Canon 20D...is it still worth buying?

[trev2401]

The 35/2 is noisy.

The 28 f2.8 USM and the 20 mm USM are really better choices.

Canon has mostly ignored their fixed focal lengths but their wide zooms are very good. The 17-40 f4 USM IS is a fantastic budget lens, the image shake reduction helps balance the slow speed.

There are a lot of other options out there, but you pay for them.

I think you meant the 17-85 IS. The 17-40 L F4 is sharp and in many instances, out performs its 16-35 2.8 L Mk 1 counterpart. ( i guess thats why they came out with a 2nd version.. )

The 35 F2 is a tad noisy yes... but hey... the focusing throw is sooo short, you'll hardly really notice it unless u're shooting in a quiet hall.

 

[gavinlg]

No, but there's a LEICA D SUMMILUX 25mm/F1.4 ASPH for 4/3 system!

Canon has the 24 1.4L, 35 1.4L, 50 1.2L and the 85 1.2L. All are some of the best lenses in their focal lengths out of ANY system. The 24 1.4L just tested better than the equivalent ZF distagon and contax versions in the 16:9 lens tests.

 

[trev2401]

Canon has the 24 1.4L, 35 1.4L, 50 1.2L and the 85 1.2L. All are some of the best lenses in their focal lengths out of ANY system. The 24 1.4L just tested better than the equivalent ZF distagon and contax versions in the 16:9 lens tests.

kindly post a link... thanks =)

 

[gavinlg]

I was really thinking of getting the canon ef 35mm f/2 as my next lens because its pretty much a 50mm with the crop factor pretty fast and is supposed to be relatively sharp and it fits my budget...any of you have any experience with this lens?

The 35 f2 is an excellent lens for the price. They have good performance wide open and stopped down a little, very sharp. The focussing is louder than it's USM equivalents but it's not by any means loud. You wouldn't go wrong with one.

 

[sirius]

Thanks for correcting me ywenz, I was hasty and didn't get my details right.

I meant the EF 17-40mm f/4L USM. It has got the beautiful L glass and is relatively inexpensive, around $700 new.

Yes, the 16-35 is a fantastic lens. I was avoiding the expensive lenses because it sounded like price was a concern here. All those fixed primes fdigital mentioned are lovely too but cost a mint.

I have the EFS 17-55mm USM IS f2.8. It is an expensive lens but has given fantastic results with L glass (without the same build quality).

 

[flipflop]

Yeah, zooms are nice but I dont like the bulk...im kind of used to shoot primes..and really like the 35mm focal length of my Contax G...wondering if the 28mm would be a better choice but its a 2.8 vs. 2.0...any thoughts?

 

[sirius]

The USM (sorry again, it's f1.8) version is definitely better. The f2.8 sounds like a dental drill.

 

[gavinlg]

kindly post a link... thanks =)

24 1.4L vs Nikon 17-45 afs f2.8 vs zuiko 24 2.8
http://www.16-9.net/lens_tests/24mmcup/final/24mm_final1.html

24 1.4L vs ZF 25 2.8
http://www.16-9.net/lens_tests/zf25_canon24/zeiss_zf25a.html
- I think the ZF gets a slightly better overall mark for a slightly better performance from f8-f16 BUT the canon lens is still a 1.4 and has much better corner performance up that point.

24 1.4L vs Contax 21 2.8
http://www.16-9.net/lens_tests/cz21vc24l/cz21_canon24l_a.html
- Contax scores higher in conclusion BUT it's still a 2.8 max av lens, the canon is a 1.4. I'd say it does really admirably in these tests.


Good bit of reading for you!

 

[ywenz]

kindly post a link... thanks =)

http://www.16-9.net/lens_tests/index.html

 

[trev2401]

ooo nice reading!!!

thanks!!

However i'm surprized no-one has posted a test for the EF 24mm vs Kneekon's 28mm 1.4. Yeah, it's a 1.4, but hey.. the 17-35's a zoom.. just my 2 cents.


personally, i bought a 24mm new 2 years back , and returned it to CPS twice due to issues. (1st was a focusing error straight out of the box, 2nd was SEVERE softness wide open on my 1v/1ds.) The other copies i received as loaners ALL had different results wide open, till F8. =(

I guess these are just the usual QC (Lemon/cherry) issues us canon users face oh so often.


The Zuiko's cool though =)

 

[flipflop]

anybody know anything about mounting CONTAX lenses on the Canon 20d using an adapter?
Thanks!

 

[trev2401]

anybody know anything about mounting CONTAX lenses on the Canon 20d using an adapter?
Thanks!

Yes, you can use the C/Y adapters from cameraquest, fotodiox, or the generic chinese ones from fleabay..

however, i would get the ones with the focusing confirmation as the 20d's Vf is just tooooooooooo tiny, even if u manage to fit the camera with a split prism focusing screen.

 

[gavinlg]

Indeed canon CAN have some QC problems, however I think you got the raw end of the deal there. Out of every canon L lens I've bought, they've all been outstanding. I think there have been about 5 or 6 of them.

HOWEVER, you have to take into account other lenses too that can be adapted to the canon. With a 10 dollar ebay adapter I got a little while ago, I thought I'd do a quick test to see what my $60 Olympus Zuiko 28 f3.5 performed like throughout the apertures compared to my 17-40 f4L at 28mm. Was done on my full frame 5d.

The results were surprising.... The zuiko was better wide open all over. At f5.6, both similar in the center, zuiko resolving much more detail in the corners and that carried on through the apertures. the canon was warm, zuiko was neutral. The zuiko had better distortion characteristics. The 17-40 f4L was almost impossible to make flare, the Zuiko being single coated flared easily.

Pretty admirable performance by the $60 zuiko.


Anyway to the poster of this thread - Have you considered buying something like a nikon/olympus/pentax or even leica Prime to put on your 20d? They're pretty cheap 2nd hand, and sometimes give awesome performance.

 

[flipflop]

Yes I have thought about this any you would recommend?

 

[gavinlg]

This threads getting way ahead of me...

 

[trev2401]

I don't think i'm the only one (check out the rants on FM), but then again... i did buy the 24mm when it first came out...I even had to send both my cameras in for calibration, which tends to be a common thing till now for most 1d mkX owners with the 35, 24, and 85 Ls. Perhaps first batch blues?.... who knows..


yeah other primes will give outstanding performances with canon's sensor... but seriously, look through the 20d's vf, and try to MF. It's tough... 🙁

If anyone's found a way to replace the focusing screen, let me know too.

 

[gavinlg]

For a fast wide - normal if you can't afford a 24 1.4L, have a think about the olympus zuiko 24 f2 or 21 f2. Both are exceptional and tiny. Otherwise contax are about the best you'll get but really expensive. I still say you wouldn't be losing much by going an EF 35 f2 or even one of the 24 f2.8s though - they are quite good.


Oh, one more is the sigma 30 1.4. Excellent lens if you get a good copy (seems to be all QC issues with this lens were ironed out a while ago.

 

[ywenz]

fdigital: what adapter did you get for the Zuiko lens? Did you have to modify the 5D in anyway to make it work with these non canon lenses?

 

[pachuco]

I still use my 20D as my workhorse camera, just used it last week for a commercial shoot and it was a champ. Good body, great images, don't get the 30d, it has the same sensor, get the 40d if you want a better camera or better yet the 5d.

 

[gavinlg]

fdigital: what adapter did you get for the Zuiko lens? Did you have to modify the 5D in anyway to make it work with these non canon lenses?

I bought one for 5 dollars off ebay from Hong Kong. My advice if you wanted to get serious with it would be to get a really good one like the camera quest ones. Mine is alright, but isn't perfectly tight - the lens wobbles a tiny bit. Apparently heaps of people have got cheap ones that are perfect.

The 5d takes just about most lenses made. There are a few exceptions like some of the pentax's which need a part ground off the back to clear the mirror.