with the lens, I see it as a 85mm f/2.2 because that is where the lens really becomes usable. Now f/1.8 or f/2.0 are not terrible, and if the light is so off that I have to use it or get a blurred shot, I will open this lens to the max and take the shot. But if I can get by with it I always use f/2.2 for the max aperature setting and I become very happy.

    If I could get the sharpness of f/2.2 with the bokeh of f/1.8, I would consider this lens unbeatable.

    reviewed August 7th, 2009 (purchased for $325)

  • Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Focal Range, weight, IS
    Aperture

    Not a bad lens. It deserves a better rating than it is getting.
    I use this lens in Av mode, and when I can I zoom to 135mm, set the aperture to 8, and get pretty sharp pictures at just about any focal distance.
    This is one of my favorite treking lenses

    reviewed July 1st, 2013 (purchased for $325)