Martino Loc: Northwest Florida

After starting a thread on Saturday asking about how Canon EF lenses provide a field of view on up to date digital crop and full frame sensors (which provided me with exactly what I wanted to know, genuinely thank you all) which caused a fair amount of discussion, I'm hoping this may be less contentious ;-)

I mostly shoot with a zoom lens (18-200 EF-S on my 70D) mostly I guess out of laziness. It covers most of what I do - travel photography, landscape, dog shows etc. I am disciplined enough to use a tripod and/or monopod to mostly keep things as sharp as I can where possible, but also hand hold most of the time. For some dog show and wild life use, I'd like to extend my reach a bit and am looking at a Canon 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM. So far so good.

However I want to avoid GAS and looking in my camera bag and I have three lenses that I never use - again laziness I guess. These are all late '80s early '90s Canon EF lenses that I've had and looked after since new, when I used them with film EOS 1 bodies. These are: EF 35-105 1:3.5-4.5 Zoom, EF 50mm 1:1.8. and EF 28mm 1:2.8.

My questions are - are any of these 'good' lenses? Should I stop being lazy and actually use them? Is there any market for such lenses if I sold them? Selling them may raise some cash towards the longer zoom, but if they individually aren't worth much, but are 'good' pieces of glass would I be better off keeping them? I've looked on eBay but as they are relatively old, I can't find too many (if any) similar recent past sales.

I'm looking for the advice of wiser heads than mine. Thanks in advance.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

They are all ok lenses, the 50mm/1.8 will make a fine portrait lens on your 70D, even the 28 is useful for portraits on a crop sensor, even though its not the fastest of lenses. The 35 -105 has a very nice range for all-around-shooting ("kinda" like a walk-around-lens) Yes, I would definitely hold on to them and put them to use. See how you like them. Seems you've got something to look forward to, have fun!!

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

The 35-105 is probably the oldest, 1987, and the least desirable although for $100 it’s not a bad lens. Decent optics but not built all that sturdy. I actually have one of these old lenses in my collection and it works ok but I really don’t use it anymore. If the 50 is one of the older ones with a metal mount, it would probably be the most desirable of the three lenses. The original nifty fifty if my recall serves me correctly. That lens in perfect condition is probably worth $100. The 28 mm lens is another goodie for the money lens. In very good condition that lens may fetch $150.

Photocraig

I have the 35-105 and have made some very good photographs using it on film and Dslr bodies. It is not stabilized and with the 1.6 "crop" factor, I am very careful to keep the shutter speeds higher than 1/125th sec. It has a plastic mount and is pushing 30 years old and works fine. However, it is worth more as a back up, "What the hell if it IS raining just put a cover on it and shoot" lens that it would yield in Dollars.

I'm saving mine for when I go to full frame. It will get me started until GAS takes over.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Have a look at the 50 and see if it has the metal mount. Don't let the quoted price fool you. This version as well as it's mark II (all plastic) version are excellent. It's weakness is the focus motor that is squeaky.

EoS_User Loc: Oshawa, Ontario Canada

I believe you are speaking of a different 35-105 lens than the OP has. His EF 35-105 1:3.5-4.5 Zoom may be the original "Push Pull" zoom with metal mount from 1987. A newer EF 35-105 1:4.5-5.6 was made in 1991 that has a plastic mount.

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

If you are seriously considering wildlife photography, I'm not sure you will have enough with the 70/300. You may want to consider the 100/400, either the older or newer version. I assume it will work well on your 70D, but I don't know the body. Both are great lenses and very versatile. And don't be lazy and put off fine turning your body/lens, like me. Of coarse assuming the 70D has that capability.

wotsmith Loc: Nashville TN

Hey, Lazy aint all that bad! Let me jog your mind a little. Consider a Canon 300mm F2.8; Yeah, I know it is really big, really expensive, and it is not a zoom. But until you try one, you will never experience a truly fabulous lens. I borrowed one for a day about 15 years ago, and knew that I had to get one, somehow someway. Incredibly fast, crazy good and crisp. It may be outside your budget. But consider, the value of that lens will not drop much in 10 years, so you are tying up money, not loosing it. Borrow one, rent one and it will be your "go to lens" after you figure out how to pay for one.
Good luck
Bill

Martino Loc: Northwest Florida

Yes, correct. It's the Push-Pull zoom with a metal mount.

Martino Loc: Northwest Florida

Yes, it's the metal mount version.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

You should get out and give it a go. Quite sharp at f/2.8 onward and wonderful rich colors. Here's two from walkabouts with the 50, full frame at Alcatraz and crop in Florida (you can 'click' the image and each will launch larger to see the details) :

Chevy Truck by Paul Sager, on Flickr
http://c8.staticflickr.com/2/1467/26289408791_1a3257618b_z.jpg

The holiday decorations were up in December by Paul Sager, on Flickr
http://c7.staticflickr.com/2/1650/26021955254_0c75d2687b_z.jpg

msomike72

I don't know about the two smaller lenses, but I have had the 70-300 for several years, one of only two non-L glass lens that I own. I still like it a lot as it takes great pictures. My other lenses are the Canon 17-40L, 24-105L, 28-135 (non-L), 100-400L, and the 100 Macro L. What ever you do, I HIGHLY recommend saving your money to purchase lenses that have the L glass as the pictures are so much better, and noticeably so. You'll notice that my lenses overlap so as to give me good coverage, which really allows flexibility. If you are a poor church mouse like I am, hunt for deals on quality used lenses. The extra wait to get the good stuff is more than worth it. As to the smaller prime lenses you have, since you did not say what kind of photography you like to do---they may be just fine. Decide what you like to capture as subject matter, then go get the lenses to enable you to do it. The point is: what allows you to have the most satisfaction for your efforts---does it make you smile!

lhardister Loc: Brownsville, TN

Ebay provides a means of reviewing recent sales of specific items, including camera lenses. According to my recollection, the procedure is to go to the Ebay "Search" page, click on "Advanced Search", after that page loads, click on "Sold Items", and then click "Search". You will be given a listing of recent sales of that item, including prices, which should give you a reasonable price range for your item. If I am not exactly correct on these steps, in any event, you will have no trouble in navigating to the "Sold Items" from the Ebay "Search" page.

You could also look on Amazon for the prices that are being placed on new items. That would likely give you an idea of the maximum that your item(s) could be expected to bring if offered for sale.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I'm with the comment on looking for a used copy of the 100-400L (the older push-pull). This is still a wonderful lens and typically selling in the high $800s. A better choice for wild life than any of Canon's 70-300 models.

Martino Loc: Northwest Florida

Thank you very much for all your advice, I genuinely appreciate it.

My photography is mostly what could be termed Travel Photography (I'm a consultant to the the tourism industry) - so landscape, street scenes etc., plus I attend dog shows every now and then also like to capture birds etc, but mostly in the yard or from my dock. Nothing too taxing!

I have checked both what is on eBay and and past sales - hence my comment that there is not too much showing up as the lenses are quite old.

I think what my plan will be is to sell (on eBay, or may be here?) the two prime lenses, and perhaps the zoom, together with a Digital Rebel Xti I have and never use, which is in great condition and was only serviced about a year ago. It's in the original box with all the ancillaries and packaging, instruction books etc. That lot may generate a $200-$300 who knows? All the items are in great condition. Anyway, I think I'll do that in either the lead up to Christmas or early in the new year when I believe people are searching for things. That will stop any suggestions in my own mind of Gear Acquisition Syndrome, as I'll be shedding things I don't use.

Much as I'd like a 100-400L, I can't justify the cost and my wildlife use is not high on the list. Grabbing the odd bird shot is about it currently. I would like a bit more 'reach' for my dog show stuff than my 18-200 zoom can offer, so I think I may go for a refurbished 70-300zoom, as these sell for about what an eBay auction achieves and come with year warranty. I notice there is one on the sales section here currently, but it's about the same price as a refurbished item direct from Canon.

Once again, thank you for your advice it was most valuable.