23 November 2008
Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens
Posted by Jaco under: Canon; Lenses; Reviews; Top 5 Lenses .
Canon EF-S 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS Lens
The Canon EF-S 17-85mm F/4-5.6 IS USM Lens is not an “L” lens; therefore it cannot be expected to perform like one. Its image quality is indeed a little bit soft, especially at the wide end of the zoom and in the corners of the frame. However, if you are thinking of buying Canon’s 17-40mm L class, it would be hard to justify the price increase when comparing images of both lenses side by side.
The only difference in image quality between the 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS Lens and its greatest competitor as mentioned above is that the L lens is sharper in the corners of the frame, but not so much sharper that most people will even notice. When looking at the price difference between the two lenses, the 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS is definitely the better option, however if you need huge prints you might need to consider the other option.
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Canon EF-S 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS Sample Photo
The image stabilizer works well, resulting in much sharper pictures indoors and in low light conditions. However, the maximum aperture of this lens is 4.0 (beyond 50mm (80mm equivalent) it goes down to 5.6) and therefore it cannot give you the depth of field of larger apertures. USM focusing works great; it’s fast, pretty silent and has exceptional range. The focus ring is tight and precise. Some photographers have however complained that the zoom ring of the EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS Lens feels a little bit loose and wobbly.
The Canon EF-S 17-85mm F/4-5.6 IS USM Lens is a well made, versatile lens, perfect for walking around because it has both the wide end and a decent telephoto length. It is light and small, giving you the convenience of a single workhorse lens. Overall a great lens for studio work, outdoors and weddings.
If you can only afford one lens for your camera and need something versatile, this lens is a good choice. But if you are a pro, who regularly makes prints larger than 10″x15″, it might not be for you.
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