New Canon 15-85 efs

[bmpress]

Bob,

I hope that when you get a copy of this lens you will compare it to the current efs 17-85 lens. Canon's web site claims that the new lens has "spectacular" results. Maybe you can also compare it to the efs 17-55 too?

Thanks....I have the old 17-85 and am trying to determine my upgrade path. If the new lens is so spectacular, maybe its a viable option.

[Bob Atkins]

I do have a 17-85 for comparison, but I don't have a 17-55/2.8 around. I'll certainly compare it with the lenes I have available that cover that range if and when I can get one to test.

I'm a little dissapointed that the 15-85 is the same pretty slow speed as the 17-85 (3.5-5.6) even though the price has gone up by $250 or more. Even if they'd just made it 3.5-4.5 it would have been a bit more attractive.

Still, if the performance is truely "spectacular", it might be a good buy. Time will tell.

[KeithB]

It appears that this new lens is replacing the EF-S 17-85.  The 17-85 is no longer mentioned on Canon's website.

[marcfs]

I’ve been satisfied with the 17-85 as a general walking around lens when I only wanted to carry one lens.  It has a very useful range and any shortcomings can easily be addressed in Photoshop.

I wonder if the short comings of this lens are more evident in the 7D.

Marc

[whizkid]

I'm inclined to believe that Canon was not too happy with all the so so press leveled towards the 17-85.
For that reason we now have the 15-85 but one oddity is price . The 17-85 was often remarked as costing too much for what you got. Now we have it's replacement priced a few hundred more. Must have something for that additional cost or Canon may be getting an earful .

I do currently use a 17-85 on a 40D as a walkabout and think the results are fine for kind of shooting I do with it.  If I see issues with an image , I just use DXO Pro and viola.  I will be replacing my 40D with a 7D so  I am also interested in the 15-85 as a good walkabout mate but only if it makes the grade to justify the price increase.  I certainly will be looking forward to Bob's take and comments on this new lens.

[Bob Atkins]

I did notice that the 17-85 is still on the UK and Australian Canon websites. It was missing from the Canon website, but it's not unusual for things to vanish and reapper there.

The price is a bit much given that it's still pretty slow at f3.5-5.6. If Canon do drop the 17-85 then the choices for a "walkabout" lens will be the $150 EF-S 18-55 or a big price jump to $800 for the 15-85 or to over $1000 for the 17-55/2.8. The only other option would be something like the 18-135 ($500), though I don't think it's a real USM ring motor lens from the look of it.

I suppose the $800 price may drop closer to $700 after a while, but it's still pretty expensive. Makes the old EF-s 17-85 look like a real bargain at $420. While it does have it's faults (distortion and vignetting at 17mm), overall it's not a bad lens and most of the faults are easily curred in DPP.

[whizkid]

Bob

 I checked the UK site and I see what you mean. I also noticed the US site shows the  EFs 18-55IS lens while the UK site does not. Conversely the UK site shows the older EFs 18-55 (non-IS) lens and the US site does not. Maybe the 17-85 will co-exist with the 15-85 as there are differences beyond wider view and price. Things like weight, filter thread size and IS. I also noticed the thin gold band and logo "Ultrasonic" is gone from the 15-85.  When I noticed that omission I wondered about USM. Thankfully it is ring-type.