Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens

Comments about Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens:

This is probably the most versatile 'standard zoom' for outdoor use on Canon crop-sensor DSLRs. (I have the 17-55 f2.8 IS for indoor/portraits). Zoom range goes nicely wide, and so far has stopped me buying an ultra-wide zoom!

Comments about Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens:

I use a Canon 60D and Canon 500D, with Canon 70-200L, Canon 100L macro prime, Sigma 18-50, Sigma 18-250, Sigma 10-20 and Tamron 70-300. The L lenses obviously offer first class performance, but there is a limit to the weight of gear that one can carry around on excursions, especially in company, and I would rather avoid the constant changing of lenses. I have been using the Sigma 18-250 as a superzoom on these occasions and found it quite satisfactory, if not of the sharpest at the long end. But my demands are frequently for a wider view and seldom for telephoto performance. I have recently discovered and purchased (like the other lenses, from [...]) Canon's 15-85, equivalent to 24-136 in 35mm format. This is a less bulky lens than the others, the extra 3 mm. at the wide end is very welcome and I very seldom feel the lack of the distance above the 85 mm end. The aperture is satisfactory for outdoor daylight use, and the stabilisation is an advantage. At 3 lb 7 oz. with the 60D it is heavy enough for a long day, but compact at only 8 in with hood, and weight is a necessary feature of quality. It feels solid and well constructed. As to optical performance, I have yet to find fault with it as a lens for excursions and travelling. Like so many amateurs, I do not print out above A4 and seldom above A5, and I am delighted to find a lens that might have been made to my specifications. [...]

Comments about Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens:

I bought my EFs15-85 IS as part of the Eos 7D bundled kit so the lens was considerably cheaper bought this way, which is how i avoided the comparative high price for Lens bought alone.

The Lens is as wide as it is long at closed at 15mm so its compact squat almost and sits in my hand very nicely, at the max 85mm zoom length its 2" or 50mm longer in length and still feels easy and comfortable to use.

Yes its a comparatively heavy Lens but that reflects the excellent solid build quality of this Lens the extra weight is mainly down to the extremely high quality of the glass used inside the Lens this from many aspheric elements to a UD Lens element - and this is why this lens has very high image quality all with very low CA - here you get what you pay for which in this case is very true.

If used wide open i.e. 15mm at f/3.5 or zoomed at 85mm f/5.6 at this lens is surprisingly sharp wide open! in fact at 85mm at f/5.6 (wide open) the centre is bitingly sharp only the far corners are less sharp but only slightly so (same as 136mm length in full frame

Iv now shot hundreds of landscape image at 15mm mostly at f/7.1 to f/10 (for max dof) so therefore i can happily say just leave it at f/8 at 15mm for landscape then get the hyper focal distance correct (focus 2/3rds way in) do check exposure etc is correct then take the photo - then its all big smiles as you see the sharpness spread out before you from near (1mtr?) to far infinity! its just crazy the sheer dof detail and sharpness available.

One of the reviews i read here stated that "even at f/22 the EFs 15-85 IS was not sharp? - of course it wasn't and it never could be, not ever! as the effect of diffraction has robbed all the fine detail away - in my opinion f/11 is the 'absolute maximum' to use with a very high resolution 18MP 7D camera this helps to completely avoid the effects of diffraction as much as possible.

Conclusion, a really good high quality travel zoom lens of a high quality build for a EFs lens which comes with a handy 15mm - 85mm zoom range all with excellent Image Stabilization, if i need only the 'one lens' to take away on holiday this lens i know can do it all easily and with sharp images.

Comments about Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens:

I purchased this lens to go with an EOS7D which I wanted to use as a back-up to my principal system of an EOS5D Mark II with a 24-105 f4 L IS USM lens. Given some of the reviews I had seen, I expected this lens to come somewhere close in image quality - but that was not the case. The image was 'soft' even at f22 and regardless which end of the tele I was working. Colour balance was also far too warm and required manual pre-adjustments to the white balance. My other prime lenses work well with the 7D, so it's not the camera at fault.

If image sharpness is high on your list of priorities, then I would recommend you sample this lens before buying.

Comments about Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens:

Bought this lens as an upgrade for my Canon 500D. I've been using it for a month or so now and am delighted with results. I needed a good quality all purpose image stabalised zoom that didn't cost a fortune. This baby fits the bill. Superb image quality across all focal lengths.A lot sharper than the kit lens. Build quality is excellent and it feels solid in use. This is a brilliant all purpose lens and the optics are nearly as good as the "L" series offerings in this category. It's not cheap but well worth the money.

Comments about Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens:

I got this lens from WEX as part of the 7D kit, having sold off my Sony gear to move to Canon. I have little experience of other Canon lenses, but I can say that this lens produces IQ equal to the Minolta 'G' glass (similar to Canon L). Quiet and quick autofocus, solid build and sharp images. IS works very well.

I highly recommend this lens, although it may seem expensive for a slowish cropped lens.