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I think its much better lens than what people let you think

Started Jan 12, 2014 | User reviews thread
technic Veteran Member • Posts: 8,932
Re: I think its much better lens than what people let you think

Rock and Rollei wrote:

Much though I like the cheap little 18-55, though, none of the ones I've used have been as sharp as the 15-85 anywhere until well stopped down.

I only used it on a 450D (12 MPixel) so maybe that skews my impression. I tested four different 18-55IS units and three different 15-85's. Below 50 mm the little 18-55IS was on average as sharp as the 15-85IS, assuming you focus with liveview and not with PD-AF. The 15-85 probably has better center resolution, but I care more about even performance across the frame.

However ... the 18-55IS has strong (and unpredictable) frontfocus in the WA range, at least on some Rebel bodies (e.g. focusing at 1-3 meters instead of 20 meters distance). I have read countless times that the 18-55IS is 'very soft' wide open, but all the ones I tested were pretty sharp full open - IF focused correctly ...

Now the 17-85 really isn't any better than the 18-55, and is for me the worst value lens in Canon's range.

agree. But supposedly it performs relatively well in infrared, and you can pick them up used for little money nowadays

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