Lens advice

[Chunkey Monkey]

Im looking for a walk about lens for a 350D for the wife to use, curently using its kit lens of 18-55mm but im sure there is something wrong with it as images are poor to say the least.

Not looking for anything spectactular just to replace the tired one she has.

Heva seen these 2 going quite cheap on ebay, the second one dont look too bad.

Canon EF 28-80mm F/3.5-5.6 USM Lens
Canon EF 24-85mm, 3.5-4.5 USM Lens, This dont look too bad.

Thoughts please.

 

[SpikeK6]

I would say take a look at the 28-135 aswell, cracking lens and can be had at a bargain.

I had this and gave it to my daughter to use, cracking lens for the money, and very underrated

 

[Gazamonk]

The 28-80 and 24-85 don't really replace the 18-55's range on a crop sensor (equating to 45-128 and 38-136 respectively) and she would probably be better served with another 18-55 in all honesty. However are you sure the poor images are down to the lens ? I dont mean that disrespectfully, I mean have you tried it on your 60D ? Are the results the same ?

If you want to buy either of those two lenses then it has to be the 24-85 really but looking at used prices for this lens I would pay a little more and get the 18-135 which will suit her crop sensor much much better.

http://www.mpbphotographic.co.uk/used-equipment/used-lenses/used-canon-fit-lenses/canon-ef-s-18-135mm-f/3.5-5.6-is-1/


or the 17-85 (heavier and bulkier though)

http://www.mpbphotographic.co.uk/used-equipment/used-lenses/used-canon-fit-lenses/canon-ef-s-17-85mm-f/4-5.6-is-usm-10/








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[Chunkey Monkey]

I would say take a look at the 28-135 aswell, cracking lens and can be had at a bargain.

I had this and gave it to my daughter to use, cracking lens for the money, and very underrated

Way to expensive for the amount of use it will get.

The 28-80 and 24-85 don't really replace the 18-55's range on a crop sensor (equating to 45-128 and 38-136 respectively) and she would probably be better served with another 18-55 in all honesty. However are you sure the poor images are down to the lens ? I dont mean that disrespectfully, I mean have you tried it on your 60D ? Are the results the same ?

If you want to buy either of those two lenses then it has to be the 24-85 really but looking at used prices for this lens I would pay a little more and get the 18-135 which will suit her crop sensor much much better.

http://www.mpbphotographic.co.uk/used-equipment/used-lenses/used-canon-fit-lenses/canon-ef-s-18-135mm-f/3.5-5.6-is-1/


or the 17-85 (heavier and bulkier though)

http://www.mpbphotographic.co.uk/used-equipment/used-lenses/used-canon-fit-lenses/canon-ef-s-17-85mm-f/4-5.6-is-usm-10/



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I have the STM version on my 60D, have had a look round for the standard but not many secondhand ones about at the right price, I find mines a great all round lens.

 

[andyred]

If a 2nd hand 28-135 is out of the question, why not a newer 18-55 IS lens ?

The 28-135 I've had in past and is a great lens.

 

[Gazamonk]

I have the STM version on my 60D, have had a look round for the standard but not many secondhand ones about at the right price, I find mines a great all round lens.

No doubt you do but to answer my original query, have you tried your wife's 18-55 on your 60d and do the results confirm that the lens is defective.

 

[LongLensPhotography]

Way to expensive for the amount of use it will get.
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You get what you pay for, literrally

You could get tamron 17-50 f/2.8. Anything cheaper will almost invariably result in money and time wasted

 

[Gazamonk]

You get what you pay for, literrally

You could get tamron 17-50 f/2.8. Anything cheaper will almost invariably result in money and time wasted

A little harsh and unfair to be honest and quite a smack in the gob to the tens of thousands of users with the 18-55 is lens (including the OP on his 60d) these kinds of comments are unhelpful and are tantamount to lens snobbery. A net search will show you plenty wonderful images taken with kit lenses and plenty of dreadful and mediocre shots taken with top end glass. Way too much importance put on expensive glass if you ask me. Of course it makes a difference to image quality to have good glass but does that necessarily negate all images taken with anything less ? Of course it doesn't, incredible photographs have been taken for over a hundred years with gear of all levels of quality.
Give a good photographer a camera of any quality and they will see and make a good image.
Give an idiot a top end camera and lens and you will likely get a razor sharp piece of c**p not worthy of printing or viewing.

 

[Chunkey Monkey]

No doubt you do but to answer my original query, have you tried your wife's 18-55 on your 60d and do the results confirm that the lens is defective.

Sorry, yes ive tried it on my 60D and its awfull, very soft focus and looks like out of focus 90% time.

You get what you pay for, literrally

You could get tamron 17-50 f/2.8. Anything cheaper will almost invariably result in money and time wasted

Again too expensive, looking for a cheap replacement as she will only be using camera when away on holidays mainly.

A little harsh and unfair to be honest and quite a smack in the gob to the tens of thousands of users with the 18-55 is lens (including the OP on his 60d) these kinds of comments are unhelpful and are tantamount to lens snobbery. A net search will show you plenty wonderful images taken with kit lenses and plenty of dreadful and mediocre shots taken with top end glass. Way too much importance put on expensive glass if you ask me. Of course it makes a difference to image quality to have good glass but does that necessarily negate all images taken with anything less ? Of course it doesn't, incredible photographs have been taken for over a hundred years with gear of all levels of quality.
Give a good photographer a camera of any quality and they will see and make a good image.
Give an idiot a top end camera and lens and you will likely get a razor sharp piece of c**p not worthy of printing or viewing.

Bought my 60D as a body only, pity really in hindsight the 18-55mm II IS would have been hers now, Think i will look for a second hand one.