EF/EF-S 420-800mm Lens Review: A Manual Lens for the Dedicated Photographer

If you're into photography and have been considering a telephoto lens to capture distant subjects, the EF/EF-S 420-800mm F8.3 from Lightdow might have caught your eye. This lens is all about manual control, which can be a selling point or a dealbreaker depending on your shooting style. It's certainly not for someone looking for an easy point-and-shoot experience.

The lens is designed for Canon EF/EF-S mount cameras, which is great if you own a Canon DSLR. It's fully manual, meaning no autofocus, and requires a bit more involvement in setting up your shots. This is something to keep in mind if you're used to the convenience of modern auto-focus lenses.

In terms of compatibility, this lens covers a wide range of Canon models, both newer and older ones, so chances are it'll fit your camera if you're in the Canon ecosystem. The focal length of 420-800mm is impressive on paper, offering the potential to bring far-off subjects much closer, but it comes with its own challenges.

Keep reading to get into the details of what using this lens is actually like, including its design, performance, and whether it offers good value for money.

When it comes to value, the EF/EF-S 420-800mm F8.3 lens is a mixed bag. It provides a massive focal length at a fraction of the cost of high-end alternatives. For amateur photographers or those new to manual lenses, it’s an affordable way to experiment with telephoto photography without breaking the bank.

The lens is priced competitively, considering it includes an adapter ring and covers a wide range of Canon DSLR models. If you're mainly shooting in good lighting conditions and are okay with the manual focus, this lens can offer you decent results. It's not going to win awards for image sharpness or vibrancy, but at this price point, it delivers a reasonable performance.

However, if you're looking for speed, convenience, and top-notch optical quality, you might want to consider investing in something more expensive. It’s a trade-off between cost and quality. This lens is for those who are curious or on a tight budget, but maybe not for those who have high expectations from their gear.

In summary, it’s good value for money if you’re aware of its limitations and adjust your expectations accordingly.

When it comes to build quality, the EF/EF-S 420-800mm lens feels pretty solid, which is reassuring given its lengthy focal range. It's not overly heavy, weighing in at around 1.76 pounds, so it's manageable for most shooting sessions. The design is straightforward, with a large focus ring that's easy to grip, which is a necessity given that all focusing is done manually.

One thing I noticed after a few days of use is that the manual focus mechanism is smooth, but it does require a steady hand and a bit of patience to nail the focus, especially at longer focal lengths. The lens doesn’t come with built-in stabilization, so if your hands aren't the steadiest, a tripod will likely be your best friend.

The lens doesn’t have that polished, premium feel of more expensive alternatives, but it doesn’t feel cheap either. The inclusion of an adapter ring for free is a nice touch, easing the mounting process to your Canon body. It’s a practical design, no frills, but does the job it’s intended for.

Overall, the design and build are decent, but nothing spectacular. It’s functional, and that’s the key takeaway here.

Let's talk about what really matters—performance. The EF/EF-S 420-800mm F8.3 is a manual telephoto zoom lens that can capture decent images of subjects that are far away. It’s particularly good for things like wildlife photography or snapping shots of the moon. The aperture range from F8.3 to F16 offers some flexibility, though the lack of an automatic aperture setting might be frustrating for some.

In practice, the lens does a decent job of bringing distant subjects into view. However, the image quality isn't flawless. You're likely to encounter some chromatic aberration and a bit of softness, especially at the extreme ends of the zoom. This isn’t surprising given the price point, and it’s something you might be willing to accept if you're not a professional photographer.

The manual focus allows for precise control, but it can be a bit fiddly, particularly in situations where you need to act fast. It’s definitely a lens that encourages a slower, more deliberate approach to photography. Compared to other lenses in this price range, it holds its own, but don't expect it to compete with high-end professional glass.

Overall, it gets the job done, just don’t expect it to blow you away with its performance.