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Product Description
From the Manufacturer
The new EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM sets a new standard for everyday photography on APS-C sensors. With a focal length range equivalent to 24-136mm in 35mm format, image stabilization and high-precision optics, the EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM offers stellar performance from wide-angle through to telephoto.
Lens Specifications
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Lens Specifications
- Focal Length & Maximum Aperture: 15 - 85mm 1:3.5-5.6
- Lens Construction: 17 elements in 12 groups
- UD Glass: 1
- Diagonal Angle of View: 84 degrees 30' to 18 degrees 25'
- Focus System: Inner focusing system with USM
- Closest Focusing Distance: 1.15 ft. / 0.35m
- Filter Size: 72mm
- Max. Diameter x Length: 3.2 x 3.4 in./81.6 x 87.5mm
- Weight (lens only): 20.3 oz./575g
Product Description
The versatile focal length, standard angle and stunning image quality of Canon's new EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens makes this the ideal multipurpose standard zoom lens for the photographer shooting a wedding or exotic vacation. Featuring three aspherical elements and one UD glass element for outstanding image quality, the zoom range of this lens is equivalent to 24-136mm on a full-frame camera. When coupled with Canon's new EOS 7D DSLR, this lens provides moviemakers and videographers with a phenomenal focal range for wide-angle scenic footage and zoomed in telephoto shots. The warranty period is 1 year.
Available Warranties for This Item
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
120 of 122 people found the following review helpful
This lens will take a key place in the Canon line-up: it will be the first high quality wide angle to medium telephoto lens for APS-C (i.e. 1.6x) crop bodies. Thankfully, this lens is well qualified for this role. The build quality is solid and both the focus ring and zoom rings are firm yet move smoothly. The image quality provided by the lens is outstanding. The lens is very sharp across its zoom range, even wide open. Color fidelity is also a strong point of the lens, as it produces saturated yet natural colors. Distortions are also at a minimum considering the focal range of the lens. Although there is some barrel distortion at the wide end (particularly at 15mm), this is simply unavoidable for superzooms covering this range and it should be pointed out that even L lenses covering the same (35 mm equivalent) range cannot fare better in this respect. I confidently give this lens 5 stars!
The only alternative to this lens that I considered was the Canon EF-s 17-55mm f/2.8, which is another superb lens for APS-C cameras. I decided to choose the 15-85mm over the 17-55mm simply because it suited my needs better. Optically the lenses perform about the same (i.e. both offer superb image quality), therefore this did not factor into my decision. The two lenses simply have different strong suits. The 17-55mm with a constant aperture of 2.8 gives the lens versatility in low light situations and allows it to double as a portrait lens in certain situations. On the other hand, the 15-85 while having a variable aperture f/3.5-5.6 offers a greater focal range: 15-85 (i.e. 24-136 in 35mm eq.), allowing it to cover a greater range of subjects in daylight. Since I plan to later buy a dedicated portraiture lens and since I was mainly interested in a walkaround lens for reach and image quality, the 15-85mm seemed the more appropriate choice for me. Of course, the decision was only helped by the fact that the 15-85mm is also $300 cheaper than the 17-55mm. However, both the 15-85mm and the 17-55mm are great walkaround lenses offered for Canon crop bodies and which lens you choose can only be dictated by your particular circumstances.
The only alternative to this lens that I considered was the Canon EF-s 17-55mm f/2.8, which is another superb lens for APS-C cameras. I decided to choose the 15-85mm over the 17-55mm simply because it suited my needs better. Optically the lenses perform about the same (i.e. both offer superb image quality), therefore this did not factor into my decision. The two lenses simply have different strong suits. The 17-55mm with a constant aperture of 2.8 gives the lens versatility in low light situations and allows it to double as a portrait lens in certain situations. On the other hand, the 15-85 while having a variable aperture f/3.5-5.6 offers a greater focal range: 15-85 (i.e. 24-136 in 35mm eq.), allowing it to cover a greater range of subjects in daylight. Since I plan to later buy a dedicated portraiture lens and since I was mainly interested in a walkaround lens for reach and image quality, the 15-85mm seemed the more appropriate choice for me. Of course, the decision was only helped by the fact that the 15-85mm is also $300 cheaper than the 17-55mm. However, both the 15-85mm and the 17-55mm are great walkaround lenses offered for Canon crop bodies and which lens you choose can only be dictated by your particular circumstances.
190 of 197 people found the following review helpful
By AdamSmythe
ANOTHER REBATE ALERT, December 6, 2011: Canon is again running an "instant rebate" (the rebate should be in the price you see--you don't have to mail in some coupon) for this lens. This time it's over the period November 27, 2011 through January 7, 2012. If this is the right lens for you (see below for my comments and other reviews), then this is probably a good time to consider purchasing this lens. I continue to regard it as one of my most versatile lenses. Best wishes.
UPDATE, July 11, 2010: The Canon rebate referred to below should just about be concluding as I write this, so you can read this review (and others) and decide whether this lens--at its regular price--is right for you. (Or you can wait for the next rebate program, but that may be a while from now.) Since the time when I wrote my initial review, I have come to regard this lens even more highly. It feels great on my Canon EOS Rebel T2i, and I had a recent experience with this lens that might interest you. My wife and I took a sightseeing train ride along the Arkansas River through some very picturesque parts of Colorado. There was an open-air observation car that was great for taking pictures; however, when the train was moving it was impossible to remain perfectly still, as the car swayed slightly (and unpredictably) from side to side. I thought about turning the image stabilization (IS) off completely, but decided to give it a try. It turns out the IS worked beautifully. One more thing: As the sun set, the canyons the train was climbing through were alternately drenched in glorious late-day sunlight or covered with shade. Given the rapidly changing light conditions and the train sway, it wasn't the easiest task to try to capture the gorgeous scenery, especially for an amateur like me, but the Canon EF-S 15 - 85mm f/3.5 - 5.6 IS lens turned out to be up to the task. I have no regrets.
REBATE ALERT: From May 9 through July 10, 2010, Canon is running an "instant" rebate program that includes this lens--at a considerable saving. The best part about an instant rebate is that it should be built into the price you see on Amazon (it was when I bought mine), so you don't have to mail in some form and wait (and hope) for a rebate to arrive weeks later. If this is the right lens for you (something we haven't established yet), then now may be a good time to pull the trigger on a purchase.
Regarding this lens, it is a considerable improvement from the typical kit lens on a digital SLR. Kit lenses are decent for the money you pay (which isn't much), but they have clear limitations, especially in sharpness. If you are reading this review, I assume you are looking for a lens for the general-purpose focal-length range, and the Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5 - 5.6 IS USM fits well into this category. The 15 - 85mm range is wider than most kit lenses (probably on both ends), which enables the photographer to use this lens for a wide variety of purposes. The build quality is quite good, though not up to "L" series lens standards. Of course, its price is also not up to L levels, either. Sharpness is very good. Frankly, I can't really tell the difference between this lens and L glass (but I'm just a humble layman), although professional photographers and serious amateurs probably can. Concerning qualities such as vignetting or chromatic aberration, I suggest you consult some of the many professional reviews on the web, which generally paint a good picture of this lens.
Okay, so should you buy this lens? That's the question I want to address with this review. If you do a lot of low light shooting, like weddings, this lens probably isn't fast enough for you. You can't always use a flash in a church. The Canon EF-S 17 - 55mm f/2.8 IS USM or the Canon EF 24 - 70mm f/2.8L USM may be better choices. Both of these lenses have what the EF-S doesn't--a much wider aperture. They also have higher price tags and a narrower focal length range. They are also heavier (especially the 24 - 70 L), which depending on how long you typically carry your camera around may mean something to you. Specifically, the 15 - 85mm weighs 20.3 ounces, while the 17 - 55mm weighs 22.8 oz, and the 24 - 70mm weighs a heftier 33.5 oz. For comparison, a Canon EOS Rebel T2i without any lens weighs only about 19 oz.
The 15 - 85mm lens is relatively new (2009), so it is built with the latest manufacturing technology. It features, for example, four-stop image stabilization, which is great. (Remember that image stabilization helps compensate for the unsteadiness of the photographer, but does nothing to stop the movement of your subject.) "Bokeh" (foreground/background blur quality) is very good. The lens is made of plastic, but its high-quality plastic, if that doesn't sound too oxymoronish.
In short, if you are looking for the absolutely finest general purpose lens that money can buy, this is not your lens. However, if what you want is a very noticeable step-up in sharpness from a kit lens, combined with a very convenient weight and four-stop image stabilization--and you don't want to fork over a great deal of money--then this lens merits your careful attention.
UPDATE, July 11, 2010: The Canon rebate referred to below should just about be concluding as I write this, so you can read this review (and others) and decide whether this lens--at its regular price--is right for you. (Or you can wait for the next rebate program, but that may be a while from now.) Since the time when I wrote my initial review, I have come to regard this lens even more highly. It feels great on my Canon EOS Rebel T2i, and I had a recent experience with this lens that might interest you. My wife and I took a sightseeing train ride along the Arkansas River through some very picturesque parts of Colorado. There was an open-air observation car that was great for taking pictures; however, when the train was moving it was impossible to remain perfectly still, as the car swayed slightly (and unpredictably) from side to side. I thought about turning the image stabilization (IS) off completely, but decided to give it a try. It turns out the IS worked beautifully. One more thing: As the sun set, the canyons the train was climbing through were alternately drenched in glorious late-day sunlight or covered with shade. Given the rapidly changing light conditions and the train sway, it wasn't the easiest task to try to capture the gorgeous scenery, especially for an amateur like me, but the Canon EF-S 15 - 85mm f/3.5 - 5.6 IS lens turned out to be up to the task. I have no regrets.
REBATE ALERT: From May 9 through July 10, 2010, Canon is running an "instant" rebate program that includes this lens--at a considerable saving. The best part about an instant rebate is that it should be built into the price you see on Amazon (it was when I bought mine), so you don't have to mail in some form and wait (and hope) for a rebate to arrive weeks later. If this is the right lens for you (something we haven't established yet), then now may be a good time to pull the trigger on a purchase.
Regarding this lens, it is a considerable improvement from the typical kit lens on a digital SLR. Kit lenses are decent for the money you pay (which isn't much), but they have clear limitations, especially in sharpness. If you are reading this review, I assume you are looking for a lens for the general-purpose focal-length range, and the Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5 - 5.6 IS USM fits well into this category. The 15 - 85mm range is wider than most kit lenses (probably on both ends), which enables the photographer to use this lens for a wide variety of purposes. The build quality is quite good, though not up to "L" series lens standards. Of course, its price is also not up to L levels, either. Sharpness is very good. Frankly, I can't really tell the difference between this lens and L glass (but I'm just a humble layman), although professional photographers and serious amateurs probably can. Concerning qualities such as vignetting or chromatic aberration, I suggest you consult some of the many professional reviews on the web, which generally paint a good picture of this lens.
Okay, so should you buy this lens? That's the question I want to address with this review. If you do a lot of low light shooting, like weddings, this lens probably isn't fast enough for you. You can't always use a flash in a church. The Canon EF-S 17 - 55mm f/2.8 IS USM or the Canon EF 24 - 70mm f/2.8L USM may be better choices. Both of these lenses have what the EF-S doesn't--a much wider aperture. They also have higher price tags and a narrower focal length range. They are also heavier (especially the 24 - 70 L), which depending on how long you typically carry your camera around may mean something to you. Specifically, the 15 - 85mm weighs 20.3 ounces, while the 17 - 55mm weighs 22.8 oz, and the 24 - 70mm weighs a heftier 33.5 oz. For comparison, a Canon EOS Rebel T2i without any lens weighs only about 19 oz.
The 15 - 85mm lens is relatively new (2009), so it is built with the latest manufacturing technology. It features, for example, four-stop image stabilization, which is great. (Remember that image stabilization helps compensate for the unsteadiness of the photographer, but does nothing to stop the movement of your subject.) "Bokeh" (foreground/background blur quality) is very good. The lens is made of plastic, but its high-quality plastic, if that doesn't sound too oxymoronish.
In short, if you are looking for the absolutely finest general purpose lens that money can buy, this is not your lens. However, if what you want is a very noticeable step-up in sharpness from a kit lens, combined with a very convenient weight and four-stop image stabilization--and you don't want to fork over a great deal of money--then this lens merits your careful attention.
108 of 111 people found the following review helpful
I was one of the early fans of this lens, and to my knowledge, one of the first guys to get their hands on one and play with it, from the moment I held this lens, I knew she was a winner
Lets start with the build quality, its fantastic, ok its not quite L-level, but it is considerably better than the old 17-55 f/2.8 IS I owned, as in its put together much better, the build is similar to a midrange Nikon lens [Such as the 16-85 VR] which is a good thing, the zoom and focus rings both operate smoothly, but are also reassuringly firm, there is a slight bit of zoom creep between 24-35 I've found, but nothing major to worry about
AF-wise, its a very quick performer, probubly one of the faster USM lenses out there, and its also very quiet, even for a USM lens the soft noise is well..softer...and the IS functions completely silently and smoothly, and as advertised, its good for at least 4 stops of stabilization, I've managed 1/4 shots with ease at 85mm for instance...
Optically, this lens impresses, people may criticize its variable aperture nature but its tack sharp wide open, even at 15mm, distortions are very good [They test even less than the 24-105 f/4L on a full frame camera] and the colors have a very nice zest to them, The only down side is the chromatic aberration, which is a tidge high, but its also easily correctable from what I've seen, and certainly not as bad as some people would make it sound, overall I've been very impressed with this lens optically, its one of the best lenses I've had [And I've owned the 24-105 f/4L IS and the 17-55 f/2.8 IS] and its my favorite walk-around lens ever
My only other complaints are the fact that it should include a hood for the price, Canon is still the only manufacturer who forces you to buy $45 lens hoods for $700-800 lenses just because they're not an L lens...Its quite annoying to be honest..but again, I knew that going into this..
Overall, its a fantastic lens, don't mock it till you try it :)
Lets start with the build quality, its fantastic, ok its not quite L-level, but it is considerably better than the old 17-55 f/2.8 IS I owned, as in its put together much better, the build is similar to a midrange Nikon lens [Such as the 16-85 VR] which is a good thing, the zoom and focus rings both operate smoothly, but are also reassuringly firm, there is a slight bit of zoom creep between 24-35 I've found, but nothing major to worry about
AF-wise, its a very quick performer, probubly one of the faster USM lenses out there, and its also very quiet, even for a USM lens the soft noise is well..softer...and the IS functions completely silently and smoothly, and as advertised, its good for at least 4 stops of stabilization, I've managed 1/4 shots with ease at 85mm for instance...
Optically, this lens impresses, people may criticize its variable aperture nature but its tack sharp wide open, even at 15mm, distortions are very good [They test even less than the 24-105 f/4L on a full frame camera] and the colors have a very nice zest to them, The only down side is the chromatic aberration, which is a tidge high, but its also easily correctable from what I've seen, and certainly not as bad as some people would make it sound, overall I've been very impressed with this lens optically, its one of the best lenses I've had [And I've owned the 24-105 f/4L IS and the 17-55 f/2.8 IS] and its my favorite walk-around lens ever
My only other complaints are the fact that it should include a hood for the price, Canon is still the only manufacturer who forces you to buy $45 lens hoods for $700-800 lenses just because they're not an L lens...Its quite annoying to be honest..but again, I knew that going into this..
Overall, its a fantastic lens, don't mock it till you try it :)
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bought for my T3i
And now using it with my 7D. I am very pleased with the quality of this lense. The build is solid, it is a bit heavy but nonetheless I enjoy using this as my walk around lens... Read more
Published 4 days ago by Guy
4.0 out of 5 stars
Leaning toward 5 stars
I received this quickly. It was well packed. The colors are crisp and images sharp. Some blurring around the extreme edges, but this is to be expected, and it is MUCH less than... Read more
Published 12 days ago by Phillip Dixon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fast really fast
One of my best lenses! Looks really good and works fast and easy. Working together with my Canon T2i and my 70-200!
Published 18 days ago by Juan Carlos Otero
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE walk-around lens for my T2i
I'm so glad this lens is awesome, because I'm picky and if it wasn't then I would still be in the hunt. My previous setup was the Canon XS with the 17-87mm. Read more
Published 28 days ago by Matt
5.0 out of 5 stars
After all these years, still preferred on APS-C Canon body
I purchased this lens 4 years ago, not from Amazon.com though.
After all these years, it is still my preferred lens to be attached to my Canon 50D (yes, 50D, the very... Read more
After all these years, it is still my preferred lens to be attached to my Canon 50D (yes, 50D, the very... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Frederick
5.0 out of 5 stars
little better than the kit lens....
I decided to upgrade to this lens after using my t3i for 2 years with the kit 18-55mm lens. I was looking for the best general walk-around lens and this lens seemed to be the best... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Max C
5.0 out of 5 stars
Petite, Sharp 'n Fast AF!
Introduced Fall 2009 with the EOS 7D, the EF-S 15-85 3.5-5.6 IS USM boasts exotic lens elements, high-performance Image Stabilizer, fast AF, wide zoom range (5. Read more
Published 1 month ago by P. K. Frary
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great lens
Great lens, but buy an external flash if you really want to enjoy this lens in low light areas. The reason being is the size of the lens - large for the camera flash. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Sundagar Jacobs Jr
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great substitution for your kit lens
Second lens I bought after the nifty-fifty. I bought it because my 18-55mm kit lens that came with the T2i/550D had problems with the autofocus. Read more
Published 1 month ago by BrunoCon
5.0 out of 5 stars
lo Máximo.
objetivo, bastante versátil, excelente para el trabajo a mediana distancia la calidad de construcción es de primera, muy útil para el trabajo de eventos... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Rafael Peraza Ruiz
