Anybody got a Canon 15-85?

[dibbly dobbler]

As above really - anybody have one of these ?

I was contemplating it as a possible upgrade for my 18-55 kit lens - sensible idea ? It would be for mainly landscapes and general snapping. I have a 60mm for macro work but this would be my main lens.

Cheers

[14-7]

Got one for my 7D as part of the package.

Good lens but I have noticed recently that when taking pics at 15mm there is lens distortion across the horizon.

Just a few all taken with the 15-85. You can see in the last one the distortion in the straightness of the horizon although I suppose it could be just an optical illusion created by the bright sun.

[dibbly dobbler]

Cheers 14-7

These look pretty bloody good to me - I suppose the questions is would it make a worthwhile upgrade to my boggo 18-55 or should I be looking elsewhere

[14-7]

It is a good upgrade in my own opinion. I had a 300D and a 400D both with kit 18-55 lenses and to be honest the 15-85 I find a leap ahead in terms of performance.

Much better optically and the IS can help. The main thing I found is that as a walk about lens that extra 30mm reach over the 18-55 is a bonus.

Edited by 14-7 on Sunday 8th August 20:38

[dibbly dobbler]

Thanks again - good to have some feedback from somebody that's actually used one

[RobDickinson]

General opinion is that its sharp enough all round, is built well, colour and contrast are good etc.

Vignettes and distorts, both of which can be somewhat fixed in post. Oh and not the fastest lens, but usable wide open.

A good alternative to the 17-55 IMO.

[dibbly dobbler]

Ta Rob

(O/T - did you get your virtual beer from the Macro thread )

[RobDickinson]

Yep thanks!

[Dogsey]

Agree with the other two, not a perfect lens particularly the vignetting at 15mm, but for general use it's a very versatile lens, features the new breed of IS which is supposedly good for 4 stops (I've handheld a shot at 0.6 sec at 15mm with acceptable (for the purpose the photo was taken for) results!).

My thinking when I bought it was that if it was good enough to be offered as the kit lens for the 7D it would be good enough for me and my 40D.

[RobDickinson]

Dogsey said:

My thinking when I bought it was that if it was good enough to be offered as the kit lens for the 7D it would be good enough for me and my 40D.

Canon offer the 7D as a kit with the 28-135 and 18-135 neither of which I rate much!!

[dibbly dobbler]

Thanks all - I guess the issues re distortion and vignetting would be no worse than my current lens or perhaps not as bad so I can live with that.

Maybe a bit of a silly one but at the wide end do you think I would notice much difference at 15mm rather than 18mm ?

Cheers, DD.

[RobDickinson]

15-18 (or 24 vs 29) is what 20%? Its noticably wider.

[dibbly dobbler]

Good - this helps me to justify the expense

Thanks again Rob

[4hero]

I could be tempted to sell my 17-40L Mike

[dibbly dobbler]

Bah - it was only a matter of time I suppose

[dibbly dobbler]

fk - now I see there's a 17-85 as well! It's roughly half the price of the 15-85

Can 2mm really be worth £250 ?! (titter ye not Mrs etc etc)

Help !

[flat-planedCrank]

dibbly dobbler said:

fk - now I see there's a 17-85 as well! It's roughly half the price of the 15-85

Can 2mm really be worth £250 ?! (titter ye not Mrs etc etc)

Help !

The 17-85 is an older design though - I got it as a kit lens with my 30D (Canons site says September 2004). The 15-85 was only released last year.

Some reviews: 17-85, 15-85

IMO the 17-85 makes sense only as a kit lens - I wouldn't pay £350 for one separately.



Cheers.

Edited by flat-planedCrank on Thursday 12th August 22:40

[RobDickinson]

dibbly dobbler said:

fk - now I see there's a 17-85 as well! It's roughly half the price of the 15-85

Can 2mm really be worth £250 ?! (titter ye not Mrs etc etc)

Help !

The 17-85 is junk, ignore and avoid.

Ok its not junk as such, but opticaly its very compromised an no better than the 18-55IS kit lens (tho it has better build, more range and USM).

Its not a patch on the 15-85.

[dibbly dobbler]

Hmm - tricky stuff this photography lark isn't it!?

Good reviews though FPC - thanks for the links

[dibbly dobbler]

RobDickinson said:

dibbly dobbler said:

fk - now I see there's a 17-85 as well! It's roughly half the price of the 15-85

Can 2mm really be worth £250 ?! (titter ye not Mrs etc etc)

Help !

The 17-85 is junk, ignore and avoid.

Ok its not junk as such, but opticaly its very compromised an no better than the 18-55IS kit lens (tho it has better build, more range and USM).

Its not a patch on the 15-85.

Thanks Rob - I need some clarity as the range of choices can be bewildering to a newby

Current plan is to go to a 15-85 as a general walkabout for landscapes etc (replacing the 18-55) and keep the 60mm for macro. No great urge for a zoom lens as yet thank god !