What to buy EF 28-135IS or EF-S 17-85IS? Your thoughts & opinions

[Paul32]

I'm ordering my 20d today and am just looking for some advice. Someone told me I should go with the EF 28-135IS over the new EF-S 17-85IS. Asd this is my first major camera purchase I don't want to screw it up so all you pros give me your feedback which one of the two should I get and why?
Thanks

 

[PC Wheeler]

I'm ordering my 20d today and am just looking for some advice.
Someone told me I should go with the EF 28-135IS over the new EF-S
17-85IS.

you never need to shoot wide. In terms of 35 mm full frame:

o 28-135 is 45 to 210 mm or so
o 17-85 is 28 to 135 mm

Most P&S cameras are from 35 to 110 mm equiv (3x zoom ones) or so.

With my 300D I had the 18-55 and 28-135IS. Used the latter most of the time when hiking and in the hinterlands, but kept having to switch in cities to get wide enough

So for my 20D I have the 17-85IS and 70-300 DO IS. Unless shooting wildlife, I think the 17-85 will meet most (e.g. 90%) of my shooting needs and mean far less lens switching.

Phil

 

[greentank]

Phil:

Are you satisfied with the 70-300 at the end (300mm)? Do you often find it is too slow? I'm considering selling my 70-200IS for one of these....

Thanks. Mark

I'm ordering my 20d today and am just looking for some advice.
Someone told me I should go with the EF 28-135IS over the new EF-S
17-85IS.

you never need to shoot wide. In terms of 35 mm full frame:

o 28-135 is 45 to 210 mm or so
o 17-85 is 28 to 135 mm

Most P&S cameras are from 35 to 110 mm equiv (3x zoom ones) or so.

With my 300D I had the 18-55 and 28-135IS. Used the latter most of
the time when hiking and in the hinterlands, but kept having to
switch in cities to get wide enough

So for my 20D I have the 17-85IS and 70-300 DO IS. Unless shooting
wildlife, I think the 17-85 will meet most (e.g. 90%) of my
shooting needs and mean far less lens switching.

Phil

--
http://www.pbase.com/greentank
20D, 18-55, 17-40L, 70-200 2.8L IS, 50 1.4, 28-135 IS

 

[James Akiyama]

I also have the 17-85mm IS and 70-300mm DO (as Phil). I find I leave the 17-85mm on the camera most of the time. I also have the 28-135mm IS, but find it's wide-angle capability too restrictive for the 20D.

As Phil had mentioned, the 17-85mm behaves like a more capable version of a P&S lens (most P&S have a zoom between 38-115, effective, while the 17-85mm is a 27-136mm, effective) which covers from a moderate wide-angle to a moderate telephoto.

My vote would be for the 17-85mm unless you have some special requirements (e.g. low-light photography, fast-action, etc.) that might drive towards a more specialized lens.

James

I'm ordering my 20d today and am just looking for some advice.
Someone told me I should go with the EF 28-135IS over the new EF-S
17-85IS.

you never need to shoot wide. In terms of 35 mm full frame:

o 28-135 is 45 to 210 mm or so
o 17-85 is 28 to 135 mm

Most P&S cameras are from 35 to 110 mm equiv (3x zoom ones) or so.

With my 300D I had the 18-55 and 28-135IS. Used the latter most of
the time when hiking and in the hinterlands, but kept having to
switch in cities to get wide enough

So for my 20D I have the 17-85IS and 70-300 DO IS. Unless shooting
wildlife, I think the 17-85 will meet most (e.g. 90%) of my
shooting needs and mean far less lens switching.

Phil

 

[Paul32]

For the most part we shoot youth team pics and individual portrait shots and some weddings and family stuff. So would you reccommend the Efs or the EF 28-135 with the 20d

As Phil had mentioned, the 17-85mm behaves like a more capable
version of a P&S lens (most P&S have a zoom between 38-115,
effective, while the 17-85mm is a 27-136mm, effective) which covers
from a moderate wide-angle to a moderate telephoto.

My vote would be for the 17-85mm unless you have some special
requirements (e.g. low-light photography, fast-action, etc.) that
might drive towards a more specialized lens.

James

I'm ordering my 20d today and am just looking for some advice.
Someone told me I should go with the EF 28-135IS over the new EF-S
17-85IS.

you never need to shoot wide. In terms of 35 mm full frame:

o 28-135 is 45 to 210 mm or so
o 17-85 is 28 to 135 mm

Most P&S cameras are from 35 to 110 mm equiv (3x zoom ones) or so.

With my 300D I had the 18-55 and 28-135IS. Used the latter most of
the time when hiking and in the hinterlands, but kept having to
switch in cities to get wide enough

So for my 20D I have the 17-85IS and 70-300 DO IS. Unless shooting
wildlife, I think the 17-85 will meet most (e.g. 90%) of my
shooting needs and mean far less lens switching.

Phil

 

[PC Wheeler]

Phil:

Are you satisfied with the 70-300 at the end (300mm)?

70-300 DO IS is fine at 300mm. Have a Sigma 70-300APO and Canon 100-300 USM and they are not!

Do you often
find it is too slow?

No. But I use it mosly in very good light (outdoors vs. indoor sports, for example). Plus now that I have a 20D, I can jack the ISO to 1600 or 3200 if need be.

Phil

 

[PC Wheeler]

For the most part we shoot youth team pics and individual portrait
shots and some weddings and family stuff. So would you reccommend
the Efs or the EF 28-135 with the 20d

Likely either would work for that.

But if you are shooting "sports" in action, that is a whole different matter.

Phil