Help! Canon 15-85 vs everything else!

lucky_13

lucky_13

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Hi I have a Canon 550D with 18-55 and 55-250 but I find the 18-55 a little limited on the zoom so I wanted a primary lens that would stay on my camera for longer then the 18-55 does. I was going to buy the 17-85 is usm but I was put off by the staff at the shop and I was told to go for the 15-85 is usm as it has far better IQ better glass and much better colour rendition, they went as far as to compare it to the mighty 24-105L regarding IQ. I didn't have the money at the time so I saved up for it and when I went to buy it I was put off again and told I should be getting the 17-40L instead! Although the 17-40 might be a very good lens the zoom range it offers is no good to me! Has the 15-85 better IQ then the 18-55 is kit lens?
Are there any other candidates to these lenses with the same or better IQ?
15-85 ideal but I keep getting put off by people for some reason
24-105 perfect but not wide enough
17-40 not long enough zoom
17-55 not long enough zoom
Ps: I have no intention at all for going Full Frame
 
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By all accounts the 15-85 IS is a pretty good lens and owners on here have commended it, definitely better than the 18-55mm kit lens (should be too given the extra cost)

One other candidate could be the Sigma 17-70mm OS if its long enough for you
 
I went from 24-105 to 15-85 and am glad I did. IQ as good as and wide end much more useful.
 
Jackwow said:
I went from 24-105 to 15-85 and am glad I did. IQ as good as and wide end much more useful.
Click to expand...

Cheers bro. Do u get any lens creep?
 
tijuana taxi said:
By all accounts the 15-85 IS is a pretty good lens and owners on here have commended it, definitely better than the 18-55mm kit lens (should be too given the extra cost)

One other candidate could be the Sigma 17-70mm OS if its long enough for you
Click to expand...

I did look at that lens but I didn't think much of it
 
The 15-85 is a cracking lens, and offers a good range on a crop camera, since lens swapping seems to be the thing you are trying to avoid it is an excellent choice. IQ is superb as hopfully these show.

Img_0848-100.jpg


Img_1845.jpg
 
I've got the 15-85mm on my 7D and think it's a cracking lens.

Difficult to do a direct comparison due to the focal lengths involved but I don't notice much (if anything) different IQ wise between it and my 100-400L

The 15-85 is generally regarded as a non-L L lens :lol:

The "L" really means that it's weather sealed rather than just denoting superior IQ.

Bear in mind that technically these aren't "perfect" pictures and were taken at my niece's 3rd Birthday Party yesterday but hopefully will give you an idea of "real World" performance (although they have been resized a fair bit and then Photobucket has probably compressed them some more):

IMG_1497.jpg


IMG_1505.jpg


IMG_1523.jpg


And for something a little different

IMG_0888-2.jpg
 
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Russ77 said:
I've got the 15-85mm on my 7D and think it's a cracking lens.

Difficult to do a direct comparison due to the focal lengths involved but I don't notice much (if anything) different IQ wise between it and my 100-400L

The 15-85 is generally regarded as a non-L L lens :lol:

The "L" really means that it's weather sealed rather than just denoting superior IQ.

Bear in mind that technically these aren't "perfect" pictures and were taken at my niece's 3rd Birthday Party yesterday but hopefully will give you an idea of "real World" performance (although they have been resized a fair bit and then Photobucket has probably compressed them some more):

And for something a little different
Click to expand...

Happy birthday to your niece thanks for the upload images look very good indeed.
 
artyman said:
The 15-85 is a cracking lens, and offers a good range on a crop camera, since lens swapping seems to be the thing you are trying to avoid it is an excellent choice. IQ is superb as hopfully these show.
Click to expand...

The pics seem to be sharp and the colour looks very good too thanks for the up.
 
The 15-85mm does have very nice build quality for an EFS lens though, better than my 10-22mm and my 100mm macro IMHO.
 
I have L and non L lenses...

Love my 15-85 as a walkabout...

The 15 really gives you some width.... the 85 enough zoom in most cases...

IQ is excellent, USM is quiet and fast, latest IS gives great flexibility....
 
Have to agree, I picked one up last week, and am glad I did. It's a big step up in IQ from the kit lens. The extra reach is really useful, and it's solidly built, good I.S and the usm is quiet.
 
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