Canon EF 28-135 / EF-S 17-85 / EF-S 15-85

[Loswr]

I strongly recommend the 15-85 and have to disagree a bit about the build quality. I've been banging this lens around for the past three years with no issues.

When someone says it doesn't have "L" build quality – well that depends on what "L" lens you are referring to, since Canon has absolutely no standards or consistency for defining an "L" lens. The 15-85 is not weather-sealed, but neither are many of the "L" lenses. It's not made of metal, but it's certainly not lightweight or plastic-y either.

The build quality of the 15-85 is similar to the 17-55/2.8, which I used extensively. The 17-55 is quite similar in size and weight to the 24-105L, but the 24-105 feels much more solid, from the better size and damping of the MF ring to the soft shhhuck at the end of the zoom extension, compared to the hollow clunk of the 17-55. I'm not saying the build of the 15-85 and 17-55 is poor - far from it, they are solid and durable lenses, and the build quality differential between them and the consumer zooms is much greater than that between them and their L-lens counterparts. But the L-series lenses are a cut above (to varying degrees, of course - sure, the 24-105L is well built, but I bet I could smash one to bent metal and powdered plastic and glass with a supertele prime, and still use the supertele).

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

When Canon has the refurbished 15-85 on their 20% off sale like they did last weekend, its a bargain. Buyers of 5D Mark II bodies are getting 24-105mm L lenses for $700. That is also a steal.
I've had several 28-135 lenses that were kit lenses bought with new 40D's. I never really liked them. They are totally the wrong focal length to use as a standard zoom for a crop camera.
My 15-85 is much better than the 28-135. As far as value to the buyer, that can be argued according to what you use it for. The 17-55mm EF-S is the best, but you are not considering it.

 

[gilmorephoto]

Are you aware of the creep on the 15-85 though? Ours has started to get pretty bad after a year from new, but a chunk of that's been with the lens hanging downwards from the body on a strap, so possibly not the best care regime.

-Evie

I've had mine for about a year (I carry mine around as an all-purposes lens, FWIW) and no lens creep, with a small caveat: if the lens is pointed down and between 15-28mm or between 50-85mm then no creep whatsoever--go ahead and run with it. But if you leave it in the in between area of 30-45mm or so, it will start to creep a bit. But not as bad as my old 18-135mm and not an issue for me since I keep it at 15mm when not actively shooting.

(I believe this was noted in some review I read a while back, and this proved true in my case).

 

[Andy_Hodapp]

I have a 28-135, I have been meaning to get rid of it, don't know why they sell it with crop bodys, it pretty much starts at 50 which is way to long for a walk around zoom lens. Hope I can get $200 or more on the evilbay. Also I would recommend the Canon 17-40mm F/4L USM if you have the money, I got mine for $500 on ebay in great condition, has served me so well. Here are some shots I've taken with my 17-40, I've taken some of my favorite and most profitable pic with it.

 

[Jim K]

I started with a 50D and the 100-400 and tossed in the 28-135 because I needed something "normal" and it was only $200 in the kit. My 28-135 IQ is OK and it doesn't creep, it RUNS downhill. I switched to 7Ds but kept the 50D as it was not worth that much used.

I added the 15-85 after it was released and got good reviews. It serves as the normal lens on the 7D and for snapshots goes back to the 50D and does a fine job. I'm very pleased with it.

Save up and get the 15-85, you will be very happy with it. It's interesting how much "wider" 15mm is vs an 18mm lens. On a crop it works out like a 24-136 on a FF.

 

[pj1974]

Back in the day, I bought the 28-135 with my original (first) Canon DSLR (350D) - which served me well. (I also had the kit lens 18-55mm for wider angle shots)

I now own a 7D, and the lens I use the most is my 15-85. It has a noticeable edge in both sharpness and contrast over the 28-135, though with post processing the 28-135 can still achieve good results. I think I had a good copy of the 28-135.

The 15-85 is clearly better, matching some comparable L lenses ... The 15-85 is good in build quality (but not up to my 70-300mm L). The 15-85 has a more effective Is (3.5 to 4 stop IS). The 28-135mm has an older 1.5 to 2 stop IS. USM focussing is almost identical on both.

The biggest benefit for the 15-85 is the focal range (as others have pointed out above). It served me very well - for a 10 day interstate holiday in Tasmania (Australia), it's just so versatile when you don't want to change lenses.

The 17-85 is not so good (not sharp, and more CA) at wide end... but similar to the 28-135mm in other ways (apart from a newer 3 stop IS). Obviously the 17-85 has a more useful range on a crop sensored DSLR than the 28-135.

The 15-85 is sharp wide open and from wide angle to telephoto. I love it as a great all purpose lens.

Best regards

Paul

 

[old_york]

.......But the L-series lenses are a cut above (to varying degrees, of course - sure, the 24-105L is well built, but I bet I could smash one to bent metal and powdered plastic and glass with a supertele prime, and still use the supertele).

I would pay good money to see this!
Actually, have you just invented a new sport?

 

[albron00]

I've had 15-85mm and I have 17-55mm
Both are excellent lenses.
Sold 15-85 and kept 17-55 because of f/2.8.
By the way, 15-85 has zoom creep

 

[insanitybeard]

I strongly recommend the 15-85 and have to disagree a bit about the build quality. I've been banging this lens around for the past three years with no issues.

When someone says it doesn't have "L" build quality – well that depends on what "L" lens you are referring to, since Canon has absolutely no standards or consistency for defining an "L" lens. The 15-85 is not weather-sealed, but neither are many of the "L" lenses. It's not made of metal, but it's certainly not lightweight or plastic-y either.

The build quality of the 15-85 is similar to the 17-55/2.8, which I used extensively. The 17-55 is quite similar in size and weight to the 24-105L, but the 24-105 feels much more solid, from the better size and damping of the MF ring to the soft shhhuck at the end of the zoom extension, compared to the hollow clunk of the 17-55. I'm not saying the build of the 15-85 and 17-55 is poor - far from it, they are solid and durable lenses, and the build quality differential between them and the consumer zooms is much greater than that between them and their L-lens counterparts. But the L-series lenses are a cut above (to varying degrees, of course - sure, the 24-105L is well built, but I bet I could smash one to bent metal and powdered plastic and glass with a supertele prime, and still use the supertele).

The main difference I notice between my L and non L zooms is the quality/feel of the focus rings- the L's are much wider and smoother/nicely damped, compared to my EF-S 10-22, which has a nice smooth zoom ring but a thin and slightly 'scratchy' focus ring. My EF-S 60 macro has a wider and smoother focus ring than the 10-22 but still not as nice as the L's. I do like the feel and build of the L's.

 

[Loswr]

.......But the L-series lenses are a cut above (to varying degrees, of course - sure, the 24-105L is well built, but I bet I could smash one to bent metal and powdered plastic and glass with a supertele prime, and still use the supertele).

I would pay good money to see this!
Actually, have you just invented a new sport?

Maybe...but notice I said a 24-105 and supertele, not my 24-105 and supertele.

 

[TomTom]

Thanks everyone for your replies. Will definitely be going for the 15-85 a bit later in the year. A friend of mine lives in the states so will look into getting a refurb there to be brought over.

Thanks again.

 

[wickidwombat]

for what the 15-85 costs i would say go with the 24-105 f4L

 

[Loswr]

for what the 15-85 costs i would say go with the 24-105 f4L

...which means no wide angle on APS-C.

 

[MK5GTI]

i didn't read the whole thread, but the op can consider the Sigma 17-70 F2.8-4, especially the newer one just announced in photokina.

or perhaps Tamron 17-50 F2.8, you can good optics but loos a bit range, but you already have those cover

 

[awinphoto]

stay away from the 28-135

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

I'm a newbie on this forum, but not as a photographer. I have a bag of lens, primarily L, and a 5D MK2 and 60D bodies. When I went FF I cleared out my kit of crop exclusive lens, but my two favorite EF-S mount lens were the 15-85mm and the Tamron 17-50mm (non VC). Two different lens for different purposes. The 15-85mm is one of the best general purpose/travel lens that I have ever used. That is a fantastic focal length and it has great IQ throughout that range. Great color rendition and sharpness. My closest equivalent would now be the 24-105mm, and, yes, the build quality is better on the 24-105mm, but in a head to comparison the 15-85mm more than held its own. Not to mention it has better reach (roughly 32mm) when compared with the 24-105mm (on a FF body).

Bryan Carnathan over at The Digital Picture said that the 15-85mm and the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 are his hands-down favorite EF-S mount lens.

 

[greg30127]

New here but I'll chime in on the 15-85. Borrowed a friends for my 7D and it was noticeably better than my 28-135, but as others have said, quality control varies. Over time I accumulated three (!) 28-135 lenses from Canon.... two of them developed I.S. problems, and you can actually see image quality differences between all three if you look at their images side-by-side, with one of them being obviously sharper than the other two.

But the 15-85 I tried was still noticeably sharper than even the better of the three above. Not as good as a prime of course (my 60mm macro is excellent), but I'd consider it an excellent daily walk around lens, and am considering buying one myself. With the holiday season about here, I'd watch for sales like someone mentioned - they pop up without warning and only last a short time, so keep checking.