kaci's reviews

  • Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di SP AF

    8 out of 10 points and recommended
    sharpness, general IQ, AF, price
    CA, distortion at 17mm

    I am using this Tamron on 5D for a 6 months. Bought used, I am very satisfied. I dont think I would get better results with Canon 17-40 f4 L.

    Excellent/Amazing sharpness in the centre, corners are really sharpt at 5.6 and higher. At 17mm there is lot of distortion, but at 35mm it is less distorted than my Canon EF 35/2.0. At f5.6 and higher the Tamron is also sharper! Colours and contrast are absolutely fine, AF is quick and accurate. CA is a problem, but mainly only in corners.

    reviewed April 15th, 2011 (purchased for $350)

  • Canon EF 35mm f/2

    8 out of 10 points and recommended
    sharpness at 2.8 and higher, general IQ, colours and contrast, weight and size
    sharpness f2.0 - f2.8, not so great on FF

    Great lens on APS-C, beautiful results from f4 - f8 = ideal for weddings, portraits and as a walk-around standard lens. Wonderfull colours. But definetelly has to be stopped down to 2.8, at 2.0 really weak.

    On full-frame not so good focal length for me and the overall IQ seems to be a little bit lower to me. For example, my Tamron 17-35 2.8-4 at same focal length is evidently sharper from f6.3 in whole frame and less distorted!

    reviewed April 15th, 2011 (purchased for $350)

  • Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    sharpness, colours, contrast, size and weight, price
    nothing

    I have been using this lens for 4 years and still love it! Great on APS-C, great on FF. At f1.8 not really sharp, but beautiful atmosphere for portraits, from 2.8 like a razor. AF is accurate, but little bit slower. I had a Sigma 50/1.4 for two months but finally I sold it and kept this small gem. Super lens for weddings, portraits, general purposes. Absolutely recommended!!!

    reviewed April 15th, 2011 (purchased for $160)

  • Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    sharpness, overall IQ, bokeh, price
    nothing

    Amazingly sharp from f2.8 in center and from f4 in corners on 5d. Beautiful colours, contrast, bokeh. At 1.8 little bit CA. AF is uncompromising = super quick and accurate. Close to the Canon EF 135/2 L. A must have lens for portraits. Definetely.

    reviewed April 15th, 2011 (purchased for $400)

  • Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    everything
    all other lenses seems to be like toys

    If You can afford it, buy it! You will see why. If You can not, buy Canon EF 85/1.8, which delivers quite similar results.
    Definetely the most sharpest lens which I have ever seen. Trully sharp accross whole frame from f2 on 5d. Amazing colours, contrast, bokeh, everything!
    No more inside shooting with flash! :)

    reviewed April 15th, 2011 (purchased for $970)

  • Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    center sharpness, colours, contrast, AF, price, size
    corner sharpness, focal length 200mm

    My review is based on using this lens on full-frame camera = 5d. Center sharpness is amazing at f4 - f5.6 from 70mm to 140mm, but corners are really soft. At 200mm overall sharpness is quite weak. Colours, contrast and bokeh are wonderfull, the AF great.

    I prefer using my 85/1.8 and 135/2L but sometimes the zoom is needed. For its price I find it really worthy lens.

    reviewed April 15th, 2011 (purchased for $670)

  • Tokina 50-135mm f/2.8 AT-X 535 AF PRO DX

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    sharpness, overall IQ, bokeh, price
    slow AF, weight

    Such a wonderfull lens! Great IQ, ideal focal length at APS-C. Sharpness/bokeh/colours/contrast fantastic! Built like a tank, reliably prized. The AF is accurate but slow. I donť get the point why this lens is not more popular?

    Tokina makes fantastic zooms! I really miss this piece of glass now when switched to FF camera.

    reviewed April 15th, 2011 (purchased for $590)

  • Tokina 12-24mm f/4 AT-X 124 AF PRO DX SD

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    sharpness, overall IQ, price
    slow AF if You care, CA little bit

    Great UWA lens on APS-C. Super sharp, really nice colours and contrast. Solidely built, cheap. Tokina makes fantastic zoom lenses for APS-C.

    reviewed April 15th, 2011 (purchased for $390)

  • Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM

    8 out of 10 points and recommended
    super sharp
    AF accuracy, atmosphere, bulky, price, f1.4-f1.6

    I owned this lens for two months, then sold it and kept my little gem Canon EF 50/1.8 II. My Sigma was super sharp above f1.8. But at f1.4 - f1.6 was unuseably soft. The AF was quick, but front-focused a lot which was a problem. I didnť like the general output from this lens a lot = it looked liked a entire copy of a reality without any atmosphere which my Canon primes have and I love. And it is also really bulky and heavy compared to other 50mm primes.

    I would recommend it for general purposes but for dreamy portraits definetely not.

    reviewed April 15th, 2011 (purchased for $470)

  • Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro

    8 out of 10 points and recommended
    sharpness, focal length range, macro
    CA, colours a little bit

    Great lens for those who wants generall purpose zoom for APS-C camera and don´t want to spend a lot of money. Reasonable sharp, macro is fine. Colours are little bit yelowish and not so bright, contrast average. AF is precise.

    Buy this lens and 35 or 50 prime and you will be satisfied.

    reviewed April 15th, 2011 (purchased for $420)