Camera Labs

Hi everyone, I'm pleased to announce our first lens review in over a year!

Canon EF-S 15-85mm IS USM review!

I've done more real-life tests and comparisons with this model than ever before, including wide, mid and tele focal lengths, and against the 17-85mm, 18-135mm and the 18-55mm kit zoom. All were shot in RAW and processed without any corrections to see what each lens was really capable of. I hope you'll find it interesting and useful!

There should be a video tour in a few days time, and a full review on the EF-S 18-135mm IS in the near future.

Gordon

Hello Gordon, thanks for the effort, I'll give it a read right now. Look forward to the video

This lens is darn expensive and performance is just tad better than 17-55 is ,in India its priced at Rs 65,000 i.e 1450 USD !!

In a quick scan of this (I'm at work!) the review seems to generally tie up with my experiences of it.

I haven't noticed any zoom creep on mine, but then again I've not looked for it. Certainly none has happened in my actual use.

The IS I tend to use as a on/off feature. I never measured its strength. That it is there at all is enough for me.

Lens hood, on this type of lens I'd give Canon benefit of doubt. They're designed not to block light at wide angles, so their effectiveness at the long end is rather minimal. As wide angle capable, the flare prevention benefit is minimal. I did buy the optional hood, and for some reason it seems to be larger diameter than average, so it does take up quite a bit of space in the camera bag. The build of the hood is above average compared to Sony/Olympus/Sigma/Tamron, having the fabric lining on the inside to reduce reflections even more. I tend to use it for protection, however as I found out when a swan pecked the front element, it doesn't protect against everything and a filter may be more suitable in that respect. Now I use both.

Against the competition, I agree this was really needed, and it was enough for me to let go of the Zeiss 16-80. They're not the same characteristics by any means, but in terms of overall image quality I'd rate them similarly.

And finally, there's some typos on this page. I think there's a few too many USM's going around in the image titles.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

mine is actually perfect..no zoom creep and produces very good image quality. i like the range actually, its really nice if you don't want to carry many lenses. its a nice upgrade from a kit lens, would recommend it to anyone planning to get this lens.

I just did a deliberate check for zoom creep. Angled at 45 degrees up or down, no creep at all. Angled straight up or down, it does creep when between around 24mm to 60mm.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Thanks popo, corrected.

Yay!!! I've been anticipating this! Thank you!

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Hello, my name is Jay.
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Great review Gordon, I sure love mine;)

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Canon 5D II, EF 24-105 f4 L IS, EF 16-35 2.8 L, EF 100 2.8 L IS Macro, EF 70-200 2.8 IS L II, Canon S90, Canon speedLight 580 EX II LowePro Sling Bag 302 AW, Photoshop CS5 Extended, Paint Shop Pro X3.

http://www.pbase.com/spartanwarrior

It's been over 2 months of thinking, and I still can't decide over this and the 17-55mm f2.8...

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Hello, my name is Jay.
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You just need to ask yourself if you really want or need the f2.8 aperture. if not, go for the 15-85mm.

@Solarsection!
I would really go for the 17-55 f 2.8! I have the tamron 17-50mm f2.8 and I just love the f2.8! It's able to take great pictures and its autofokus really isnt that slow. you should look into that, its even available as a version with IS and it would save you quite a lot of money.

I'd say the f2.8 is important, especially for you, because the 1000d like my 450d ( rebel xsi) only goes up to iso 1600 and there already giving images with a lot of noise...

anyway, i Hope i was able to help! David

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FLICKR: http://tinyurl.com/388cldd
Rebel Xsi + Grip, Tamron 17-55mm 2.8, Sigma 70-200 2.8 (non II), Canon 18-55mm IS, 50mm I.8 II, Sigma 30mm 1.4, Cullmann 4500-c Flash, Canon Speedlite 430 exII, Nikon Speedlight SB-80dx , Lensbaby composer, Studio Strobe and Equipment

That's exactly why I was leaning towards this lens!

f2.8 it is!

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Hello, my name is Jay.
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Another great review!

I think this would be my always-on lens of choice. More than 700$ seems to be a lot of money for a bit more range in both directions than the kit lens (as you can see, I do not have professional standards). How far do you have to stand away from the subject to make use of the DOF at 85mm to shoot their heads?

I really wonder how a lens will feel that is as heavy as the consumer body of the EOS 500D. Especially now that I am used to the ultra light 50mm 1.8.

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Canon EOS 500D (18-55mm IS Kit Lens, 50mm f/1. & Panasonic Lumix TZ7/ ZS3

For a head-shot you'd be somewhere in the range of 7feet away from your subject.