SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Fred, I have one of those 35-80's
I will say, it's ugly, it's noisy, it's old, it has a plastic mount and it feels cheap.
It is SOOO bad-mouthed that one day I set out to prove to myself just how bad it really is.
So I put my camera on a tripod and shot a crisp, $5 bill at about four feet at 60mm, f8, ISO 100, and did the same with my 24-105L lens.
At 100%, I could hardly tell which was which, if I even could at all. That ugly, old lens is as sharp as anything I own.
Verdict? It's probably much like the nifty fifty, 1.8. Ugly but VERY good.
Fred, don't bad-mouth that ugly little zoom. Call it junk, but DON'T call it BAD !! SS

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Good call,SS. This is true for so many "junk" lenses, including the plastic, cheaply made Nikon "E" series lens, made for Nikon beginner cameras, which ended up yielding excellent images.

skipro Loc: Eastern Washingtion

You are correct regarding the eos 650. I was planning on getting a new DSLR body and maybe keeping some of my old lenses. However, I tried my lenses on a friend's (they fit fine) Canon T3i and compared them with his lenses--HIS NEWER LENSES WERE MUCH BETTER! I was thinking of a 60D or a T4i, but now that I also will be purchasing lenses and body maybe I should consider Nikon also? Which model would compare favorably (price and features) with the Canons I am considering? I am also considering purchasing used or refurbished; are there any issues I should watch out for in particular? Thanks, Rich

skipro Loc: Eastern Washingtion

You are correct regarding the eos 650. I was planning on getting a new DSLR body and maybe keeping some of my old lenses. However, I tried my lenses on a friend's (they fit fine) Canon T3i and compared them with his lenses--HIS NEWER LENSES WERE MUCH BETTER! I was thinking of a 60D or a T4i, but now that I also will be purchasing lenses and body maybe I should consider Nikon also? Which model would compare favorably (price and features) with the Canons I am considering? I am also considering purchasing used or refurbished; are there any issues I should watch out for in particular? Thanks, Rich

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I do believe you are keeeeeyrect madam! LOL

FredB Loc: A little below the Mason-Dixon line.

I bow to superior experience - I think I had an old Canon 28-80 or 28-90 piece of junk a bunch of years ago, and it was horrible. I have read much bad-mouthing of the 35-80 I figured it was in the same class. But if you say they're decent lenses, I withdraw my objection. :)

Rich, as far as your question, buying Canon or Nikon factory refurbs is 99% as safe as buying new in the box, perhaps even better - the individual camera is examined by a tech, tweaked and twiddled if it's off spec, lubed, cleaned and polished, and then put in a plain box and warranted for 90 days or more, at a substantial discount. The assembly line bodies that get shoved in pretty boxes for retail shelves probably do NOT get that kind of attention on an individual basis.

buffmaloney Loc: Indiana

Plastic cheaply made Series E lenses are better built than most lenses produced these days.

buffmaloney Loc: Indiana

I got my D7000 Nikon refurbished for $619.