WOW Canon EF-S 18-55mm as sharp as Canon 17-55mm 2.8 IS?

[Baddrummerboyy]

My friends sent me this link, and I was shook to see the MTF chart. It doesn't even have any UD glass in it. Canon is up to something here.

http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/len...56is/index.htm

[Nick_C]

Yes its proved that Canon CAN make top quality glass which doesnt cost a fortune, this is a marked improvement over the old crappy kit lens.

Im waiting on my second copy as the first had problems, but it was indeed every bit as good as those mtf charts suggest, L level sharpness for sure!

[Vortex99]

Very interesting indeed.

[Familiaphoto]

Glad to see some good, affordable glass coming out. Always knew Canon could do it. I'll never part with my 17-55 IS though. Love the constant apeture and it is so so so very sharp at f/2.8.

[Tony-S]

The whole lens is made of plastic, including the mount. Probably the lenses, too.

[tekkie]

hmm very interesting indeed

[mmahoney]

The MTF numbers are good wide open and great down one stop .. which makes it very usable with a flash at the wider settings and F5.6 for typical family & party situations. Add the IS and low price and the lens is a winner for many enthuasists.

[randomlinh]

It'll be a great addition if they can keep the quality consistent. I await all the user tests. I would still like to see something along the lines of the 17-55, but without the IS. I am addicted to USM But for a lens I won't use often, this just might fit the bill.

[Wilt]

I think there are/will be many confused readers, who simply do not realize that the infamously mediocre 18-55 lens is not the same as the tested 18-55mm IS lens!!!

[Nick_C]

Originally Posted by Tony-S

The whole lens is made of plastic, including the mount. Probably the lenses, too.

Isnt every non L Canon lens all plastic? the only extra plastic here is the mount, but in a lens of this class its fine, most people that buy these types of lenses usually team it up with a 350/400D & leave it on all the time.

[sebr]

Good to see Canon improved their kit lens. It is a tough world out there and this will help them compete with the other brands, which is good for all of us even if we are not planning to get this lens

[maxxed]

I just got this today to use when the 'brick' + grip is just too big to lug around. So far its great! Yes its small, yes its plastic, yes its quite ridiculous to MF, but optically it seems great for the money.

I'll reserve a full recommendation until I've tested it for a few days however.

[Tom W]

Originally Posted by Baddrummerboyy

My friends sent me this link, and I was shook to see the MTF chart. It doesn't even have any UD glass in it. Canon is up to something here.

http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/len...56is/index.htm

How sharp is it at f/2.8?

Actually, I saw the MTF chart last week - the new 18-55 IS presents very good performance for the price. It has it's weaknesses (CA at 28 mm, barrel distortion at the wide end, no USM) but the overall performance looks very good. Unlike the 17-85 IS, they actually took their time and designed this one rather than just downsizing a respectable EF lens. If they could get this kind of performance out of the 17-85 USM, it would be an instant hit.

[Mike55]

Apparently the flare performance is far superior to the 17-55IS. Looks like a keeper.

[JCLJCL]

Originally Posted by Tom W

Unlike the 17-85 IS, they actually took their time and designed this one rather than just downsizing a respectable EF lens. If they could get this kind of performance out of the 17-85 USM, it would be an instant hit.

It is most curious that in the past 2 months, the street price of the 17-85 USM has dropped to below $550 from >$700 in Canada. (I saw $520 last weekend) I suspect this is due to a number of reasons including the strong Canadian dollar, and the arrival of a better-than-expected 18-55 IS.