What's your favorite Canon lens and why?

[barryjphoto]

Here's to hoping my favorites are the one's I'd like to upgrade to in the near future. Currently my favorite's are 70-200 f/4 L for it's range on a 1.6 and the sweet creamy almost 85 1.8-esque Bokeh is gives. Plus light weight and price. I also love my 35 f/2. Except for it's seeking and noisy AF it's a pleasure on my Elan 7 and dig. A great street hip shooter.

[RobertG.]

It's hard to say but at moment my favorite is the TS-E 24mm L II. I really love the build quality, the lack of distortion (compared to other wide angle lenses) and lack of vignetting. Vignetting is the most anoying feature of my half dozen other primes and of all zoomes. Of course the possibilities of tilt and shift are great and are a major reason, too. Closely following is t
he TS-E 90mm. I love to manuel focus with this lens but I miss the more modern design of the TS-E 24.

[Harley]

I have or have had more than my fair share of Canon lenses ( over 50 by last count ). If I had to pick 1 it would depend on the subject, and my mood. A top 10 in no particular order would be

EF 135/2L
EF 14 2.8 II L
EF 400 2.8 L IS
EF 300 2.8 L IS
FD 800 5.6 L made EF by EdMika adapter
FD 300 2.8 L made EF by EdMika adapter
FL 55 1.2 made EF by EdMika kit
TS 35 2.8 made EF by EdMika kit
EF 70-200 2.8 L IS II
EF 100 2.8 L HIS

Honorable mention
EF 85mm 1.2 L II

Hear, hear for the FL 55mm f/1.2...!  My TS 35mm f/2.8 and FD 300mm f/2.8 L are tied for second.

[7enderbender]

For me that would be the FD 50 1.4 and the EF 135L.

With that being said: I am very curious about a converted FL 55 1.2 which may just be the closest EF compatible replacement for the FD 50 1.4. For the time being I'm using the EF version of the 50 1.4 (for digital).

I was also always very happy with my 28mm FD lens.

[JR]

I do a lot of portraits and I would say its a tie between the 135L and the 85 1.2L II right now.  I picked those because they are super sharp even wide open, fast, and offer really bokeh.  I could not live without either one.

Jacques

[Drewskers]

My favorite Canon lens might have been my 70-200mm f/4 IS L, but it's not. Why? Because it is not as sharp as the 70-200 f/4 non-IS L that it replaced. Not by a long shot! And it flares much more easily than the non-IS version. Which, unfortunately, I sold. So every time I use the IS lens, I get pissed off.

My most used Canon lens is the 24-105mm IS L. Why? Because of the wonderful focal length range and very effective IS, and reasonable (though not great) sharpness. But, it's not my favorite lens either, because of the absurd amounts of barrel distortion and vignetting at the wide end. When barrel distortion is bad enough that it hinders composition, it's really remarkable! Thank the gods for PTLens (and now, auto lens correction in Adobe Camera Raw), they calm my anger towards Canon for fobbing this off as an "L" lens.

Similarly, I'd like to know Canon's excuse for stupid amounts of barrel distortion on my 400mm f/5.6 L lens. It's a prime telephoto for cripe's sake. The barrel distortion should be low enough so that it is not visible!

I'd discuss the merits of my Canon 20mm f/2.8 EF lens, but the only one I can come up with, is that I wouldn't be bothered if I dropped it on the sidewalk by accident.

Actually, my favorite lens on my Canon camera (a venerable 5D), is the Sigma EX 14mm f/2.8 which I bought 12 years ago for $700. I thought about upgrading to the Canon 14mm f/2.8 L II lens, but after the experience with the 70-200m lens, this time I decided to "try before I buy". I found the Sigma has less field curvature and less distortion than the Canon, and auto-focuses more accurately. It does flare a little more than the Canon. But the extra $2000 in my bank account more than covers the cost of the piece of black cardboard I use to shield the lens. That Sigma 14mm is the oldest lens in my Canon arsenal, a tried and true "keeper".

My future lens budget is allocated to Zeiss, and quite possibly the ZF series, so they can be used on Canon, and other brands as well.

[ontarian]

For me that would be the FD 50 1.4 and the EF 135L.

With that being said: I am very curious about a converted FL 55 1.2 which may just be the closest EF compatible replacement for the FD 50 1.4. For the time being I'm using the EF version of the 50 1.4 (for digital).

I was also always very happy with my 28mm FD lens.

I tested the FL 55 1.2 favorably to the EF 50 1.2 L and exceedingly favorably to the well regarded plastic fantastic 50 1.8. I ended up selling my EF 50 1.2 L since I only used it for low light night club shooting and thus always manual focusing because autofocus was inconsistent in low light for me at least. The FL 55 certainly flares more and has a distinctly different color and bokeh but I like the different flavour it adds.

[Cetalis]

18-135, because it makes my XS look impressive to people who have no idea what they're shooting other than the fact it looks chunkier than their p&s, until they ask me to take their portraits and turn their AF back on.

In all seriousness though, its the only lens I own, but at least its pretty decent for the price.

I'd discuss the merits of my Canon 20mm f/2.8 EF lens, but the only one I can come up with, is that I wouldn't be bothered if I dropped it on the sidewalk by accident.

Can ya drop it off outside my door?

[pj1974]

My favourite lens is my Canon 15-85mm USM IS.   

The reason for this is that it is just so versatile on my Canon 7D.  The size / weight, and focal length are just so useful, and I can use it for probably about 80% of photos I take. While it's not particularly fast, IS helps in some situations - and the USM focus is both fast and accurate.

The image quality of the 15-85mm is very good. Some minor issues on the wide end (to be expected, eg small bit of CA, and softness at the edges / corners). But really quite good considering! I had a good copy of the Canon 28-135mm, but my 15-85mm is superior in every regard, including build quality.

My next favourite lens would be my 70-300mm L. That is also my most expensive lens and perhaps has higher image quality than the previous lens.  The 70-300mm L is also very versatile for a telezoom - both it's physical size (fits in my LowePro should bag) - and can do eg portraits at 70mm f4, to birds / wildlife / some sports - up to 300mm @ f5.6.  But definitely the Canon 15-85mm is more a 'go to' lens for more of my general photography (eg landscape, casual portraits, even flower macros, etc).

Cheers.   

Paul

[jrista]

For the kind of work I do, birds and wildlife, the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L is without question my favorite lens. Its hand-holdable, light enough to carry around for several hours, has pretty decent IS, and is sharp enough for my usage so far.

Now, if I owned my dream lens, the EF 600m f/4 L, I don't doubt that it would take the top place on my list, when used on a sturdy tripod with a gimbal head. I can't much afford $13,000 for a lens, though (let alone much else these days), so the 100-400 reigns supreme in my kit as my most-used lens.

After that I would have to say the EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L II, as I use that for landscapes, and its a superb lens. I'm looking forward to the official announcement of the 5D III, as I have only used the 16-35 on APS-C cameras so far, and it definitely is a tad lacking on the wide end and DOF. It'll be nice to use it on a full-frame camera, as it was meant to be...and I'm sure it will be all that much better (although likely not enough to dethrone the 100-400.)

[NWPhil]

Now: Canon TS-E 24mm 3.5L II
because the great IQ and being manual focus - with a very craetive DOF

previously : Canon 17-40 4L
because is light and covers all needs for landscaping while hiking

before 5Dmk2, on a 40D:
Canon EF-s 10-22mm
same as 17-40 on a FF body

ps: don't tell the TS-e 24, but once I can get my hands on the TS-e 17 or another great prime between 16 to 20  - if one ever shows up, she will be on "previously" status

[briansquibb]

Definately the 135 f/2 - like a pair of old slippers. Always comfortable and gives that nice warm feeling when being used. When strapped to the 5D2 the balance is perfect for me and its light weight allows it to be waved around all day. I know that the IQ is going to be good, AF is quick and accurate and the bokeh/bg blur is priceless

Makes a wicked street lens as well

[Michael_pfh]

EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS II - it's super sharp and very versatile

[Tijn]

EF 70-200 f/4L IS USM is my favorite Canon lens. Why? Because I have it. 

I would probably prefer the 70-200 f/2.8L IS II USM (even though it's heavy) or the 24-70 f/2.8L II USM if I had those and a 5Dmk3; unfortunately, I don't have them.  (nor money to buy them  )

[D.Sim]

I have so many favourites... =(

The only one I have is the 135mm f/2
Intend to get the 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS II (another favourite) soon though...

also:

200mm f/2 IS
300 f/2.8
100 L macro

Anyone want to donate to the "D.Sim Favourite Lens Collection Fund"?