Any one have and use a Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 lens??

[Roy Hobbs]

I am looking for hands on opinions of the Canon EF-S 17-85mm f4-5.6 lens. Please do not give me other recommendations.

I have a chance to get this lens for next to nothing when buying my 40D, please submit your experiences with the lens.

Here is a link for any of you who want to check out this lens
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-17-85mm-4-5-6-Stabilized-Digital/dp/B0002Y5WXO

 

[robbieduncan]

I have one. I use it as my standard zoom lens. It's OK, much better than the kit lens, but not as good as some of the more expensive competition (especially the 17-55mm f/2.8).

The lens distorts quite a lot at the wide end and is simply not fast enough to use in low light situations where the IS does nothing for you, but for the money it's OK.

 

[miloblithe]

What's next to nothing? Sounds like a good deal. Get it and see how it works for you. If you're getting it at less than it's resale value, you can always sell it later.

 

[Roy Hobbs]

What's next to nothing? Sounds like a good deal. Get it and see how it works for you. If you're getting it at less than it's resale value, you can always sell it later.

I planned on just getting the body only 40D, local camera shop will throw in the 17-85 lens for $75 extra.

Seems like I can't go wrong with that

 

[robbieduncan]

$75

That's too cheap to be true!

 

[Roy Hobbs]

$75

That's too cheap to be true!

I give the guy a lot of print business and a lot of referrals.
He's basically doing me a favor. It's all legit from a shop thats been around for 50+ years no crazy internet grey market scams.

 

[robbieduncan]

I give the guy a lot of print business and a lot of referrals.
He's basically doing me a favor. It's all legit from a shop thats been around for 50+ years no crazy internet grey market scams.

Then go for it. It's a $500 lens so if you don't like it you should easily clear $300 on eBay!

 

[Roy Hobbs]

Then go for it. It's a $500 lens so if you don't like it you should easily clear $300 on eBay!

True I didn't think of reselling. But either way I was hoping to get some hands on reviews. Anyone?? Most of the online reviews I have ready give it pretty good marks, not an L series by any means, by still a decent lens.

 

[robbieduncan]

This basically says it all.

As I said above, it's OK, but not exceptional.

 

[Roy Hobbs]

This basically says it all.

As I said above, it's OK, but not exceptional.

Well even at full price I wouldn't expect exceptional.
Any one else have any real world reviews??

 

[jwt]

Well even at full price I wouldn't expect exceptional.
Any one else have any real world reviews??

Too much vignetting, too much barrel distortion, and too much chromatic aberration to be taken seriously. On the plus side, the zoom region is just right, and the auto focus is silent and excellent. If you do a lot of indoor shooting, this lens works pretty well; but if you do high-contrast landscapes, like I do, then you'll find that the chromatic aberration is often unworkable in post-processing--especially when you start bumping up saturation and contrast.

 

[flinch13]

Dude, go for it. For the money, this lens is the bomb. I got one for $350 used on ebay, I don't regret that purchase at all. True, I'm no pro photographer, but the results are good enough for me, and if you're getting it for $75, it's a steal. Besides, this lens is relatively inexpensive in the first place... do you really need a lens that is so expensive that you get protective and paranoid every time you use it and stop having fun with your photography? I think not. Get the lens, seize the day, and above all have fun!

 

[Roy Hobbs]

After a lot of research and discussion I decided to get the 40D with the 17-85 lens. I am by far at the level of professionalism as most the people who post in the forum. So for me I think it was a good buy.

I havent got to play with either too much, but so far I really like them.

Big step up from my original Digital Rebel and 18-55 kit lens