EOS 5d with 28-135

Hello everyone. I am wondering if anyone out there has any experience with using a Canon 28-135 IS lens on a 5d. Every review states that you NEED L quality glass. Will it be just my image corners that suffer? I am satisfied with the center sharpness on a friends 20d using this lens. I currently own an Elan 7 and have had great experience with this setup. I don't currently have the resources for an L series lens (I may be spending 3000 dollars on a body after all). Should I therefore purchase a 20d with a 17-85 and 10-22 for the same amount and scrap my whole other system, or in your opinion would I be satisfied with the performance of my existing lens on the 5d, the camera I really want? Thank you for any advice.

While it's true that L glass is wonderful, and that the 5D may show up the flaws in lesser lenses, you don't need an L lens for your 5D. A lot of used the 28-135 IS with our film cameras and never had a complaint. You may notice more distortion than you're used to, and the corners may be a little soft if you shoot wide open at 28mm. But so what? Use the lens you have, shoot for content and don't worry so much about image quality. When you can afford it, but a better lens if you feel you need it. But don't let the guys with bottomless wallets tell you what you need to do.

I wouldn't be bothered if I had a 5D and used my 28-135 IS lens on it, I think it will work just as well as it has on your Elan 7 (EOS30 here in Australia). I think the 28-135 lens is a great lens, still have mine and use it all the time on my 10D.

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Originally Posted by greghalliday

Hello everyone. I am wondering if anyone out there has any experience with using a Canon 28-135 IS lens on a 5d. Every review states that you NEED L quality glass. Will it be just my image corners that suffer? I am satisfied with the center sharpness on a friends 20d using this lens. I currently own an Elan 7 and have had great experience with this setup. I don't currently have the resources for an L series lens (I may be spending 3000 dollars on a body after all). Should I therefore purchase a 20d with a 17-85 and 10-22 for the same amount and scrap my whole other system, or in your opinion would I be satisfied with the performance of my existing lens on the 5d, the camera I really want? Thank you for any advice.

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Absolutely nothing wrong with that 28-135 IS lens. It's not an L lens, but it is quite sharp. I've had this lens myself, but I gave it to a close friend when I bought a pair of L zooms. It's true that with the incredible resolution of todays DSLRs, the flaws become a little more evident, but only on full frame DSLRs, because most of the digital SLRs crop the center area where the sweetspot is.Remember that the L lenses aren't perfect either, just better enough at the edges that pros demand it, and 90% of the folks out there probably wouldn't see the difference. If it's important enough to you, get some L glass. If it really isn't that critical to you, save your money and plunk it on some mutual funds or a hot stock.

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Originally Posted by Lionheart

It's true that with the incredible resolution of todays DSLRs, the flaws become a little more evident, but only on full frame DSLRs...

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Just to remind everyone, the 5D IS a full-frame sensor DSLR, so perhaps this is more of an issue than with other models. But I agree with you 100%. A little bit better performance for a whole lot more money...