Which to choose: 18-55mm IS or 17-85mm is

I have sort of a dilemma. I have a 40D that came with the 28-135mm IS lens but want a wide angle for landscapes. The 28-135 wont cut it so I was thinking about getting either the 18-55 is or the 17-85 is and selling the 28-135 IS. I already have the 70-200 f/4L lens so the 17-85 would be just right, but I've seen some negative reviews about this lens. Anyone have pictures from the 17-85 is.

I borrowed the 18-55 IS from a friend and used it today and I was very impressed. Here is one of the shot

I'm not a fan of the 17-85, i've used two and they sucked for focus accuracy and sharpness. Other people love them. I'd personally get an 18-55 if they were the only choices. However i'd probably get a Tamron or Sigma F2.8 lens, 17-50 or 18-50. There's a comparison and reviews here.

wow! nice shot!

i like the 18-55 IS. i was so impressed when i saw the pics posted here in the forum that i bought one...i wasnt disappointed.

i never was interested in the 17-85 IS. i too have read & heard some negative things about it & the distortion in the the wide end is not acceptable by my standards.

i'll just throw in the 17-55 IS if money is not an issue in your decision making. i just love it! very good IQ, fast & accurate AF, 2.8 & IS. kinda expensive though...

oh, i forgot about the Tamron 17-50! one of the best bang-for-your-buck lenses in the market today...

For wide angle...what about the canon ef-s 10-22? I have heard that this is a very nice lens and is about the widest you can get for a crop sensor camera.

Thanks guys. I will look into the Tamron. 17-55 IS is not a possibility. I cant justify spending $1100 for a wide angle lens

I've got this same decision to make. I've borrowed a friends 17-85 and it is a good lens, at least his version is. Good colours and I'm impressed with the sharpness. IS seems to work quite well, took a couple of night time shots out of my front door, handheld at 1/6th.

Thing is, the 18-55 is less than half the price. If there is a (small) drop in IQ I'm not too worried, and most of the things I've read about the 18-55 IS are very encouraging. I'm not so concerned about the loss of reach as I'll be coupling whichever I choose with the 55-250 IS.

Anyone on here care to lend me an 18-55 IS to try it out?

devgrp wrote in post #5882623
I have sort of a dilemma. I have a 40D that came with the 28-135mm IS lens but want a wide angle for landscapes. The 28-135 wont cut it so I was thinking about getting either the 18-55 is or the 17-85 is and selling the 28-135 IS. I already have the 70-200 f/4L lens so the 17-85 would be just right, but I've seen some negative reviews about this lens. Anyone have pictures from the 17-85 is.

I borrowed the 18-55 IS from a friend and used it today and I was very impressed. Here is one of the shot

Interesting you were able to create a 70mm image with a lens that only reaches to 55mm.

Pictures from the 17-85 can be found here: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=144177

As an owner of both, I'd have to say the 18-55 is the better bang for the buck deal.

The 17-85 does distort a bit on the wide end and the CA is alot more noticable.

As to IQ, there is no difference as far as I can tell at anything above 25mm or so, but wide open, the 18-55 looks better to me.

Don't get me wrong, I love the 17-85, but for what you are wanting to shoot I'd go with the 18-55.

devgrp wrote in post #5882623
I have sort of a dilemma. I have a 40D that came with the 28-135mm IS lens but want a wide angle for landscapes. The 28-135 wont cut it so I was thinking about getting either the 18-55 is or the 17-85 is and selling the 28-135 IS. I already have the 70-200 f/4L lens so the 17-85 would be just right, but I've seen some negative reviews about this lens. Anyone have pictures from the 17-85 is.

I borrowed the 18-55 IS from a friend and used it today and I was very impressed. Here is one of the shot

I checked the EXIF Data on this one.. It doesn't match the 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 IS lens specifications..

Model = Canon EOS 40D
Exposure Time = 1/160"
F Number = F6.3
Exposure Program = Manual
ISO Speed Ratings = 200
Max Aperture Value = F4
Focal Length = 70mm

What's going on??