EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS master thread

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Archive 2009 · EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS master thread

DreamEchos-EV
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p.10 #1 · EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS master thread

you know I almost put the order in for a 7D and this lens, looks like some of you have a very sharp good performer to get your photo's with.

but I'm going to be patient and get a D3S or D800 and go back to nikon like I did in the film days.

was mighty tempted by Canon and this new lens, but I thought about it and really would like low light capability.

hope this lens works out great for everyone.

PS, its pouring rain and windy here on the north coast of BC Canada-- but we had some of the longest stretch's of good weather here since 1963 when it was a 6 month drought

all the best

Evan Spellman

Oct 25, 2009 at 08:57 PM

Yakim Peled
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p.10 #2 · EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS master thread

pdever wrote:
Hi Yakim,
Perhaps I didn't frame my question well. Both lenses have IS. Considering what I am doing,would you rather have the advantages of the 2.8 (shallower dof, higher shutter speed) or longer range?
Thanks,
Paul

Hi Paul,

I have the 17-55/2.8 IS and the main reason I love it so much is the combination of fast aperture and IS. If it was not for that I'd never made the 24-105/17-55 switch. Naturally, 10-22 + 24-105 is a much better set than the 17-55 alone but then again, a 10-22 + 17-55 + 135 set is even better.

Personally, I never understood the appeal of ever increasing zoom ranges. One of the major attractions of DSLR over P&S is the ability to change lenses. Why not use it?

My set normally averages ~5 lenses (currently have 7). Wherever I go I choose the right lenses for my intended pictures. Normally it's 2 or 3, seldom 4 or more but very rarely just 1.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Oct 26, 2009 at 09:40 AM

Yakim Peled
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p.10 #3 · EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS master thread

Dan1 wrote:
Yakim Peled wrote:
Photography 101:
Faster aperture allows you higher shutter speeds. IS doesn't.
Faster aperture allows you shallower DoF. IS doesn't.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

In that same vein, IS allows for more DOF while a faster aperture doesn't.

Absolutely. It allso allows you slower SS when you want to show the action.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Oct 26, 2009 at 09:46 AM

Yakim Peled
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p.10 #4 · EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS master thread

Mike Sowsun wrote:
The 17-55 has an older "3-Stop" IS while the 15-85 has a newer "4-Stop" IS. That basically removes the f/2.8 advantage for stationary subjects like buildings.

My direct 3rd gen/4th gen comparison showed extremely minor differences.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Oct 26, 2009 at 09:54 AM

bluedevil42
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p.10 #5 · EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS master thread

bought one on saturday and spent the morning with it on my 50D, together with a 17-55 borrowed from my dealer. I shot mainly JPG's with both, sharpness and image quality look virtually identical to me shooting in the same conditions. On the 15-85 the 55-85 range shows IQ decreasing, but nothing really to worry about. at 24mm looks stellar, even better than the 24-105 also because the 15-85 has no distortion there.

some issues at 15mm, resolution looks excellent but it has quite a bit of distortion (haven't tried to correct it in CS4 yet) and some vignetting and CA (as usual easily correctable in post-production).

build is really good, way better than the 17-55 and the zoom ring is really tight! perfect as a walkaround lens, also tried a couple of outdoor portraits and macro shots and the bokeh looks decent (better for macro shots).

totally satisfied by the first shots, if you don't need 2.8 it's absolutely the way to go!

Oct 26, 2009 at 10:16 AM

gfiksel
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p.10 #6 · EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS master thread

bluedevil42 wrote:
bought one on saturday and spent the morning with it on my 50D, together with a 17-55 borrowed from my dealer. I shot mainly JPG's with both, sharpness and image quality look virtually identical to me shooting in the same conditions. On the 15-85 the 55-85 range shows IQ decreasing, but nothing really to worry about. at 24mm looks stellar, even better than the 24-105 also because the 15-85 has no distortion there.

some issues at 15mm, resolution looks excellent but it has quite a bit of distortion (haven't tried to correct it in CS4 yet) and some vignetting and CA (as usual easily correctable in post-production).

build is really good, way better than the 17-55 and the zoom ring is really tight! perfect as a walkaround lens, also tried a couple of outdoor portraits and macro shots and the bokeh looks decent (better for macro shots).

totally satisfied by the first shots, if you don't need 2.8 it's absolutely the way to go!

I agree with all points.
I do really like the built, the quality of the zoom and AF control and, of course, the IQ. The AF and IS are truly great. I think it's the first "walk-around", take-it-anywhere lens that I'm really happy with.

Oct 26, 2009 at 04:05 PM

EOS20
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p.10 #7 · EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS master thread

Photozone have put up their 15-85 IS test:

http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/465-canon_1585_3556is

Edited on Oct 26, 2009 at 05:24 PM · View previous versions

Oct 26, 2009 at 05:09 PM

pdever
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p.10 #8 · EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS master thread

I wish all life's dilemmas were as pleasant as this one. The trip to Europe is very special considering our financial situation and probably the last considering the value of the dollar v. Euro.

Thanks for all the input. Bluedevil42's idea to try them both in likely situations is the no-brainer. Yakim's kit is very enticing. It comes down to how much I am willing to carry and how much time in "photo mode" v. "tourist" mode

Oct 26, 2009 at 05:23 PM

gasrocks
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p.10 #9 · EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS master thread

Guess I am not a one lens that does it all kinda guy. I have trouble paying that much for an 85/5.6 lens.

Oct 27, 2009 at 10:29 AM

Yakim Peled
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p.10 #10 · EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS master thread

gasrocks wrote:
Guess I am not a one lens that does it all kinda guy.

You are a 65 lenses kinda guy.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Oct 27, 2009 at 11:40 AM

omarlyn
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p.10 #11 · EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS master thread

Yakim Peled wrote:
gasrocks wrote:
Guess I am not a one lens that does it all kinda guy.

You are a 65 lenses kinda guy.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Yakim, I think we need a re-count...I only counted 63 lenses!

Omar

Oct 29, 2009 at 12:12 AM

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p.10 #12 · EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS master thread

omarlyn wrote:
Yakim Peled wrote:
gasrocks wrote:
Guess I am not a one lens that does it all kinda guy.

You are a 65 lenses kinda guy.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Yakim, I think we need a re-count...I only counted 63 lenses!

Omar

Let's count together. One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi......

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Oct 29, 2009 at 11:44 AM

Ron Hew
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p.10 #13 · EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS master thread

I might be wrong but I counted 65 as well

Oct 29, 2009 at 06:08 PM

BrianO
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p.10 #14 · EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS master thread

Yakim Peled wrote:
gasrocks wrote:
Guess I am not a one lens that does it all kinda guy.

You are a 65 lenses kinda guy.

omarlyn wrote: ...Yakim, I think we need a re-count...I only counted 63 lenses!

Ron Hew wrote: I might be wrong but I counted 65 as well

Yep; 65 listed.

(Where's the "green with envy" emoticon?)

Oct 29, 2009 at 06:32 PM

omarlyn
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p.10 #15 · EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS master thread

BrianO wrote:
Yakim Peled wrote:
gasrocks wrote:
Guess I am not a one lens that does it all kinda guy.

You are a 65 lenses kinda guy.

omarlyn wrote: ...Yakim, I think we need a re-count...I only counted 63 lenses!

Ron Hew wrote: I might be wrong but I counted 65 as well

Yep; 65 listed.

OK, fine...apparently I can't count!

In my own defense, let me say that I only have ten fingers & ten toes...so it's hard to count all the way to 65!

Omar

Oct 29, 2009 at 10:37 PM

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p.10 #16 · EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS master thread

omarlyn wrote: ...I only have ten fingers & ten toes...so it's hard to count all the way to 65!

There is an ancient aboriginal culture I have read about (I forget which one) that only has three numbers: "one," "two," and "many." I don't know if their early ancesters were all missing fingers and toes, if they were taught to count by a sloth, or what, but I have often resorted to their system when asked "How many ______ do you have?"

"Many" I say, and that's close enough.

Oct 30, 2009 at 03:38 AM

rtallent
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p.10 #17 · EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS master thread

BrianO wrote:
omarlyn wrote: ...I only have ten fingers & ten toes...so it's hard to count all the way to 65!

Oct 30, 2009 at 01:13 PM

BrianO
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p.10 #18 · EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS master thread

rtallent wrote: ...Probably not by a sloth or they would have one, two, three (number of toes on a sloth) and many!

I don't know; I have ten fingers, and count with a base-10 system. A sloth would probably use a base-3 system, not a base-4. (And not a base-6, because it needs one hand to hang onto the branches with.)

Oct 31, 2009 at 02:37 AM

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p.10 #19 · EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS master thread

Boy, I'm so glad I'm not an octopus.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Nov 01, 2009 at 10:11 AM

Jos Tesseract
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p.10 #20 · EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS master thread

Yakim Peled wrote:
gasrocks wrote:
Guess I am not a one lens that does it all kinda guy.

You are a 65 lenses kinda guy.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

and several bodies too...

The specs on this lens look dismal outside of its MTF.
Nevermind the 5.6 at 85mm... 3.5 at 15mm?? It should be at least 2.8 with IS, and it should come with a hood and carrying bag. Oh yeah, and it should have a red ring on it's focussing element - not to mention, an L somewhere on it. :P

Nov 02, 2009 at 07:04 PM

markhbfindlay
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p.10 #21 · EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS master thread

I decided to go for this lens even though I have the 17-55 2.8. It's the weight factor more than anything else, given that the IQ seems to be good according to the reviews. We are off to France on Monday and if I take the already heavy 17-55 I will probably want at least one or two more lenses to add to the range. But 15-85 means that I can get away without. This does count when you are shlepping a bag full of bits round the Paris museums (no you can't leave a 7d in a hotel room!) One or two lenses less reduces the number of filters, hoods etc and less changing over etc etc. I will use DPP to correct the vignetting (it works pretty well).

One point. Those who want 2.8 constant aperture along with everything else need to consider the laws of physics. A lot of glass needed to enable big zoom ranges with big apertures. This is why the 17-55 is heavy, and a 15-85 F2.8 will be a real brick. My vertebrae are already grumbling at the mere thought of it! Then there's the cost of all this high quality glass so my Visa card is out in sympathy with my back !

Nov 05, 2009 at 10:35 PM

timpdx
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p.10 #22 · EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS master thread

I brought my 15-85 as my only lens on a 40D for a long weekend in NYC and found the range outstanding, focus was fast and dead on. I was not disappointed at all. I was getting sharp shots at 1/15 or so with the IS in the Met museum. Its a really fun focal length.

Nov 05, 2009 at 10:53 PM

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p.10 #23 · EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS master thread

Anyone else got this lens yet?

Nov 09, 2009 at 10:49 AM

anothernewb
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p.10 #24 · EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS master thread

Just picked up mine on Sunday. Haven't shot much with it yet though, going to go out tomorrow and just play and see what I get.

Nov 10, 2009 at 05:25 PM

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p.10 #25 · EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS master thread

garyvot wrote:
This lens is simply a replacement for the 17-85: same aperture, same speed, etc., but improved (greatly IMO) by the 24mm EFOV and better IQ. Nobody complained about the speed of the 17-85, or about the 28-135 on full frame, so I guess I don't understand the core expectations here.

The cost yields higher expectations. At least that's the way it was in the old days....

Nov 10, 2009 at 10:39 PM


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