Canon Lens Quality Difference

wibbly

wibbly

Messages
5,192
Name
Dave
Edit My Images
Yes
Bit of a strange question this one, so please bear with me.

I've been looking around at kit lenses, and I've looked at the 17-85mm and the 18-55mm lens.

Now obviously notwithstanding the difference in focal length is there any other obvious differences I should be looking out for? I know nothing about Canon lenses beings a bit of a Nikon man, so any help is truly appreciated. :)
 
wibbly said:
Bit of a strange question this one, so please bear with me.

I've been looking around at kit lenses, and I've looked at the 17-85mm and the 18-55mm lens.

Now obviously notwithstanding the difference in focal length is there any other obvious differences I should be looking out for? I know nothing about Canon lenses beings a bit of a Nikon man, so any help is truly appreciated. :)
Click to expand...

I assume is this question being asked for someone else?

Either lens will get the person started, but build quality and optics aren't the best for either of these 2 lenses, both lenses suffer from problems at either end of the focal range and loss of quality at the edges, although centre sharpness is good and things improve when stepped down to f8.

It would also depend on the camera, as to other recommendations. The 17-55mm f2.8 IS EF-S lens is a great walkaround lens, however, designed for crop sensor camera's. The tamron 17-50mm f2.8 or its new OS version are good cheaper alternatives and better than the kits lenses.

It really depends what you want from it and budget.
 
Thanks for the answer, I have been looking around at the 50D and it seems the kit lens is either a 17-55mm or an 18-55mm.

I'm wondering if I went for a 50d which lens I should consider if I went body only.

Basically I'm trying to figure out the cheapest way of buying :lol:
 
I had a 17-85mm lens on an EOS 40D and couldn't get on with it as it was far too soft. I've replaced it with a 17-55mm which is much sharper. The new 15-85mm is reckoned to be an improvement on the 17-85mm and is cheaper than the 17-55, however I haven't tried it.
 
The 17-55 lens is not the kit lens and is very much superior to the 18-55 kit lens (in a different league, but so is the price) the 17-85 lens is quite a nice lens though. I replaced the kit lens (18-55) that I got with my 450D with a Sigma 17-70 which was much better.
 
I used to have a 17-85mm and mine was sharp enough, it covers a great range and the IS and USM are great but the distortion at 17mm was horrendous and bordering on being beyond what my software could correct. From what I remember a review I read on line stated that it had the most distortion of any lens they'd tested.

I sold mine and bought a Tamron 17-50mm f2.8.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top