A good sbstitute for the 28-135 USM IS

[raff]

Hallo, I'm back!
Happy new year to all! 

I have a little question.
I have from many years the 28-135 USM IS: I used it on my film EOS 3. I used it for all kinds of photos, in travel, and for weddings too. 
It is a nice lens, but the wide range is a little limited.

Now arrived the new 18-135 USM IS. I wish to know if the quality of this new lens is much better than the old 28-135, or if it is similar. And if it is a good idea to make the change or if the difference is too little to justify this operation.

An alternative could be the 18-200 IS, but it is no USM, and I dont' know the quality of this lens. And I have the 70-200 f/4 L that is a really good lens... 

I need an opinion about the 18-135 and the 18-200!!!

Thanks for the help.

Ciao, Raffaella

[raff]

Hallo!

Is there anibody out here? 

Ciao!

[Bob Atkins]

Well, the 28-135 was full frame and the 18-135 and 18-200 are both EF-S lenses for crop sensor cameras. Not a problem as long as you don't want to us ethem on your EOS-3 or a full frame DSLR.

All wide range zooms compromise optical quality. It's the price you pay for a wide zoom range.

The closest thing to your 28-135 is the new EF-S 15-85/3.5-5.6IS USM. On a crop sensor camera it has the same angle of view as a 24-136 lens would have on full frame. The previous EF-S 17-85/3.5-5.6IS USM is even closer with a full frame equivalent range of 27-136mm.

You can read what I have to say about the EF-S 18-135 in my full review of that lens here - http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/reviews/canon_ef-s_18-135is_review.html It's not a bad lens and will you significantly more wideangle coverage. The IS is sytem is very effective and optical quality, though not the best is still pretty good. It's also relatively inexpensive.

[raff]

Thanks Bob for your reply, and sorry for my delay.
Now I use only my eos 50D, and so no problem with the EF-S lens.

My question was specifically to compare the quality between the 28-135 (USM-IS) and the new 18-135 (IS but NOT USM) used on the 50D (sorry I forgot to say it in the previous post).
And if at the 28-135 range the two lenses are comparable, or what is the best.
And if the NON USM is a problem.

I use the 28-135 if I need to walk "light" and to have a "all-in-one" lens.
But at the wide angle it is a little limited. (28 is like 45 on a full-frame).

The 15-85 is a litlle too "short" for my taste...

Thanls again!
Ciao
Raffaella