28-80mm vs. 24-85mm ?

Other then the obvious focal differences, does anyone have any experience with these lenses, i.e. the limitations of the 28-80mm as opposed to the 24-85mm. I'm looking for some starter lenses (in other words low cost without being low quality) and really just need to know if the $200 difference in price in these two lenses is worth it. Thanks in advance for any light you can shed on this for me.

James,

These two lenses aren't even close enough to consider it a contest.

The 24-85 is sharper, better in low light, has better contrast, and stronger color rendition. It has faster auto-focus, and you can fine-tune focus manually without changing any settings.

James Dove said:

Other then the obvious focal differences, does anyone have any
experience with these lenses, i.e. the limitations of the 28-80mm
as opposed to the 24-85mm. I'm looking for some starter lenses
(in other words low cost without being low quality) and really just
need to know if the $200 difference in price in these two lenses is
worth it. Thanks in advance for any light you can shed on this for
me.

Click to expand...

--

• Woody -

Eqiupment: Lots.

Favorite Quote: 'Never let the quest for the Perfect become the enemy of the Excellent'

Please see my post from this morning. It includes a set of lens rating resources. To answer the question directly, I wouldn't buy the 28-80mm lens. If you can't swing the 24-85mm right away, I would suggest buying the 50mm f1.8 and then save up for the 24-85mm.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1019&message=4587798

James Dove said:

Other then the obvious focal differences, does anyone have any
experience with these lenses, i.e. the limitations of the 28-80mm
as opposed to the 24-85mm. I'm looking for some starter lenses
(in other words low cost without being low quality) and really just
need to know if the $200 difference in price in these two lenses is
worth it. Thanks in advance for any light you can shed on this for
me.

Click to expand...

I cant recommend the 24-85 because I never used it, or owned it. However, I CAN tell you to stay away from ANY 28-80 or 28-90 from Canon, basically they come with a camera and they are extremely low quality. I got the 28-90 with my Elan 7E and the picture quality is so freakin poor that you might as well shoot with a $30 point and shoot camera. Its literally blurry, at all apertures. Go for the 50mm f1.8 to start if you cannot afford ordont want to pay the extra $200. With optics, you get what you pay for, remember that.

James Dove said:

Other then the obvious focal differences, does anyone have any
experience with these lenses, i.e. the limitations of the 28-80mm
as opposed to the 24-85mm. I'm looking for some starter lenses
(in other words low cost without being low quality) and really just
need to know if the $200 difference in price in these two lenses is
worth it. Thanks in advance for any light you can shed on this for
me.

Click to expand...

I have a 28-80 from my Elan II and I used it on my D30 for the first
few months until I could afford the 24-85. It's not a bad lens as a
stopgap or a backup lens, but the 24-85 is great, looks great on the
camera, and is in general the lens I use most of the time.

But here's a few pics to show that the 28-80 does not "suck".

These are from a trip I took back in Jan. 2001 right after I got my D30.