Canon Lenses - DPChallenge Forums

06/18/2005 01:20:27 PM · #1

I've pretty much made up my mind to buy a Canon EOS-20D. But in trying to put together and estimate of total kit costs, I've managed to totally confuse myself regarding lenses. Is there a site to go to find out what the letters after the lenses mean? Ones I've seen are: I, II, III, II/III, IS, L, V & USM.

Also, opinions on Sigma lenses for Canon would be appreciated.

06/18/2005 01:23:57 PM · #2

Originally posted by TommyMoe21:

IS - image stabilization
L - the highest quality lenses made by canon (luxury)
I/II/III - generation of the lens
V - I have no idea??? can you point out an example?
USM - could be one of 3 types of focusing motors, faster than non-USM

sigma makes a few very fine lenses, mostly in the EX lineup.

Message edited by author 2005-06-18 13:25:34.

TommyMoe21

Canon EOS-7D Mark II

06/18/2005 01:29:20 PM · #3

Thanks kyebosh.

Here's where I saw the "V": Canon EF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 V USM

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

06/18/2005 01:30:23 PM · #4

Originally posted by TommyMoe21:

Thanks kyebosh.

Here's where I saw the "V": Canon EF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 V USM

I would guess that's a 5th generation lens.

peterish

Nikon D90

06/18/2005 01:51:01 PM · #5

what makes a L lens the highest quality, is it sharper? More durable?

And without USM, the camera cannot autofocus right?

Balko

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

06/18/2005 01:53:24 PM · #6

Originally posted by peterish:

what makes a L lens the highest quality, is it sharper? More durable?

And without USM, the camera cannot autofocus right?

It is my understanding that USM (UltraSonic Motor) is a quieter focusing system. Lenses w/o USM can still autofocus.

Message edited by author 2005-06-18 13:53:48.

PaulMdx

Canon EOS-1D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

06/18/2005 01:53:55 PM · #7

Originally posted by papagei:

Originally posted by peterish:
And without USM, the camera cannot autofocus right?

It is my understanding that USM (UltraSonic Motor) is a quieter focusung system. Lenses w/o USM can still autofocus.

Quieter, and faster.

Message edited by author 2005-06-18 13:54:16.

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

06/18/2005 01:54:09 PM · #8

Originally posted by peterish:

what makes a L lens the highest quality, is it sharper? More durable?

And without USM, the camera cannot autofocus right?

USM is just for Ultrasonic motor. It's very quiet. Without USM focusing can be very noisy but you can auto focus.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

06/18/2005 01:54:34 PM · #9

Originally posted by peterish:

what makes a L lens the highest quality, is it sharper? More durable?

And without USM, the camera cannot autofocus right?

There are other autofocus motors besides USM. Sigma uses HSM, and canon uses other ones in some of their lenses.

The L lenses usually prove to be the sharpest lenses wide open in the canon lineup. They are all built like tanks compaired to the cheaper models. They retain their value very very well too.

peterish

Nikon D90

06/18/2005 02:09:18 PM · #10

I'm a little confused by the lense names, for example,
Canon EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM
means this lens has a max aperture of 4.5 and mininum of 5.6 ?

and
Canon EF 17-35mm f/2.8L
means this lens has a fixed aperture of 2.8 and cannot be changed?

davmct

Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM

06/18/2005 02:13:45 PM · #11

in your example, f/2.8L, 2.8 is the max aperture, meaning you can go higher if you choose (ie: f/11, f/16, etc.), but you can't open the lens any more than 2.8 at any distance.

when you have a range, like f/4.5-5.6, this means that at the lowest level of zoom (ie: 100mm) you can open the lens up to an aperture of 4.5. however, at the outer limit of the zoom (300mm) you will only achieve a maximum aperture of 5.6

hth,
d.

peterish

Nikon D90

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

06/18/2005 02:26:14 PM · #12

Originally posted by davmct:

Oh thanks for the explanation. So if these 2 lenses are compared, the 2.8L offers a much better aperture range right?

06/18/2005 02:43:19 PM · #13

Originally posted by peterish:

Originally posted by davmct:
in your example, f/2.8L, 2.8 is the max aperture, meaning you can go higher if you choose (ie: f/11, f/16, etc.), but you can't open the lens any more than 2.8 at any distance.

when you have a range, like f/4.5-5.6, this means that at the lowest level of zoom (ie: 100mm) you can open the lens up to an aperture of 4.5. however, at the outer limit of the zoom (300mm) you will only achieve a maximum aperture of 5.6

hth,
d.

Oh thanks for the explanation. So if these 2 lenses are compared, the 2.8L offers a much better aperture range right?

yes.

CorySmith

06/18/2005 07:20:48 PM · #14

L lenses are finished different than the regular lenses, my guess is that they are called L is because they are cut with Lasers. since they are cut with light they are much smoother and provide high contrast, sharp images. that is why they are so expensive. also canon knows they can charge that much because we will pay for it.... dirty scheme

doctornick

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

06/18/2005 07:34:17 PM · #15

Originally posted by Fetor:

No.

L stands for Low dispersion...Low dispersion glass that have various coatings or are made of fluorite.

CorySmith

06/18/2005 07:37:49 PM · #16

Originally posted by doctornick:

Originally posted by Fetor:
L lenses are finished different than the regular lenses, my guess is that they are called L is because they are cut with Lasers. since they are cut with light they are much smoother and provide high contrast, sharp images. that is why they are so expensive. also canon knows they can charge that much because we will pay for it.... dirty scheme

No.

L stands for Low dispersion...Low dispersion glass that have various coatings or are made of fluorite.

well the lenses still are finished with lasers
my guess was that they were called L becasue of that, i stand corrected

doctornick

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

An interesting read from Canon

06/18/2005 07:40:40 PM · #17