Summary This lens came free with an EOS 1000FN 12 years ago. I didn't like it then because it was so plastic and light compared to the camera lens I learned on. It has stood the test of time however, and gets used when I don't want to risk my better gear.
Mine gives reasonable colour rendition and the sharpness is fine for street photography, but I ALWAYS use it stopped down. It isn't too flash at f4, try f11. I have had better results with Agfa film, Kodak just never produced much colour from this lens.
I use prime lenses for good photos, it doesn't get near them, of course.
Strengths Goes everywhere I won't take my good gear. Down a mine, through industrial plants, into slums, even down a volcano once... and it still works after 12 years.
Weaknesses What was Canon thinking when they designed that manual focus ring? Terrible. Everything else can be explained by the fact it is built to a price.
Similar Products Used Canon 50mm F1.8
Sigma 24mm F2.8
Summary This lens came in the kit with my first camera (an EOS 1000 FN (Rebel SII). A good match to that camera, in terms of it weight. The usm made it nice to use focus wise, although there is no focus ring as such. I had a rare accessory, in the hood for this lens.
To the bad side. I noticed it first in some pictures with a lot of sky, it was vignetting (at the time I was a REAL newbie). Then I was taking a picture of a brick building with a railing in front of it, on some pavement. This picture had horizontal lines across it at all heights through the picture. I realised then that the lines at the top were curving in, the line in the middle was straight, and the line at the bottom was curving up. Distortion city.
Whilst I don't believe this lens is any better/worse than those supplied by nikon, minolta, pentax et al at a similar price point, it's not good for anything more than very casual or beginner users. As soon as money permitted, I changed the lens for a Canon 24-85 USM.
Strengths Light weight, fast silent AF, compact size
Weaknesses Optics, lens design (no focus ring!)
Similar Products Used Canon 24-85 f3.5-4.5 USM Canon 28-105 f3.5-4.5 USM Canon 28-80 MkIV USM
Summary Do your photo's a favour and avoid this lens. Some Canon consumer lenses are just terrible while others are great. I saved money and got the 28-135 IS and it is awesome!!
Strengths Certainly not the construction, optics, price or zoom range. Maybe the USM?.....
Weaknesses Construction, optics, price and range. Do yourself a favour and avoid this lens.
Similar Products Used 28-80, 28-135 IS
Customer Service Not needed after returning it within two weeks.
Summary The lens came with my camera and I didn't realize how poor it performed until I got my second lens. OK for snapshots of the kids, but I've rarely been able to enlarge more "serious" pictures taken with it because they all lack crispness.
Strengths Cheap
Weaknesses Focus sharpness is erratic, and poor more often then not.
Similar Products Used Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS Canon 50mm f1.8 II
Customer Service In the midst of getting a repair quote now (but I'm not sure why I'm bothering).
Reviewed by Robert
, Casual
, from Sackville, New Brunswick Canada
Photography Experience 6-10 years
, Other
Summary The lense came as part of a kit with a Rebel G. I gave up on photography for 2-3 years because none of my pictures were in focus; I assumed it was something I was doing wrong.
I bought an Olympus C2020 digital camera and the pictures came out sharper with more detail...this is when I started to wonder about the lense.
The lense is capable of taking some reasonable pictures, but only if stopped down past f11.
If you end up with one of these lenses try and get rid of it quickly. I purchased the 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 and it has made an incredible difference.
Strengths You can get about $60 CND for trade in value.
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