Canon EF III 35 mm-80 mm F/4.0-5.6 Lens

I bought the Canon EF 35-80mm lens because I had just bought my first DSLR and it was an affordable alternative to the 18-55mm kit lens that came with my Canon 1000D XS. New DSLR camera owners who are not seasoned photographers are going to quickly discover that lenses are the real investment in the world of SLR and DSLR cameras. I don't recommend going into this world without doing some serious homework on optics and it is the optics that really make the picture.

Most of the lenses recommended by the pros cost significantly more than the commercially priced DSLR camera bodies being sold today (Dec-2009). The kit lenses that are sold with new Canon cameras are rarely of any quality to the pros, however they are the lenses that most people shoot their first pictures with. The Canon EF 35-80 lens was a kit lens sold with older commercially priced Canon Rebel EOS 35mm film cameras. I has an EF mount so it will work with the newer DSLR Canons although you will lose the outer edges of your shot unless you shooting with a full frame model.

For the most part this lens is thought of as nothing more than a glorified lens cover that you can take pictures with! It's optics are fair to average at best, the glass is slow, and the auto-focus (AF) is there. This is coming from folks who have used higher quality lenses and have developed the eye to notice these issues. For my part the EF 35-80mm lens is very serviceable, especially for beginners, who are still learning the nuances of quality photography and don't have $2500 to drop on a the better lenses that Canon makes. If anything, this is a good learning lens that operates as an IQ test for what good photography is about. If/When you can recognize the 35-80mm's limitations it's time to move onto better lenses. If you don't get to that point, than you've found yourself a very affordable and potent option to the kit lens that came with your digital shooter and for some folks that's all they need.

I bought this lens on eBay, because I had already won a Canon EOS Rebel auction. I didn't bid very high on the camera body, because I didn't expect to win. When I won, I didn't have a lens to use on it so I went back to eBay and searched for lenses. I have used several Canons before and they have always proved to be good cameras with sharp lenses. When I received the lens, I put it on the camera and ran a test roll of film, using close-ups, scenics, low and high light. When I had the film developed, every photo was great. Focus (which seems fast to me) was excellent and the sharpness was great. I would be glad to recommend this lens to anyone looking for this zoom range.

Needed this for a Canon SLR K2 Film camera I purchased on EBay, great lens for the price work flawless with film camera. There are just some pictures you just can't achieve with a DSLR.

I use this in combination with a reverse coupler and another 50mm f1.4 manual canon lens. The AF and zoom on the 35-80mm allow quick framing and focusing of the subject, while the f1.4 reversed lens allows ample light for maximum depth of field. I leave the set together as a dedicated macro.
Hope this helps someone interested in a low cost, quality combination.

It is a very good lense, durable and usable friendly. Its a typical Cannon product, everything works as advertised. I would reccomed this line of products to anyone interested in photography. It zooms well and macro works well for insects and flower shots, or anything small. Its a good addition to your camera eqiptment.