Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM Lens Review
The Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM Lens is a definite step up in quality from Canon's econo consumer zooms.
The Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM Lens should not be confused with the much-lower-end
Canon EF 28-105mm f/4.0-5.6 USM Lens.
These are much different lenses.
The Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM Lens features good build and decent-for-the-price optical quality.
Weighing about as much as two of the econo zooms, the Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM Lens feels substantially higher quality in your hand.
A metal mount and a distance window are included features.
Ring USM (Ultrasonic Motor) yields good focusing speed - nearly silently.
FTM (Full Time Manual) focusing is enabled - and though thin, a real focusing ring is provided on the main barrel.
The focus and zoom rings both have a nice feel to them.
Also a notch up from the econo zooms is a 7-blade medium-fast aperture that starts at f/3.5,
goes to f/4 around 37mm and then to f/4.5 around 70mm.
As can be expected, the Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM Lens' cost is a notch above the econo zooms, but the notch is not a big one.
If you are looking for a zoom lens with good close-up capabilities,
the Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM Lens is probably not a good choice as it can only provide up to .19x magnification natively.
From left to right in the picture above are the
Canon EF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 II Lens, the
Canon EF 28-90mm f/4-5.6 II USM Lens, the
Canon EF 28-105mm f/4.0-5.6 USM Lens, the
Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM Lens and the
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM Lens.
The same lenses are pictured below extended to their maximum length.
Even on a 1.3x FOVCF body,
the Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM Lens has some barrel distortion to 40mm or so and
slight pincushion distortion from 70mm through the rest of the focal length range.
Very soft wide open, the Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM Lens gets sharp around f/5.6.
The Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM Lens is very similar to the
Canon EF f/24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Lens
in build quality and optically one very slight notch below it.
The Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM Lens offer 20mm more zoom range on the telephoto end and sacrifices 4mm on the wide end.
If this is the price range you are able to buy up to,
you will have to decide which of these features (focal length ranges, image quality) is most important to you.
The Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM Lens has a very nice focal length range that includes the normal, general purpose zoom range and more.
Be sure to also consider one of the lenses suggested on the
Canon General Purpose Lens Recommendations page.
Recommended Shopping Resources
(Using these links to make your purchase supports this site)
Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM Lens at B&H Photo
Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM Lens at Amazon.com
Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM Lens at Adorama (Imported)
Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM Lens at Adorama
Find the best price on the Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM Lens
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William Castleman
FredMiranda.com
