Which Is The Better Lens?

[anth_333]

Hi all,
I was just wondering which was the better overall lens.
the
17 - 55mm f/2.8.
or
15 - 85mm f/3.5-5.6

Thanks.

 

[Patrice]

Without knowing anything about the make I'd have to guess the constant aperture lens would be the better one. But better for what, wallet or photos?

Constant aperture zooms are usually aimed at mid to upper level market segments. They are usually better built and usually have better glass than the variable aperture zooms. Note, there are a few usually's in there.

 

[dakkon76]

It depends. If 55mm ends up not being long enough for you, then it's going to be a lot less useful than the 15-85mm, regardless of minimum aperture. Then again, if you're shooting indoors or in low light... the 18-85mm is going to be all but useless without a flash or other light source.

 

[anth_333]

Oh man i would love a lens that is 15 - 85 with the constant 2.8 aperture and is really really sharp .
Or even better a lens which is 8 - 200mm haha a true all in one lens.. Come on Canon start engineering lol.

 

[dakkon76]

If you want "really really sharp" ... then you get a prime lens, not a zoom lens

This is a crop of a snap shot I took this morning playing with my new flash diffuser... my daughter was looking at it so I snapped a pic of her.

This is with my 50mm f/1.4

 

[cgipson1]

A zoom can be literally almost as sharp as a prime (not like it was 25 years ago).. even pixel peeping, you would have trouble seeing a major difference... even if you are enlarging (really large!), most people won't see a difference... This (one of my gallery pics) was shot with a zoom.. Nikon 28-300... look at the eyes.... how is that for sharp?

http://www.thephotoforum.com/photos/data/500/Kili-Face-closeup-hf.jpg

 

[BJF]

17-55 should be better. Here you are two links for your reference.

Canon 15-85mm + market price

Canon 17-55mm + market price

 

[dakkon76]

How is "Get on Digital" selling the 17-55 for 1/2 the price as everyone else? They have good ratings too... Very suspicious.

17-55 should be better. Here you are two links for your reference.

Canon 15-85mm + market price

Canon 17-55mm + market price

 

[BJF]

How is "Get on Digital" selling the 17-55 for 1/2 the price as everyone else? They have good ratings too... Very suspicious.

Yes, it's very suspicious.

 

[niftydriftyprod]

If you want "really really sharp" ... then you get a prime lens, not a zoom lens

this

 

[kundalini]

If you want "really really sharp" ... then you get a prime lens, not a zoom lens

You should probably do more research than assert an opinion as fact.