topic Re: 15-85mm IS USM vs 70-200mm USM in EF & RF Lenses

15-85mm IS USM vs 70-200mm USM

tutorial93 — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 14:24:47 GMT

Good day, everyone!

I'm going to buy Canon 7D body + lens as a present for my sister. I have 2 photographers who can sell it to me. So, the choice is:

Canon 7D + Canon 70-200mm USM lens (total cost 900$)
Canon 7D + Canon 15-85mm IS USM lens (total cost 800$)

I've checked characteristics of both lenses. In a short:

15-85mm IS USM:

Costs 800$ (amazon); Reviews 4.3/5. It also has pretty good stuffs like Image stabilization.

70-200mm USM

Costs 600$ (amazon); Reviews 4.8/5. It doesn't have Image stabilization and as I feel for long distances it's very important parameter.

I'd also want to point out that 7D body + 70-200mm costs me 900$ and 7D body + 15-85mm 800$. Even though 15-85mm costs 200$ more that 70-200mm L in average.

If someone helps with good info, I'll appreciate it a lot.

Re: 15-85mm IS USM vs 70-200mm USM

jrhoffman75 — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 13:41:36 GMT

Does she have other lenses? If so, what range?

For general photography scenic walk-around the 15-85 will be far more usefull.

70-200 on a 7D is much too long for anything but wildlfie or field sports.

Re: 15-85mm IS USM vs 70-200mm USM

ebiggs1 — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 13:58:27 GMT

You are a nice brother. Wow, a 7D and a lens. Of course you want the EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens. It makes more sense and will be far more useful. Especially if it is the only lens she has.

You did not say which 70-200mm but for $600 it isn't the 70-200mm to have. IMHO, of course.

I don't have the EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens so I can not comment on its IQ. I am going solely on focal length.

Re: 15-85mm IS USM vs 70-200mm USM

tutorial93 — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 14:26:18 GMT

jrhoffman75, ebiggs1

Thanks for your opinions! Helps a lot.

Re: 15-85mm IS USM vs 70-200mm USM

tutorial93 — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 20:32:23 GMT

My sister has neither real photocamera, nor lenses. 15-85 seems very good for usage, but im so frustruated of the reviews.

15-85mm 4.25 out of 5 and 70-200mm 4.8 out of 5. Significant difference.

Re: 15-85mm IS USM vs 70-200mm USM

jrhoffman75 — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 20:51:16 GMT

Neither score is bad. A higher scoring lens that isn't practical to use doesn't do you any good.

Reviewer comment:

"The Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens delivers top-tier image quality over an excellent general purpose focal length range in a nicely-sized/weighted/built body with great AF and an excellent implementation of Image Stabilization at a for-what-you-get great price"

From here: https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-S-15-85mm-f-3.5-5.6-IS-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

If you don't have a camera such that you can tell what field of view you get from each lens see this document:

http://software.canon-europe.com/files/documents/EF_Lens_Work_Book_7_EN.pdf?_ga=2.183836774.172291423.1507322822-1633430788.1465934919

Re: 15-85mm IS USM vs 70-200mm USM

tutorial93 — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 21:34:43 GMT

Thank you.

Re: 15-85mm IS USM vs 70-200mm USM

kvbarkley — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 21:48:51 GMT

I like my 15-85, and it survived the salt-water splash that killed my T3i. I would be using it now except I got the 18-135 with my T6S. Sometimes I miss that extra 3 mm on the low end!

Re: 15-85mm IS USM vs 70-200mm USM

RobertTheFat — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 22:29:14 GMT

@tutorial93 wrote:
My sister has neither real photocamera, nor lenses. 15-85 seems very good for usage, but im so frustruated of the reviews.
15-85mm 4.25 out of 5 and 70-200mm 4.8 out of 5. Significant difference.

But the two lenses have very different purposes. On a 7D, the 15-85's range is wide angle through moderate telephoto; the 70-200 is a moderate to strong telephoto. There are times when you want a strong telephoto; but as a general-purpose "walking around" lens, the 15-85 is preferable.

Re: 15-85mm IS USM vs 70-200mm USM

tutorial93 — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 22:49:58 GMT

Thanks for your replies!
Appreciate your opinions.