EF-S 15-85mm

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stills.lytic

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#1
Hola,


The EF-S 15-85mm turns 4 years old next year, which is quite old in technology years (in my humble opinion). So I searched these forums and this website for any news of a redone 15-85mm and found nothing, which has led me to post here.
I seek this out because Canon have just re-released the 18-135mm and I was hoping that they would do the same with the 15-85mm.


Could someone please point me in the right direction, or link me to any news available about the aforementioned lens.


Thank you for your help.




n∆te
 
#3
I would not expect them to update the 15-85mm any time soon.

The 18-135mm was updated mainly to include STM, since it is sold as a kit lens with the T4i/650D. The T4i/650D is Canon's first dSLR to provide AF during video shooting, and STM lenses are optimized for that use (smooth AF, as opposed to the 'jerky' AF you get with micromotor or USM lenses).

The 15-85mm lens is just about the same price as the T4i itself, and lenses at that price point are not appealing to most Rebel/xxxD shooters. So, likely no need for STM in that lens. Maybe if Canon adds video AF to a higher end body, we'll see more STM lenses down the line...maybe. But there's a trade-off - STM lenses focus more slowly than their USM counterparts, and that's going to be a turnoff for many users of high end lenses. The 18-135mm was not USM anyway, but micromotor - STM made is smoother without a focus speed penalty.

Optically, the 15-85mm is already delivering L-series performance (though without the L-series build). Given that, I'm not sure there's much of a need for an update.
 
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#4
neuroanatomist said:
I would not expect them to update the 15-85mm any time soon.

The 15-85mm lens is just about the same price as the T4i itself, and lenses at that price point are not appealing to most Rebel/xxxD shooters. So, likely no need for STM in that lens. Maybe if Canon adds video AF to a higher end body, we'll see more STM lenses down the line...maybe. But there's a trade-off - STM lenses focus more slowly than their USM counterparts, and that's going to be a turnoff for many users of high end lenses. The 18-135mm was not USM anyway, but micromotor - STM made is smoother without a focus speed penalty.

Optically, the 15-85mm is already delivering L-series performance (though without the L-series build). Given that, I'm not sure there's much of a need for an update.
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+1
 
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#5
trygved said:
neuroanatomist said:
I would not expect them to update the 15-85mm any time soon.

The 15-85mm lens is just about the same price as the T4i itself, and lenses at that price point are not appealing to most Rebel/xxxD shooters. So, likely no need for STM in that lens. Maybe if Canon adds video AF to a higher end body, we'll see more STM lenses down the line...maybe. But there's a trade-off - STM lenses focus more slowly than their USM counterparts, and that's going to be a turnoff for many users of high end lenses. The 18-135mm was not USM anyway, but micromotor - STM made is smoother without a focus speed penalty.

Optically, the 15-85mm is already delivering L-series performance (though without the L-series build). Given that, I'm not sure there's much of a need for an update.
Click to expand...

+1
Click to expand...



Thank you thank you, that was extremely helpful.
 
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#7
stills.lytic said:
The EF-S 15-85mm turns 4 years old next year, which is quite old in technology years (in my humble opinion). n∆te
Click to expand...

4 years for a lens is not old technology wise. The update cycle for lenses is more like 10 years. Many canon lenses are approaching 20 years since they were last updated. The 200mm F2.8L II is one of those lenses. Optically it is about as good as it gets, the biggest changes that have occurred since its release are in IS systems
The 70-200mm lens has had two updates one was the addition of IS and the second was to the 70-200mm f2.8 L IS II, which updated the IS and the optics. The 70-200 is now slightly better optically at 200mm than the 200mm f2.8L II prime. But i will emphasize the slightly. Lens technology doesn't advance at anywhere near the speed of microchips. The biggest changes to lenses have been the addition of AF motors, switching to USM (and now STM), the addition of the original IS at two stops and the update to 4 stop IS. Optically the changes to prime lenses haven't been that significant, companies like Leica and Ziess have been making amazing manual focus prime lenses for over 50 years. I have a couple of 30 year old minolta prime lenses that i have been re-using on my m43 camera that are as good optically as the new lenses being sold by Panasonic and Olympus. Zoom lenses are a different story, manufacturing tolerances and computer aided design have significantly improved zoom lenses compared to 30 years ago. The 15-85 lens that you mention has a zoom ratio of 5.7 you didn,t see that 30 years ago.
 
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#8
neuroanatomist said:
Optically, the 15-85mm is already delivering L-series performance (though without the L-series build). Given that, I'm not sure there's much of a need for an update.
Click to expand...

True, the optical quality of the lens is very good. But the build quality is not that great. I especially hate the lens creep that mine showed from day one. I would welcome an "L"-ish version/update of that lens and I would gladly pay for it.
 
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#15
Dont worry about it being updated, it is a fine lens and the second best EF-S lens (behind the 17-55/2.8). If you want something better in EF-S get the 17-55 and lose some range. Mine has some creep when angled greater than 45º from horizontal but it doesnt matter too much of it is on a tripod
 
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#16
I own the 15-85 I got it together with my rebel 550d 3 years ago.

It mostly sits in the draw... I developed an aversion to the lens as it has VERY ANNOYING lens creep, is quite heavy, is a slow 5.6, and I found not particularly sharp unless stopped down to f/8.

I walk around with 2 primes, a 20mm voigtlander for outside, and a 50mm 1.4 for people shots / something longer.

The IQ of the 15-85 is nice - and it has the WIDE 15mm side which is special for a crop.

I compared it to the 18-135 of a friend - the 15-85 is a step up, the 18-135 is very entry level.
 
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#18
stills.lytic said:
The EF-S 15-85mm turns 4 years old next year, which is quite old in technology years (in my humble opinion)
Click to expand...
Then you have a lot to learn about the timeline of lenses. The 15-85 is actually the youngest of the pricier EF-S lenses (along with the 17-55, 17-85, 18-200, 60mm, and 10-22), and none of them have been updated yet. Some of them were introduced in 2004, which makes them nearly a decade old.

Likewise, go to the EF lenses and some of them (like the 50mm f/1.8 ) are from the early 1990s. The vast majority of Canon lenses that cost <$1000 are more than 10yrs old
 
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#20
I'm always curious what people mean by "L Build Quality." I have three "L" lenses (70-300, 100-400, and 100 macro) and I have rented two others (300 f4 & 400 f5.6). I'm hard pressed to see any consistent or practical difference in the build quality between these lenses and the 15-85 EF-S.

First of all, Canon has no consistent standard for its L lenses (other than price) so I'm not sure what defines "L Build Quality." Second, I have the 15-85 on my 7D about 90 percent of the time and it gets a fair amount of banging around with no noticeable effect. It is a heavy, very robust lens. Certainly handles and feels no different than any of the "L" lenses I am familiar with. (Yes, it does have that "self-zooming" feature that can be annoying, but I consider that just a characteristic of this particular lens).

So, what is this supposed build quality that "L" lenses all have that the 15-85 lacks and is it practical or theoretical?
 
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