Canon EFS 17-85mm - Upgrade

dougan

dougan

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Dougie
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I have this lens and use a canon 60D.
What would be a suitable upgrade for this lens?
Also, is a zoom lens of this range suitable for taking landscapes, or is a prime wide angled lens superior?

Thanks
 
What are you after from the lens? For example does the lens need to:
Have a faster aperture?
Do you like the focal length?
Higher image quality?

The obvious lens in the Canon line up to replace the 17-85mm IS is the 15-85mm IS, however you could also consider one of the 17-50 (55)mm F2.8 lens by either Canon, Sigma, or Tamron.
 
Thanks Dave!
I do like the zoom range, but the most important thing would be better image quality.
I see there is a £200 difference between the Canon 15-85mm and the 17-55mm, apart from having a F2.8 throughout its range,
would the image quality be any better?
 
Last edited:
dougan said:
Thanks Dave!
I do like the zoom range, but the most important thing would be better image quality.
I see there is a £200 difference between the Canon 15-85mm and the 17-55mm, apart from having a F2.8 throughout its range,
would the image quality be any better?
Click to expand...

I'll be shot for saying this but the canon 17-55 is soft wide open. I was gonna get the 17-85 but went for the 15-85 and IQ is as good as the 24-105 L and I'm very happy with it. I also tried 2 copies of the Tamron 17-50 and the first one was pin sharp wide open but had a very stiff zoom it almost felt like I was about to brake it, so I returned it and exchanged it for another which had a very smooth zoom but unfortunately with very soft IQ even when stoped to f5.6 so that went back too and in came the 15-85
 
lucky_13 said:
I'll be shot for saying this but the canon 17-55 is soft wide open.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't describe the 17-55 being soft at F2.8 but it is definitely 'less sharp' than at say F4. But what you have to remember that the 15-85mm is at F5.0 at 55mm, and the 17-55mm is sharper at F5.0 @55mm plus it has an additional 1.5 stops.

It just depends whether you prefer extra speed vs extra focal length.
 
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