Canon EF 35-80mm f/4-5.6 USM

Review Date
March 9, 2004

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.67 of 5, 3 votes

Reviewed by
Pinesman , Intermediate

Price Paid
$0.00 at Ted's Cameras

Photography Experience
11-20 years , People

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

Customer Service
Haven't needed them yet.

Review Date
July 13, 2001

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by
Isaac Sibson , Intermediate , from UK

Photography Experience
6-10 years , Outdoor

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

Customer Service
N/A

Review Date
February 4, 2001

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Visitors rate this review
4.25 of 5, 4 votes

Reviewed by
Tony , Intermediate , from Oodnadatta

Photography Experience
2-5 years , Outdoor

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.

Review Date
January 7, 2001

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by
Jim Demsky , Casual , from Ohio

Photography Experience
6-10 years , People

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).

Review Date
November 9, 2000

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 1 votes

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.

Weaknesses
Everything

Similar Products Used
Canon EF 28-105 f/3.5-4.5

Customer Service
None yet