Photographer
DwLPhoto
Posts: 808
Palo Alto, California, US
The 400 mm 5.6(??) L doesn't do much for the "prestige" mythos. I'm sure it's a very good 400mm 5.6. But my old tokina (MF) 400mm 5.6 ain't no slouch. And I'm betting the Canon 400 5.6 isn't $1,250 better than the AF version of the 400mm tokina. (saw one for $90 at the local overpriced store)
However the 400mm 2.8L might be $10,300 better than that Tokina
Photographer
David Moore Photo
Posts: 15
Carlsbad, California, US
I love my 400 5.6 =P haha. It certainly doesn't have the monster lens cache.
I dunno about the L lens prestige, my first EOS lens was the 70-200 f4 L. They are good lenses, but man my Sigma 35mm 1.4 Art is SO good. And my 100mm 2.8 Macro Canon that isn't L is so good. haha.
Photographer
DwLPhoto
Posts: 808
Palo Alto, California, US
I think that 200mm f/4 canon is pretty good way to save some bucks especially if your shooting a newer DSLR
Photographer
Frozen Instant Imagery
Posts: 4152
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Lohkee wrote:
Chuckles. I own the 50 1.2 (that seems to weigh in at about 3 tons), and the cheap-ass nifty 50 that's so light I sometimes check to make sure I remembered to actually stick a lens on my camera.
My nifty-50 is, by far, the sharpest lens I own and, given enough light, always my first choice. Hell, if I drop it in a river (I have), it's no big deal at $75 bucks to get a replacement. About the only time I use my 1.2 is in a low-light setting (such as a church that does not allow flash during ceremonies, etc).
I dunno. It just depends on the task at hand. All of my glass is "L" but that little plastic nifty-50 is my go-to lens whenever possible.
Prestige comes from results, not gear, IMHO. The 50/1.2L doesn't weigh 3 tons until you put in on a 1D body  You want 3 tons, I think you need the 85/1.2L. The 85/1.2L balances beautifully on a 1D, and focuses faster on one (because of the higher voltage battery).
There are a lot of very good L series lenses. There aren't many very good Canon lenses that aren't L.
I do agree with the suggestion that the Sigma Art 35mm and 50mm are well worth considering, however.
Photographer
the lonely photographer
Posts: 2342
Beverly Hills, California, US
Lohkee wrote:
Chuckles. I own the 50 1.2 (that seems to weigh in at about 3 tons), and the cheap-ass nifty 50 that's so light I sometimes check to make sure I remembered to actually stick a lens on my camera.
My nifty-50 is, by far, the sharpest lens I own and, given enough light, always my first choice. Hell, if I drop it in a river (I have), it's no big deal at $75 bucks to get a replacement. About the only time I use my 1.2 is in a low-light setting (such as a church that does not allow flash during ceremonies, etc).
I dunno. It just depends on the task at hand. All of my glass is "L" but that little plastic nifty-50 is my go-to lens whenever possible.
Prestige comes from results, not gear, IMHO. I'd have agree on the nifty fifty, them "L" lenses are heavy as "L", in fact I've gone back to using my "professional grade" canon Rebel t2i. I avoid using my other cameras due to the weight.. I" m really impressed with the 1.8 85mm though. I just received my 28-300mm 3.5-5.6 iS L... Damn. That is one heavy lens....
Photographer
Mike Collins
Posts: 2880
Orlando, Florida, US
Nakrani Studios wrote:
I love my L series canon lenses, the thing is, they are actually made by a company that understands optics and not copiers, printers, ???
Not sure what you mean by this. They DO make great printers and copiers.
Photographer
Zack Zoll
Posts: 6895
Glens Falls, New York, US
Mike Collins wrote:
???
Not sure what you mean by this. They DO make great printers and copiers. They make printers and scanners. Canon Global makes copiers, but that's under a different division with different employees, just like Nikon's opthalmic lenses. Which has a lot to do with why so many people will tell you Zeiss camera lenses are way better than Nikon, but it's a lot closer when you're shopping for a new pair of glasses.
Note that I'm not trying to make a 'who is better' comparison - just explaining that lenses can be used for a lot of different things, and success in one application doesn't mean success in every application.
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You want 3 tons, I think you need the 85/1.2L. The 85/1.2L balances beautifully on a 1D, and focuses faster on one (because of the higher voltage battery).