Official: EF-S 15-85 mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

zone555 wrote in post #9071718
Bokeh samples!

35L vs 15-85. Ok, framing will obviously be different due to the focal length. But this demonstrates the bokeh of the 15-85, which is very good for a zoom lens! The distance to the Christmas ornament was approximately 4 feet, suspended in the air.

35L, 35mm, f/1.4, 1/50s, ISO 200

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Redirected to error image by FLICKR

15-85, 85mm, f/5.6, 1/50s, ISO 3200

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Redirected to error image by FLICKR

I tend to disagree. With the 85mm, there's way more compression than the 35L gave you. Almost any lenses @ 85mm (whether on FF or crop) is going to give you that kind of bokeh.

Get a 85L or 85 F1.8, stop down to F5.6, then we have a good comparison.

KenjiS wrote in post #9074419
I usually have mine gripped, but lately i've been carrying my 30D around with me everywhere, so i dropped the grip off of it to save weight

it also balances better with the 15-85 without the grip, But when I use the 100-400 I very much prefer the feel of it with the grip for some reason..

However I also have found that the newer bodies [40D, 50D, 7D] feel a LOT better in my hand so im unsure if id bother with a grip for them...

I find because the 500d..... is small the grip balances the lenses better, it all comes down to personal taste as it does make the camera heavy. I took it off the other night and it felt really strange sort of naked.

cy88 wrote in post #9075680
I tend to disagree. With the 85mm, there's way more compression than the 35L gave you. Almost any lenses @ 85mm (whether on FF or crop) is going to give you that kind of bokeh.

Get a 85L or 85 F1.8, stop down to F5.6, then we have a good comparison.

This wasn't meant to be a direct comparison, as I've already prequalified it by saying the framing will be different. I had 2 shots of the same scene with different lenses, so I thought I'd post the results.

So any lens with a longer focal length (85mm+) will give you bokeh due to compression, fair enough.. the lens design (# of blades, etc.) has nothing to do with the bokeh quality? This is what I'm trying to demonstrate.

musicmancol1 wrote in post #9075978
I find because the 500d..... is small the grip balances the lenses better, it all comes down to personal taste as it does make the camera heavy. I took it off the other night and it felt really strange sort of naked.

Maybe, ive played with my dad's T1i and i find its way too small [Actually i've so far used it more than him..]

Did anyone else notice how quiet the IS is for this lens? I can't even tell if the IS was on or not while shooting. Even my 70-200 f/4 IS make some noise while the IS is on.

KenjiS wrote in post #9077011
Maybe, ive played with my dad's T1i and i find its way too small [Actually i've so far used it more than him..]

I now think that also, thats why i got the grip, I do like the little guy though (well not so little with the grip), what is bugging me is i got it just before the 7D cam out, grrr, but oh well its was cheaper and i get good image IQ out of it.

cant see me upgrading anytime soon, I think the next cam i buy will be 5d m3 when released as after the quality of the 7d it cant go backwards

I just need to play more with the lens at the weekend and hope its good weather, I only got 2 good shots out of the bunch the other day, wife had managed to switch it to spot metering which i didn't notice until the evening

preveen wrote in post #9071409
Right, Thanks for this thread guys. I was just in a bit of doubt about going for the 15-85 or the 17-40 (same price). I was leaning towards the L. But now, I think I can go with the 15-85. Pros seem to outweigh the cons. I think I'll have to wait till I can the 70-200mm f2.8 to add that L lens (which means a loooong wait )

OK, I posted this on the 18-135 thread too, but I guess no one is looking. Just two Qs.

Which has better IQ 15-85 or 18-135?
Which has better build 15-85 or 18-135?

preveen wrote in post #9079211
OK, I posted this on the 18-135 thread too, but I guess no one is looking. Just two Qs.

Which has better IQ 15-85 or 18-135?
Which has better build 15-85 or 18-135?

The 15-85 is the answer to both GET IT you wont be disappointed!!

The 15-85 IS is sharper and better built then the 18-135 IS. The 18-135 is ok, and is capable of producing good photos, but has slower/noisier AF and the build quality is the same as a 55-250 IS, but it has a metal lens mount. The18-135 IS I had started to show some zoom creep after only a month of use. The 18-135 IS uses the same lens hood as the 17-85 IS.

If your choosing between both and can afford the 15-85 IS, get it! It makes a great walkabout lens, and the extra few mm at the wide end is useful.

I did notice that the IS is very quiet on this lens when I first tried the lens out (I've owned a few IS and VR lenses).

My lens hood arrived today, and I like the new hood (it won't scratch as easily as other Canon lens hoods) a bit pricey though, but there is no generic version available, and I don't like to shoot without a hood.

According to Jethro790, the EW-78BII works fine with this lens (not sure if the color matches, though). There are quite a few generic versions for that hood.

I just received the EW-78E hood for this lens.. I recommend this hood. The material has a rubbery feel to it, almost like the surface of the built-in flash of the 7D.

As others have already said, it's not as likely to scratch. Probably the most worthwhile $75cdn to spend on a hood.

preveen wrote in post #9079211
OK, I posted this on the 18-135 thread too, but I guess no one is looking. Just two Qs.

Which has better IQ 15-85 or 18-135?
Which has better build 15-85 or 18-135?

The difference is night and day, the 18-135 is complete junk compared to the 15-85 in both respects...

KenjiS wrote in post #9082380
The difference is night and day, the 18-135 is complete junk compared to the 15-85 in both respects...

Interesting that there are no argumentative defenders of the 18-135 showing up; on a forum like this, where people will argue just about anything, I think that really says something about the relative quality of these two lenses.

zone555 wrote in post #9080734
I just received the EW-78E hood for this lens.. I recommend this hood. The material has a rubbery feel to it, almost like the surface of the built-in flash of the 7D.

As others have already said, it's not as likely to scratch. Probably the most worthwhile $75cdn to spend on a hood.

I thought $40us is pretty "full" for a lens hood, albeit a genuine good one. But $75Cdn is just plain gauging, highway robbery.

Canadian retailers want $74.95 CAD plus taxes = $97.43 CAD ($91.54 USD) in Ontario.

I got my hood on ebay for $59.99 USD ($64.75 CAD) delivered to my door.
http://cgi.ebay.com …ories?hash=item​53ddb5c45c

It is a genuine Canon and delivery was exactly 7 days to Canada.