15-85MM?

Ok, it's me again. After much consideration, I'm going to sell both the 28-135 and 70-300, purchase the 15-85MM instead of the 17-40 or 24-105. This will give me a good walk around/everyday lens, 50mm prime and a 70-200 F/4 l and 1.4x that will cover most of my focal range for the time being. The only regret getting the 15-85mm, I can see is it is EF-S instead of EF. Thanks for everyone's advice.

Good choice. The 15-85 is a fantastic lens, EF-S or not. If you are on a crop, it's worth having.

Yep, I think it's the best choice out there for a crop standard zoom - nice choice!

Do you use the D60 often enough for that to matter?

Great choice! I was trying to choose between the 24-105 and the 15-85 for a long time. I bought the 15-85 and I wasn't happy with it at first because I never really used the wide angle. I was taking some shots around my town last weekend and the 15-20mm range came in very handy for buildings and fountains.

Nightdiver13 wrote in post #15571343
Do you use the D60 often enough for that to matter?

I use it as for back up, when someone needs to borrow camera and my son uses it from time to time. I have a modified 18-55 I use on it. The D60 was my first foray in to the DSLR world. It is still a fine camera and takes excellent pictures and has been a dependable goto camera. If it gets torn up, I will be upset but that is what it is for.

+1

Yep, barring the purchase of the EF-S 17-55 which is also fantastic for what it does, the 15-85 is a pretty darn good lens to have!

Ok, I have my other lens on the market. So if there are any objections to the 15-85, speak now for I will ever hold my peace. Thanks for everyone's insight.

Two negatives I can think of: Quite some visible vignetting at large apertures (very visible at 15mm) and prone to chromatic aberrations. So often some tender LR love is needed. And the lens is not exactly fast.

Nevertheless, this is my travel and walk around lens and probably my most used lens. Love the versatility.

I really like my 15-85. Vignetting is bearable. CA can be horrible (worse than 18-135), but is correctable.

Another crazy? how is the build quality of the 15-85 say vs the 28-135? Just curious? It would be nice if the was a store that sold canon lens locally!

The 15-85 is an excellent lens for what it is, provided you recognize and accept the compromises.

With a ~5:1 zoom range, there are some. It's a bit soft off-center wide, but there's little reason to pixel peep wide. (Why would you crop a wide shot instead of zooming in?) CA is also pretty severe on the wide end but that's easily corrected in post.

The edge-to-edge sharpness is much better at the narrow end. Center sharpness is good in general.

There are VERY FEW lenses with a 5:1 zoom range that perform anywhere near as well as this one does. It is also light, small, and has an excellent IS implementation, which just adds to the attractiveness, and it is also reasonably priced.

I contemplate selling mine on occasion and keep coming back to "do I really want to have to carry two lenses and spend the space and mass to do what I can do with one now, when I want a nice, light and small walk-around solution for a day of shooting?"

So far I'm keeping it.

trx125 wrote in post #15571278
Ok, it's me again. After much consideration, I'm going to sell both the 28-135 and 70-300, purchase the 15-85MM instead of the 17-40 or 24-105. This will give me a good walk around/everyday lens, 50mm prime and a 70-200 F/4 l and 1.4x that will cover most of my focal range for the time being. The only regret getting the 15-85mm, I can see is it is EF-S instead of EF. Thanks for everyone's advice.

Why the frown for EF-S? Just because they add the -S doesn't make it a weak performer. All the -S signifies is that it's designed for a crop sensor, and it isn't weather sealed (which would be wasted anyway, since the bodies it's intended for are at best minimally sealed anyway).

I have 3 EF-S lenses and they are some of Canon's best for image quality, and that comparison includes "L" lenses. After all, that's what we are really looking for, isn't it?

Preeb wrote in post #15574713
Why the frown for EF-S? Just because they add the -S doesn't make it a weak performer. All the -S signifies is that it's designed for a crop sensor, and it isn't weather sealed (which would be wasted anyway, since the bodies it's intended for are at best minimally sealed anyway).

I have 3 EF-S lenses and they are some of Canon's best for image quality, and that comparison includes "L" lenses. After all, that's what we are really looking for, isn't it?

Not meant really has a regret, EF-S lens work perfectly fine. I'm trying to invest in better glass now that will work on FF later, if I decide to go that route later down the road. Chances are I can use the 18-55 now and recoupe a good bit of investment later down the road, if I do goto FF.Thanks.

Would you buy a minivan now because you plan on getting married and having kids in the future? I fail to understand the whole buying only FF lenses in the hopes of a format change at some unknown future date process. Buy the gear that fits your current needs now, and worry about crossing bridges when you actually get to them.

That said, IMO the 15-85 felt much better vs any 28-135 that i have tested. The build quality is good, but expecting L build is anunreasonable expectation. It can develop some zoom creep, but not as bad as the 28-135. The IS is better and the IQ is very good. Have had mine for nearly 3 years and very satisfied with what it's capable of.