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The EF-S 17-85 USM IS is a fairly recent addition to the Canon stable, it sits as the main walkabout lens in Canon's medium quality lens range. With an effective 35mm equivalent range of 27-136 it is a direct replacement for the 28-135 USM IS lens for the digital 1.6x crop factor bodies, the EF-S mount means that it only fits EF-S bodies however (300D, 350D, 20D, 30D). The Image Stabilisation (IS) is Canon's third generation and provides three stops worth of compensation effectively providing a maximum aperture of f1.4-2.0 (although without the true DoF benefits)!
The build quality is also a step up from the kit lens, feeling solid with a clean and smooth zoom action without much in the way of front element wobble present on the kit lens. It has to be said that the build quality is not up to 'L' class levels but then the price isn't either.
Tech details
The tests below compare the 17-85 USM IS to the 350D kit lens (18-55) and the 28-105 USM lens. The old favourite 'Nifty fifty' is thrown in to provide a control, but unfortunately it seems I got my focusing wrong and it is off focus in the centre....
Below can be seen, for size comparisons, the four lenses side by side. In order, left to right, they are the 50mm (Mk I) prime, the 18-55 kit, the 28-105 USM and finally the 17-85 USM IS.
and in full extension:
A test image was shot at different apertures and a centre and corner crop taken for comparison. For all result, top left is the 50mm prime, top right is the 18-55 kit, bottom left is the 28-105 USM and bottom right is the 17-85 USM IS (IS switched off).
100% centre crop taken at f4 for the 50mm and f5.6 for the rest
At minimum aperture the 17-85 is showing considerably more detail that both other zooms, the 18-55 has the measure of the 28-105.
100% corner crop taken at f4 for the 50mm and f5.6 for the rest
Not much between them here, 17-85 has the edge over the other two zooms with the kit lens in last place.
100% centre crop taken at f8
Again the 17-85 is noticeably sharper than both the other zooms; colour rendition seems to be more accurate too. It should be noted that even though the 50mm is out of focus it is still starting to provide comparable sharpness
100% corner crop taken at f8
Sharpness of the 17-85 is starting to leave the other zooms behind, 50mm prime is noticeably sharper than any of the others.
100% centre crop taken at f11
It's pretty even at this point between the kit lens and the 17-85 with f11 being the sweet spot for the kit lens.
100% corner crop taken at f11
50mm prime is massively sharper than the others. 17-85 easily better than both of the other zooms but the 28-105 also noticeably better than the kit lens.
Conclusion
So far I have been very impressed with the 17-85 USM IS. The optics of the lens for a medium range consumer lens are excellent. It easily out performs both the kit lens and the 28-105 USM on sharpness, saturation and colour rendition. It is much heavier than the kit lens and the 28-105 USM but the build quality is noticeably better too.
The price step up from the kit lens is considerable, approximately £400 over £60, but the addition of the 3 stop Image Stabilisation and ring USM with full time manual make this an extremely flexible and easy to use lens.
Recommended.
The build quality is also a step up from the kit lens, feeling solid with a clean and smooth zoom action without much in the way of front element wobble present on the kit lens. It has to be said that the build quality is not up to 'L' class levels but then the price isn't either.
Tech details
Focal length 17 - 85 mm
35 mm FOV 27 - 136 mm equiv.
Construction 17 elements in 12 groups
Diaphragm 6 blades
Maximum aperture F4.5 - F5.6
Minimum aperture F22 - F32
Closest focus 0.35 m
Max magnification 0.20x (at 85 mm)
Distance information Yes
Image stabilizer 3-steps
AF actuator USM with full-time manual focus
Filter diameter 67 mm
Dimensions 78.5 x 92 mm (dia x len)
Weight 475 g
Most photographers looking at this lens will be replacing an existing lens, most likely the standard 18-55 kit lens, another likely candidate is the kit lenses from the older 35mm film cameras such as the 28-105 USM.35 mm FOV 27 - 136 mm equiv.
Construction 17 elements in 12 groups
Diaphragm 6 blades
Maximum aperture F4.5 - F5.6
Minimum aperture F22 - F32
Closest focus 0.35 m
Max magnification 0.20x (at 85 mm)
Distance information Yes
Image stabilizer 3-steps
AF actuator USM with full-time manual focus
Filter diameter 67 mm
Dimensions 78.5 x 92 mm (dia x len)
Weight 475 g
The tests below compare the 17-85 USM IS to the 350D kit lens (18-55) and the 28-105 USM lens. The old favourite 'Nifty fifty' is thrown in to provide a control, but unfortunately it seems I got my focusing wrong and it is off focus in the centre....
Below can be seen, for size comparisons, the four lenses side by side. In order, left to right, they are the 50mm (Mk I) prime, the 18-55 kit, the 28-105 USM and finally the 17-85 USM IS.
and in full extension:
A test image was shot at different apertures and a centre and corner crop taken for comparison. For all result, top left is the 50mm prime, top right is the 18-55 kit, bottom left is the 28-105 USM and bottom right is the 17-85 USM IS (IS switched off).
100% centre crop taken at f4 for the 50mm and f5.6 for the rest
At minimum aperture the 17-85 is showing considerably more detail that both other zooms, the 18-55 has the measure of the 28-105.
100% corner crop taken at f4 for the 50mm and f5.6 for the rest
Not much between them here, 17-85 has the edge over the other two zooms with the kit lens in last place.
100% centre crop taken at f8
Again the 17-85 is noticeably sharper than both the other zooms; colour rendition seems to be more accurate too. It should be noted that even though the 50mm is out of focus it is still starting to provide comparable sharpness
100% corner crop taken at f8
Sharpness of the 17-85 is starting to leave the other zooms behind, 50mm prime is noticeably sharper than any of the others.
100% centre crop taken at f11
It's pretty even at this point between the kit lens and the 17-85 with f11 being the sweet spot for the kit lens.
100% corner crop taken at f11
50mm prime is massively sharper than the others. 17-85 easily better than both of the other zooms but the 28-105 also noticeably better than the kit lens.
Conclusion
So far I have been very impressed with the 17-85 USM IS. The optics of the lens for a medium range consumer lens are excellent. It easily out performs both the kit lens and the 28-105 USM on sharpness, saturation and colour rendition. It is much heavier than the kit lens and the 28-105 USM but the build quality is noticeably better too.
The price step up from the kit lens is considerable, approximately £400 over £60, but the addition of the 3 stop Image Stabilisation and ring USM with full time manual make this an extremely flexible and easy to use lens.
Recommended.