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Newtoallthis2008
newbie


Reged: 12/03/2008
Posts: 5
17-85IS INSTEAD of 18-55IS lens???
      #663926 - 06/06/2008 16:23

Hi all, i'm going to purchase my 1st SLR in the next couple of wks and having done all my research i am going for the 450d. Obviously will be purchasing lens and herein lies my query!!

Standard kit is the 18-55IS lens. After a bit of reading up the 17-85IS lens seems a better choice! Asking you pro's for a honest opinion on which lens i should get?

I rather not waste my money and get the 18-55 and then decide i need to upgrade and never use it again. The retailer is willing to sell me a 17-85 instead of the basic lens kit with my camera! Should i do this??

Also, is the 17-85 going to be best lens for a beginner like me and meet all my expectations of taking good pics or should i go for another one???

Usage will be portraits, landscapes and some sports!

Your help is greatly appreciated! Thanks.


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alanS
Dr Dust


Reged: 30/09/2005
Posts: 3511
Loc: Up North, England.
Re: 17-85IS INSTEAD of 18-55IS lens??? [Re: Newtoallthis2008]
      #663940 - 06/06/2008 17:06

Have a look at Tamron 17-50 f2.8, Sigma 18-50 f2.8 and the Sigma 17-70.

I had a Canon 17-85 but I never used it after getting the Tamron 17-50 f2.8, but, it's not as long as the Canon 17-85.

--------------------
Alan's defence lawyer claimed that "Booze played no part in his typo's."


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bench_ubbster
Bench Meister


Reged: 08/08/2006
Posts: 2600
Loc: Cambridgeshire, UK
Re: 17-85IS INSTEAD of 18-55IS lens??? [Re: Newtoallthis2008]
      #663941 - 06/06/2008 17:10

I've the 17-85IS and I find it a great go-anywhere lens. It is a jack of all trades therefore do expect some limitations in the form of distortion at the wide end. But I don't find it too offensive. This is my first 'standard' dSLR zoom, so I have nothing to compare it to only my Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 which again shows some distortion at the wide end and it's much heftier than the 17-85IS. That's not to say the 17-85IS isn't well put together as it is and it will do me for a good few years.

--------------------
Master of the Bench and Global Ambassador of the Brotherhood of the Bench
Bench or No Bench


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daft_bikerModerator
Action Man!


Reged: 11/10/2006
Posts: 7172
Loc: Doon the glen
Re: 17-85IS INSTEAD of 18-55IS lens??? [Re: bench_ubbster]
      #663942 - 06/06/2008 17:14

I hear the 18-55IS is pretty good as kit lenses go. It doesn't seem as bad as the old non-IS kit lens but I've never used either personally. I have the 17-85IS and from the one time I've used it in anger it seems OK.

I guess the 17-85IS does everything the 18-55IS does and then a little more so the 17-85 seems like a safe bet if the extra money isn't a problem.

--------------------
Andrew (BSRIPN) ... Pics.



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davidh
addict


Reged: 08/11/2005
Posts: 551
Loc: Bristol + Farnham
Re: 17-85IS INSTEAD of 18-55IS lens??? [Re: daft_biker]
      #663987 - 06/06/2008 18:45

Quote:


I guess the 17-85IS does everything the 18-55IS does and then a little more so the 17-85 seems like a safe bet if the extra money isn't a problem.




Apparently, the 18-55 does what it does better than the 17-85 for the same range.
It is however a budget lens, and doesn't feel that much different from its predecessor (the images look much better though). It is also perfectly paired to go with the 55-250 IS...
I suppose it comes down to if you have to pay extra for the 17-85, or its the same price. Buying the lenses new, you'd get both the 18-55 and the 55-250 for cheaper than the 17-85.

--------------------
David

Edited by davidh (06/06/2008 18:51)


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d123



Reged: 10/11/2004
Posts: 124
Loc: UK
Re: 17-85IS INSTEAD of 18-55IS lens??? [Re: davidh]
      #664064 - 06/06/2008 22:02

Quote:

Quote:


I guess the 17-85IS does everything the 18-55IS does and then a little more so the 17-85 seems like a safe bet if the extra money isn't a problem.




Apparently, the 18-55 does what it does better than the 17-85 for the same range.
It is however a budget lens, and doesn't feel that much different from its predecessor (the images look much better though). It is also perfectly paired to go with the 55-250 IS...
I suppose it comes down to if you have to pay extra for the 17-85, or its the same price. Buying the lenses new, you'd get both the 18-55 and the 55-250 for cheaper than the 17-85.




According to the photozone.de test, the 18-55IS actually out performs the 17-85 by quite some distance.


Quote:


Unlike most dedicated APS-C standard zoom lenses it is capable to keep a very good level even at the extreme corners of the image field.

Its resolution characteristic is similar to the (much higher priced) EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 USM IS at comparable aperture settings, quite a bit better than the EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 USM IS and naturally vastly improved over its non-IS predecessor!


18-55 Review

--------------------
Dave


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Paul_R
Pooh-Bah


Reged: 16/06/2006
Posts: 1948
Loc: Middlesbrough, England.
Re: 17-85IS INSTEAD of 18-55IS lens??? [Re: bench_ubbster]
      #664070 - 06/06/2008 22:16

Quote:

I've the 17-85IS and I find it a great go-anywhere lens.




Me too.

--------------------
Regards, Paul CRIPN
http://www.pbase.com/exposethelight


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Newtoallthis2008
newbie


Reged: 12/03/2008
Posts: 5
Re: 17-85IS INSTEAD of 18-55IS lens??? [Re: Paul_R]
      #665972 - 12/06/2008 12:14

Thanks all...will do a little more research! I think best bet would be to take pics with both lens at the shop and see which suits me! Although i do want a 'jack of all trades' lens rather than keep swapping lens every 5 mins. Regards, Jay

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NorthernMonkey
enthusiast


Reged: 01/05/2007
Posts: 271
Re: 17-85IS INSTEAD of 18-55IS lens??? [Re: Newtoallthis2008]
      #666014 - 12/06/2008 13:49

You could hire them for a few days, and then choose.

I've had very good expirience with www.lensesforhire.co.uk


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