60D & 15-85mm vs 18-135mm

[VinceC]

Hi

I get disappointing (soft) results with my 15-85 IS on my 60D. I am comparing it with an 18-135 IS that I also have (which seems very sharp in comparison), plus a 55-250, 70-300, 100-400 (Canon) and 90mm Macro Tamron - all on the same camera. All give pleasing, sharp results.

The 15-85 seems better when focusing at 3-4 metres - worst when using for landscapes. I haven't tried it on another body - but it is the third copy of this lens I have had (this one is full UK retail, the other two were split from 7D kits and I returned then as they seemed very soft).

I want the extra wide angle of the 15-85 for landscapes.

I see that, in the UK, the 15-85 is offered as a kit lens with the 7D, but not the 60D.

Am I missing something - does anyone else have similar experience.
--
Best regards
Vince C

 

[bhollis]

My 15-85 has been fine. Could you post some sample pics so we can see the problem?

 

[ultimitsu]

15-85 is not offered as part of kit to 60D, only to 7D. 60D's official kit is 18-135 and 18-200.

some retailers take 18-55 and 55-250 from xx0D and bundle them with 60D.

 

[Kwik-E-Mart]

I have both the 15-85 and the 18-135. Or I should say "had" since I sold the 18-135 because it wasnt in the same league as the 15-85. I find thd15-85 to be much sharper and better color and contrast as well. It's also sharp at 15mm and wide open.

That said, I also has a bad sample of the 15-85 and had to replace it. Can you post somesample shots? 100% crops of center vs corners at widest apperture would be best.

-david

 

[dave_bass5]

Im on my second copy of the 15-85IS and its noticeably sharper than the first, and i thought the first was good.
--
Dave.

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[GammyKnee]

Sounds to me like the lens needs to be calibrated to your 60D (which can be a tough thing to get done properly in the UK, or at least that's my experience) or you could return it again and try a different copy. I know that's four in a row, but sometimes it can happen.

 

[plantdoc]

It took me three copies to a good 15-85mm. The first two were significantly decentered at wide angle, and infinity pics. 20% of the left side of frame was very soft. My current copy doesn't seem to have the decentering issue, but on a Rebel t1i, it front focuses frequently at wide angle and infinity. Weird AF... focus on a forest and front focus (scale reads 7M) is almost certain. However, focus on rugged rocks, the lens usually hits the infinity slash. Check for front focusing by looking at the scale and the pics. Very annoying for the fairly steep prices and mature technology. Note, the lens focuses just fine on a 40D. My somewhat irritating solution is lock exposure, zoom in, focus and then zoom out to wide and shoot. Also, I had 2, 18-135mm that were decentered at wide angle. The bottom 20% was quite soft. QC?

Greg