18-55 kit lens upgrade to 17-55 f2.8, is it worth it?

[Doug625]

• I know these lenses have been around forever, I'm still using a DSLR Canon 90D and I love it.  Is there a noticeable difference in these lenses? I typically shoot landscape and old barns, usually F8 or F11 trying to get foreground and everything in focus without focus stacking. 

[shadowsports]

Greetings,

There is a fair amount of disparity between the 18-55 and 17-55 f2.8 even though the latter is not an L series lens.  The 17-55 is known for its clarity and higher performance due to its constant aperture.  

However, in your case, shooting at a higher aperture too maintain depth of field, It may not play such a big factor in your barn photography.  

The 17-55 is considered a better lens overall.  If I owned an aps-c DSLR it would be one lens I'd own since its versatility and performance exceeds that of the 18-55.  

[atam1]

yes, there is. most especially in low-light situations. otherwise, the kit’s good for general use like what you’ve been doing so far. 

[normadel]

If you go for an 18-55, make it one of the two newest versions, the IS STM models.  There have been around a dozen iterations of the 18-55 kit lens, with continuous upgrades in lens quality, image stabilization and in the last two, full-time manual focusing capability while set for AF. They are fine lenses at reasonable prices.

[SignifDigits]

"Worth it" is up to you, as it is totally personal preference and/or a variety of factors of real importance to you.  Nobody can really tell you on this site if your $850 new or $400+used will be well-spent and "worth it" to you.  We don't know your financial situation nor what income stream might result if your photos got, say 10-20% sharper (and that's just a hypothetical number, not mathematical) than they are now, nor if suddenly it will become important to you to be able to shoot much better portraiture with improved bokeh with the brighter lens and consistent f-stop.

You really have to ask yourself "Why am I unhappy with what I have now, and what would the better lens resolve that?", and/or "Am I really certain that a better lens, rather than better honed skills, a nicer tripod, better software, trip or trips to places with cooler barns and/or scenery is what will bring me better results and more personal joy?" 

II DO understand this sort of thinking, and have certainly had similar struggles myself.  I wish you luck and peace and joy in your decision-making.  I hope this web site, which contains visual information comparing the two lenses at various f-stops, will be of some help:

https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=398&Camera=963&Sample=0... 

[Doug625]

Thank you, I think I will try it out.

[Doug625]

I've gotten pretty good with photography in last year and I'm just pickier and paying much closer attention to everything in a photo, I take it fairly seriously and I feel my skill level deserves a little more than the kit lens.  If it's at least 10% sharper or better in low,-light I'd be happy to spend just under a grand on a lens. Thanks for the input. 

[SignifDigits]

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