Canon 35-80mm f/4-5.6 zoom - Is it bad?

[vimwiz]

Ive got my first EF lens (I come from the FD lens world, but recently got my hands on an EOS) and its a Canon 35-80mm f/4-5.6 zoom. However, I have seen this lens has gotten some pretty terrible reviews online. Is it really that bad?

 

[vimwiz]

P.S its the "Ultrasonic USM" one. It seems a lot smaller, lighter, and more plasticky than any of my old FD gear ever did? (Then again, so does the EOS?)

Should I try and find something better? - Or is there an adapter?

 

[Big Mike]

As far as I know, it's an old 'kit' lens. In other words, it was designed to be cheap, light, small and cheap...and they include it in a kit with entry level 'Rebel' models. It's probably satisfactory for a 'soccer mom' and 4x6 prints.

I wouldn't go as far as saying that it's terrible or unusable, but there are many other 'better' lenses. I'd suggest trying it out to see if it will work well enough for you.

The entry level EOS cameras and the cheaper lenses do indeed have a fair amount of plastic in their construction. This make them lighter (and of course cheaper) but probably less durable than their more expensive, metal cousins.

 

[lambertpix]

Any lens you've got is perfect right up to the point where you understand why it sucks.

It sounds like you're using the lens now. If that's the case, then you're in the best possible position to evaluate whether it's working well for you or not. There's no question there are better lenses available, but your experience with the lens should tell you whether you're running into specific limitations that you want to spend money to solve, if that makes sense. Do you need a different focal length range, or a faster aperture, or a sharper lens? All these things are available -- though you might find yourself purchasing multiple lenses in order to get them. That's the classic "what lens should I get" question, and you want your personal experience to play a big part in that decision, if at all possible.

The "feel" of the lens, as you pointed out, is part of what we like or don't like sometimes, too. Tools with good ergonomics help us work better, you know? So if you find the light plastic-y feel getting in the way of producing photos, then that's absolutely a factor to consider as well.

 

[vimwiz]

Any lens you've got is perfect right up to the point where you understand why it sucks.

I just got it but havent got anything developed yet. Ill have to wait until then to see if it, on the EOS, is any better than the FD 35-70 my other camera had (which although comparable spec, seemed to have better build quality?). I’m hoping its as good as I like the EOS body's light weight, but was loving the older glass.

 

[vimwiz]

For all the hate this lens got it actually produced decent enough pics when I got it done today. About the same quality to my eye as my old 35-70 did. As a "starter" lens I would say its fine, though ill be trading it in for a 50mm.

So in short - perfectly acceptable lens, for under £30.

 

[robbins.photo]

Any lens you've got is perfect right up to the point where you understand why it sucks.

Oh, that is so getting stolen and used as a bumpersticker.. rotfl

 

[Derrel]

Any lens you've got is perfect right up to the point where you understand why it sucks.

Oh, that is so getting stolen and used as a bumpersticker.. rotfl

Yes, a real pearl of wisdom from lambertpix. As far as cheap, film-era kit lenses, I own the ultra-plastic Nikon 28-80 AF-D...plastic barrel, plastic mount, reallllly light and wobbly, and, at f/8...about as sharp as any modern zoom lens. THAT'S sort of the ugly secret the lens makers don't tell people--at f/8, a $100 plastic kit zoom is optically, about as good as most $1,699 "pro" f/2.8 zooms. Popular Photographjy magazione did an article a few years back, comparing expensive Nikon and Canon f/2.8 zooms against cheaper kit-type zooms. At f/8, the PICTURES revealed this ugly secret.

 

[vimwiz]

Just to check back, had a go with the standard version the other day, and the USM one is definately superior - Much quieter and faster AF, though the manual focus ring is terrible.