Canon 28-135mm Lens? I'm a stodgy old crank. I would like to buy a 28-135mm lens. However, I can only find it on E-Bay or Amazon. Does anyone know why Canon discontinued this lens in...

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

I'm a stodgy old crank. I would like to buy a 28-135mm lens. However, I can only find it on E-Bay or Amazon. Does anyone know why Canon discontinued this lens in favor of the 24-70mm lens? Has anyone used the two lenses and found one better than the other aside from its f/stop?

bodiebill

I BOUGHT A TAMRON 18-200 MM AND LIKE IT.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Scruples wrote:

I'm a stodgy old crank. I would like to buy a 28-135mm lens. However, I can only find it on E-Bay or Amazon. Does anyone know why Canon discontinued this lens in favor of the 24-70mm lens? Has anyone used the two lenses and found one better than the other aside from its f/stop?

The closer current lens is actually the 24-105mm.
Why? Only Canon knows that.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

You can find the release dates of individual Canon lenses from something called the Lens Hall of the Canon Camera Museum : https://global.canon/en/c-museum/lens-series.html

The only version to-date of the EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM was released in 1998. Typically, EF lens designs have a 10-year life-cycle, although some lenses have production runs shorter or much longer. For example, the EF 135mm f/2L USM was released in 1996 and has never been updated nor removed from the active catalog.

All EF 24-70 lenses are in the L-series, with no "series relation" to non L-series designs. You'd have to contact Canon directly for why the 28-135 IS was discontinued and a series II version was not released.

idrabefi Loc: Michigan

How much are you willing to spend?

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Scruples wrote:

I'm a stodgy old crank. I would like to buy a 28-135mm lens. However, I can only find it on E-Bay or Amazon. Does anyone know why Canon discontinued this lens in favor of the 24-70mm lens? Has anyone used the two lenses and found one better than the other aside from its f/stop?

I own one and have used it on a Canon 5D. It is an ok lens (I havn't used a 24-70).

Ratskinner Loc: Copalis Beach WA

I purchased my 28-135 IS lens off craigslist for a very good price ( $100 I think ) and still use it occasionally.
It is an OK lens but not as good as my 24-105 mm L lens.

Bonzo4 Loc: Hartford, CT

Same here; Tamron B018 18-200 for walk around.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

I guess Canon knows why it does the things they do. As for the 24-135mm I have one and will probably switch to the 24-70mm. When I do I will post the comparison results.
Happy Shooting!

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

An interesting place to visit. It is no wonder why Canon is a remarkable camera manufacturer.

khorinek

Scruples wrote:

I'm a stodgy old crank. I would like to buy a 28-135mm lens. However, I can only find it on E-Bay or Amazon. Does anyone know why Canon discontinued this lens in favor of the 24-70mm lens? Has anyone used the two lenses and found one better than the other aside from its f/stop?

I have that lens. I bought it several years ago to use on vacation. I thought taking a less expensive lens on vacation instead of risking my 24-70 lens would be a good idea. The lens is not sealed and in Cozumel, Mexico the humidity is fairly high and the lens fogged up inside. It took several minutes for it to clear up. Meanwhile I missed a lot of shots. Other than that, it is a good lens.

AntonioReyna Loc: Los Angeles, California

The 28-135 Canon EF lens is an underappreciated lens. I have had several and previously shot a calendar with the lens. I also have the 24-105L/4 lens and sometimes use the 28-135 as it is lighter. Here is a pic that I shot a few days ago with this lens of my granddaughter with 6D.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Scruples wrote:

I'm a stodgy old crank. I would like to buy a 28-135mm lens. However, I can only find it on E-Bay or Amazon. Does anyone know why Canon discontinued this lens in favor of the 24-70mm lens? Has anyone used the two lenses and found one better than the other aside from its f/stop?

That lens is a very old design and is bettered significantly by a number of newer Canon optics. It also suffered from extreme zoom creep. It's range, however was very useful and provided an almost identical field of view on a FF body as the also discontinued EFs 17-85 did on a crop sensor body. What body were you planning to use it on?

nadelewitz Loc: Ithaca NY

Scruples wrote:

I'm a stodgy old crank. I would like to buy a 28-135mm lens. However, I can only find it on E-Bay or Amazon. Does anyone know why Canon discontinued this lens in favor of the 24-70mm lens? Has anyone used the two lenses and found one better than the other aside from its f/stop?

Haven't you looked at the good used equipment sources? UsedPhotoPro, MBP, KEH, Cameta, B&H, Adorama, and more? Canon 28-135s are plentiful.

Matter of fact, I have an EF 28-135 3.5-5.6 IS USM (with focus scale in a window, meaning it will allow full-time manual focusing without having to switch it off of AF. Hood included. Available for sale. Private-message me.

fotoman150

Scruples wrote:

I'm a stodgy old crank. I would like to buy a 28-135mm lens. However, I can only find it on E-Bay or Amazon. Does anyone know why Canon discontinued this lens in favor of the 24-70mm lens? Has anyone used the two lenses and found one better than the other aside from its f/stop?

I have one and have been told by my local camera store that the lens is rare and discontinued. I have used both and the 28-135 is 3.5-5.6 I think. The only 24-70 I have used is the 2.8. The former is more versatile outdoors in adequate light but bad in lower light. Whereas the 24-70 2.8 is good for shade and lower light. I supplement it with a 70-200 2.8. But the 70-200 gives me camera shake even at high shutter speeds and using IS especially at the 200 range, which gives the best Bokeh. I’m going to start using the 85 I think it’s a 1.7 or 1.4, I can’t remember, for portraits and see how that works.

Good luck in your search.