landscape lens Canon EF-S 15mm-85mm USM IS??

Nodferatu

looking to buy my first lens for my canon 500d. the lens that came with it is the basic EF-S 18-55mm IS lens. but i want a landscape lens, i like the canon EF-S 15mm-85mm IS USM. anyone have this lens or can the recommend it!! thanks

Telchak

Well for landscape, I assume you want something really wide. If the wide angle is more important than the focal range, then for a similar price you could get the Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM. Same website also says great things about the 18-85mm though

5uspect

Telephoto for landscapes, wideangle for panoramas.
That lens isn't far off what you already have OP.

Nodferatu

yeah i think im looking for a more all round everyday lens but i think the 15-85 is inviting as it has a more wider field view zoomed out and a bit more zoom also. i would like a landscape lens in the future though but for now i want a step up lens a bit better than what i have, im fed up of the kit lens even tho its great and all but i just want a step up to next level, and the wide end on that lens is tempting it has a wider field of view. should i go for the 15-85mm or the 18-135mm for an all round lens? im really an amateur just started last year so im not educated with the best lens for what. thanks for the help,

5uspect

There are **** loads of moderate zooms in the ~15 to ~100 is region so your spoiled for choice. Some highlights include:
The EF 24-70 f2.8 L is an awesome but super expensive lens.
The EF-S 17-55 f2.8 IS is super sharp, fast but also expensive.

Anything above 20mm will feel a little long on the wide end on a crop body such as the 28-135.

15mm isn't that much wider than the kit lens and bear in mind it isn't any faster than the kit lens unless you go comparing T-stops.

Niallic

I have 15-85mm, and can recommend it, its very versatile. However there is an issue with a diaphragm(?) zerohamster can advise on this. I personally use it quite a bit and am very happy with the results I got, even though there was the issue with my diaphragm, but since have had no issues with it. I have found it goes wide enough for landscape, and also can go in far enough for useage in other areas. I wouldnt say I'm the person to go to, having only been at it for 6-8 months, but I would say it is a very good lense.

My upgrade from the 18-55 kit lens was to the 17-85 lens and I've no real complaints about it at all. I got it for in or around €250 on adverts, so it's affordable, too.

Great little all-round for my own uses. Will hopefully upgrade to the 17-55 some day, but until then, i've no issues using this lens as an all-rounder in the mean time. I'd recommend it (though that's just me, always read up on it first). It does produce fairly noticeable chromatic abberation when shooting at lower focal lenghts, though. Bit of photoshopping sorts that out, but its worth mentioning.


Was considering moving from this to a 15-85, but reading up on it, realised i would be moving sideways, instead of upwards in regards to better lenses.

kev88

first if your shooting landscape you want wide but not super wide so 18mm would be wide enough, ignore the people who say L lenses as why would you pay €€€€ for a lense that has f2.8 if your doing landscapes! my suggestion is keep the kit lense, get a great tripod and an wireless shutter release cable and begin shooting at f11 or greater then after you save for a bit get the 15-85mm.

pullandbang

kev88 wrote: »

if your doing landscapes! my suggestion is keep the kit lense, get a great tripod and an wireless shutter release cable and begin shooting at f11 or greater then after you save for a bit get the 15-85mm.

Now there's a bit of sound advice!
You don't need IS on a tripod, you don't need f2.8 for landscapes.

tommyh1977

HI, i have the 15-85 and while i dont shoot a lot of landscape i can highly recommend this lens as a general use lens. I think it is super sharp and fast to focus. In my opinion it is an L quality lens without the red ring and weather sealing (and price too). My only negative is its a pity its not an EF so i could clip it on my 5d Mkii, but on a 7D its magic.

Promac

Someone mentioned the 28-135 and I have to say it's a crackin lens. It's long on a cropped body but the image quality is great. I've had it out with a 24-70 as well and in the mid-aperture range (where you'll be for landscapes) there was very little difference in quality. The price difference is huge too. It's not for everyone but I love it and it's only off the camera when I'm indoors and the 50mm goes on.

5uspect

Wasn't that the lens Argos were setting mistakenly for €300 (half price) a few years back?

Thefirestarter

OP, a 15-85mm would be equivalent to 24-136mm, due to the 500d having an APS-C sensor (cropped). On canons you multiply your focal length by 1.6 to get the true 'focal' length.

Only the 5d and 1d are full frame Canons.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crop_factor

Forgive me if you already knew this:)

Nodferatu

Thefirestarter wrote: »

OP, a 15-85mm would be equivalent to 24-136mm, due to the 500d having an APS-C sensor (cropped). On canons you multiply your focal length by 1.6 to get the true 'focal' length.

Only the 5d and 1d are full frame Canons.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crop_factor

Forgive me if you already knew this:)

yes i knew this, thanks for sharing though, i ended up buying this lens afterwards after a lot of thought. im absolutely delighted with it. its not that much different that the kit lens i had, has a little more on the wider end and also on the zoom end. it is ideal for me, its what i was looking for. great all round walk around lens. its quite sharp good quality images.

Thefirestarter

Nodferatu wrote: »

yes i knew this, thanks for sharing though, i ended up buying this lens afterwards after a lot of thought. im absolutely delighted with it. its not that much different that the kit lens i had, has a little more on the wider end and also on the zoom end. it is ideal for me, its what i was looking for. great all round walk around lens. its quite sharp good quality images.

I'm looking to pick up something similar but I have a growing affection for prime lenses:) 35mm next on my shopping list! Let us know how the new lens works out for you:)

Nodferatu

well the lens is going good for me, quite pleased with it, i do have a question though i notice the lens focus ring has become a bit more loose, in photography terms they call it lens creep i think!! when holding the lens face up about half way it falls back from the 35mm mark to about 25mm mark, its become a bit loose doesn't bother me but just wondered if this is quite normal with zoom lenses to get like this, i have to admit being using it quite a bit last week since i got it.

tommyh1977

Sorry to hear you are having this issue with your lens. I cant say i am having the same problem with mine, however with a lens less than a month old i would be talking to Canon about it straight away. Its an expensive enough lens without having issues already!!!

Nodferatu

tommyh1977 wrote: »

Sorry to hear you are having this issue with your lens. I cant say i am having the same problem with mine, however with a lens less than a month old i would be talking to Canon about it straight away. Its an expensive enough lens without having issues already!!!

well does it get worse over time? i just looked up a video review of it on youtube and apparently its normal!!? i dont know, im relatively new to lenses. iv always had the kit lens so this is my first purchase.
how good is canon customer service exactly? my experience in the past with consumer electronics customer care has not been great

tommyh1977

I find Canon Ireland great, although you may end up talking to a UK based operator.