Early EOS lenses, a great build quality bargain, but not much info

DSLR noob · Nov 12, 2007

(if you are an early EOS guru and don't want to read the little backstory, skip ahead to the red text and beyond for the questions I have)

Hello everyone, so far I have 2 early EOS lenses. Both manufactured in 1987 by the seriel numbers actually. A 50mm f/1.8 Mk I (I love this lens) that I got with my 20D about a month ago, and a Canon 28-70 3.5-4/5 Mk I just a few days ago (for only $60 and I also love this thing to death). Now, these lenses have metal lens mounts and distance scales. I don't mind the loud autofocus, its still faster than most (non-USM)lenses today and just as accurate. However, trying to find reviews on this lesn, I could only find stuff on the Mk II version of the 28-70 3.5-4.5 and they love th ebloody thing. Now they say this is one of the best zooms you can buy that isn't an L-series zoom. However one review worried me, it had in all caps "MAKE SURE YOU BUY THE "II" VERSION!" and that upsets me because I have a Mk I but I still love it to death, I just don;t know what's wrong. So 2 questions for those who don't want to read.

1) What is the difference between the Canon EF 28-70 3.5-4.5 and the Canon EF 28-70 3.5-4.5 II?

2) Are there any more bargain budget gems from the late 80s early 90s that I could get my hands on (prime or zoom) that deliver GREAT quality for cheap? I actually seem to own the only 2 I've heard about, I'm wondering if anything else gives this (I'm quoting from reviews and I have no L to compare to so I don't know how true it is) "Just short of L quality" IQ.

Thanks.

Big Mike · Nov 14, 2007

HERE is a link that might be helpful.
One old lens that I have tried to get my hands on is the 80-200 F2.8 L....a.k.a. 'The Magic Drainpipe'
The 28-70 F2.8 L is the older version of the popular 24-70 F2.8 L.

DSLR noob · Nov 14, 2007

Thanks, from what I get, my lens has metal internals, but slightly different optics that lose a hair of sharpness, the II has plastic gearing and slightly better optics. Both have that sub-L/ high end non-L quality.