I just about have enough saved to get the 15-85, having second thoughts...

mwsilver wrote in post #16407440
The new Sigma 30mm f/1.4 prime is a great adjunct to the 15-85mm.

Yup, and it gets a great review here...

http://www.dpreview.co​m …ws/sigma-35mm-f1-4-dg-hsm

Perfectly Frank wrote in post #16411903
Yup, and it gets a great review here...

http://www.dpreview.co​m …ws/sigma-35mm-f1-4-dg-hsm

Wrong lens. While the 35mm f/1.4 is a far better optic, I was referring to the 30mm f/1.4 crop lens which is more in line, price wise, as a prime to be used along with the 15-85mm. If the OP could afford the 35mm, all the better.

mwsilver wrote in post #16411925
Wrong lens. While the 35mm f/1.4 is a far better optic, I was referring to the 30mm f/1.4 crop lens which is more in line, price wise, as a prime to be used along with the 15-85mm. If the OP could afford the 35mm, all the better.

Thanks for the correction. I had a brain fart.

For the same price I will rather suggest get a Tamron 17-50 f2.8 + Canon 85 f1.8

The 15-85 is a good workhorse and if you can have only one lens it's fine. I bought one with my T1i when I first got back into photography years ago and liked it for the most part. As my skills and understanding of photography improved I wanted something faster for shallower DOF and better low light performance, but by the time those priorities mattered I'd saved enough to afford to get something better. Meantime the 15-85 held its value well.

I had bad zoom creep on my copy. It seems petty, but that issue drove me bananas with worry that I'd eventually damage the lens in some way. It got to the point that I didn't want to take it places because it felt so wonky to have the lens extending as I walked around.

With the code zombie2143 you can grab a refurbished for $511at Canon. I just received a different refurbished lens and I can't tell it isn't brand new.
http://shop.usa.canon.​com …g/269486?WT.mc_​id=C126149

CaliWalkabout wrote in post #16413942
I had bad zoom creep on my copy. It seems petty, but that issue drove me bananas with worry that I'd eventually damage the lens in some way. It got to the point that I didn't want to take it places because it felt so wonky to have the lens extending as I walked around.

That's the same reason why I got rid of my EFS 18-200.
The 18-200 could be locked at 18mm, but point it up or down at anything other than 18mm and it creeps.

At first it didn't bother me.
But after just 2 months it drove me nuts... you be walking around and find the lens had "zoomed out" because I forgot to "lock" it.

By comparison, my 55-250 does not creep at all, never.

PH68 wrote in post #16414219
That's the same reason why I got rid of my EFS 18-200.
The 18-200 could be locked at 18mm, but point it up or down at anything other than 18mm and it creeps.

At first it didn't bother me.
But after just 2 months it drove me nuts... you be walking around and find the lens had "zoomed out" because I forgot to "lock" it.

By comparison, my 55-250 does not creep at all, never.

Many well respected zoom lenses exhibit some creep, including a number of examples of the Canon 24-105L . Most of these lenses creep as a result of heavy front elements. The 55-250 mm is an inexpensive kit lens and the elements are significantly lighter, exhibiting no creep. The zoom creep on the 18-200 is pretty bad and is much worse than on the 15-85mm, but the zoom creep on the 18-135mm is legend. Even the Tamron 18-270 mm PZD exhibits substantial creep once broken in. That is why many super zooms come with lens locks in the first place.

mwsilver wrote in post #16414277
Many well respected zoom lenses exhibit some creep...

That may well be true, but I still hate lens creep.
Whenever I did a moon shot or some down-pointing photography with a tripod I really began to hate it.
A simple "lock at any length" would solve the issue.

I've never experienced "lens creep" with any internal focus lenses though.

A little creep is ok, but my copy of the 15-85 was downright sloppy. I could hardly lift the lens past 45 degrees without it slipping. That's not acceptable, imo. I don't think this happens with most copies of the lens, though.

I use two O rings, one small and one large, inserted in front of the focus ring. The large one rolls off and one and when it engages with the small O ring, the lens is locked. Mark (mwsilver) came up with the original idea (at least, he's the first person who suggested it to me).

For me, problem solved. The O rings I use are commonly found at Ace Hardware stores:
2-3/16 X 2 x 3/32...#89 O-ring + Culligan OR-233 O-ring.

gregrocco wrote in post #16407000
So I've just about saved up enough to buy a 15-85 lens. From what I've read it's one of the best lenses you can get if, like me, you're on a budget and can really only afford one.

As usually happens in these cases, however, now that I'm getting close to purchasing it, I'm wondering if there are other options I should be looking at. I have a T2i and sold the 28-135 lens I had because I didn't care for the IQ. Are there any other lenses, comparable to the 15-85 (either Canon or other makes) that offer similar range and similar performance for a similar price, or am I making the right choice in getting it?

I don't know what the 15-85 costs, but if you think you might want more on the long end, you might look at a Tamron 18-270; I love mine.

My 15-85 doesn't creep at all... Interesting...

PH68 wrote in post #16414489
I've never experienced "lens creep" with any internal focus lenses though.

Not surprising since its not the focus that creeps.

Moonshiner wrote in post #16414730
My 15-85 doesn't creep at all... Interesting...

That would be very surprising, but not impossible. Most 15-85 mm lenses seem to creep. If you haven't already, try this. Zoom out to 85mm and place your camera so the lens is facing straight up. In that position, slowly lower the zoom a bit at a time. (You have to take your hand off the zoom ring after each adjustment, of course). They generally will start to collapse at around 55mm, give or take, and should fall down to around 24mm. Some examples are better then others. On my copy, at less than a 60 degree angle pointing up or down, there is no creep. People whose use neck straps and generally don't shoot pointing upward or downward at sharp angles may not have noticed it.