The Canon EOS and Photography Forums

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.