Comments about Canon Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS Image Stabilized Autofocus Zoom Lens for EOS - U.S.A. Warranty:

I bought this lens to take impromptu pictures of our grandchildren and other family members when we are together. While my family has to yet to get together, I have used it to take pictures of our neighbor's children with some very good results. I have also used it as an all around lens for my job and my wife's job functions. It has met or exceeded my every expectation-

For those looking for an all around lens for a Canon crop camera (I have a 50D), this is it. I will not bore the reader with details, but I can tell you that I put this lens against the following: 24-105L, a Canon 17-55, a Tamron 17-50 2.8 VC, a Sigma 17-70, and a Canon 28-135. It beat them all for clarity, size, and ease of use in the ways I need it to be used- basically indoors or outdoors in close quarters chasing down good shots of little people. It has the width and depth to catch some special moments.

It will struggle in extremely low light, but it nothing that tweaking your ISO or using your flash will not remedy.

One last note: This makes a very good macro lens as well.

I recommend this lens!!

Comments about Canon Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS Image Stabilized Autofocus Zoom Lens for EOS - U.S.A. Warranty:

I am making the switch up to a DSLR and wanted a good walk around lens that would cover most needs (especially for travel). For the most part, this lens fits the bill. It's a bit heavier that I had hoped, and it's not a fast lens, but I am pretty happy with the image quality, IS, focal length, and build quality. Overall, it was the best choice for my needs and I am happy with it...but I'll probably purchase a fast prime in the future to complement it.

Comments about Canon Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS Image Stabilized Autofocus Zoom Lens for EOS - U.S.A. Warranty:

This was the first "real" lens I've purchased (not kit) - The range is brilliant! There is very little I need to do that doesn't fit into that focal range. I used it at my cousin's wedding and it was wonderful for the reception. The wide angle is brilliant for landscapes without distortion and it has a decent telephoto (short of doing zoos/sports it's great!) - I took this and my 70-300 to India this summer for a study abroad and I did just fine with those two lenses. Best money I've spent on my camera in a long time. If you have an APS-C sensor it's a brilliant walk-around lens!

Comments about Canon Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS Image Stabilized Autofocus Zoom Lens for EOS - U.S.A. Warranty:

This is a replacement lens for my will used and most favored 17-85. This lens feels smooth and solid. I am well pleased with this and look forward to many years of use.

Comments about Canon Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS Image Stabilized Autofocus Zoom Lens for EOS - U.S.A. Warranty:

The first thing you will note is the quality and smoothness of it's construction and controls. Better then the Canon 28-135 and better then even the Canon 17-55 f/2.8. Reminds me of the better built sigmas. It has a wide focal range and very good sharpness right out to the corners. Turning on the IS at 85mm would almost make you think it was on a tripod. There is however some noticeable barrel distortion at the wide end and pincushioning at the long end. Also note that the f/3.5 is only good to about 17mm. Consider this a slow lens, great for landscapes (considering the nice wide 15mm on this lens)and vacations. All in all a good performing lens for this wide a focal range.

Comments about Canon Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS Image Stabilized Autofocus Zoom Lens for EOS - U.S.A. Warranty:

This is a great all around lens. The pictures are very clear and the nice has a nice bokeh. I would reccommend this lens.

Comments about Canon Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS Image Stabilized Autofocus Zoom Lens for EOS - U.S.A. Warranty:

I read so many good reviews about this lens that I finally decided to make the jump and replaced my old 17-85mm. So far I am very happy with the performance of this lens. Image quality is better (in some cases much better) than the old 17-85. Build quality is better too. Do note that this lens is slow but the superb IS makes up of some of it. Perfect as an always on walkabout lens.

Comments about Canon Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS Image Stabilized Autofocus Zoom Lens for EOS - U.S.A. Warranty:

I read reviews and comparisons all over about this lens so I knew what I was getting into before I even bought it. Great image quality, practically no flare, and great range. The auto-focus is fast, accurate, and nearly silent. Low light is very decent if you have IS going and a steady hand but given the aperture it's not that great at stopping action; I plan on getting a good 30mm prime for that once my bank account has recovered a bit. Don't skimp out and fail to buy a quality filter to protect the lens. It'll run you about 10% of the price of the lens but it's a much better option than losing image quality or wearing down the lens coating after heavy use. Unless you end up getting a bad copy somehow, you'll probably be holding onto this lens for a very long while unless you go full frame or decide that you want the 17-55mm for its constant f/2.8.

Comments about Canon Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS Image Stabilized Autofocus Zoom Lens for EOS - U.S.A. Warranty:

The lens has fast focus. I traded my Kit-lens and use this one as my general walk around lens with my 7D. The quality of images are very similar to the L lens.

Comments about Canon Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS Image Stabilized Autofocus Zoom Lens for EOS - U.S.A. Warranty:

Used this as my primary lens on vacation at the beach. No problems with the sand or water getting in once the lens was attached. Great pictures!

Comments about Canon Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS Image Stabilized Autofocus Zoom Lens for EOS - U.S.A. Warranty:

I have been using a Nikon F90 (film)with the infamnous 24 120 for years, I loved this lens. When I moved to digital as many other out there, I could not afford a full format body and I could not find anything equivalent to my beloved 24-120. But here comes Canon 15-85 IS USM which give me excatly the same range with excellent image quality through out and on top of it an excellent IS and very fast and quite AF. It is the perfect companion of my 7D in most situations from landscates to museums.

Comments about Canon Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS Image Stabilized Autofocus Zoom Lens for EOS - U.S.A. Warranty:

I bought this to upgrade my kit lens that came with my Rebel XT. Much improved images and a little more range.

Comments about Canon Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS Image Stabilized Autofocus Zoom Lens for EOS - U.S.A. Warranty:

no longer need to carry my pocket camera when I have this lens on... before with the kit lens I wanted wide angle capability and the 18-55 was not good enough... the 15 on this and wider range is so much better, plus the superb quality..... have not experienced the problems folks talk about at 15 end of the range yet... but am mostly an auto or program type shortcut shooter so to date have not graduated to setting my own aperture etc.

Comments about Canon Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS Image Stabilized Autofocus Zoom Lens for EOS - U.S.A. Warranty:

I was debating between this lens and the Cannon 18-200 one. I desided to get this one. I am very happy with this lens so far. I wish Canon had made a better version of the 18-200 lens. I like to travel light.

Comments about Canon Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS Image Stabilized Autofocus Zoom Lens for EOS - U.S.A. Warranty:

So far this seems to be a good general purpose walk-about lens, faster focusing and quiet. I am replacing the Canon 17-85mm IS that I have had for a while.

Comments about Canon Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS Image Stabilized Autofocus Zoom Lens for EOS - U.S.A. Warranty:

Super lens! range is perfect walk around on my 40D. Sharp images, fast focus. Build is solid too.

Comments about Canon Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS Image Stabilized Autofocus Zoom Lens for EOS - U.S.A. Warranty:

This lens is very nice. I thought about getting a faster lens but I don't shoot in low light. I mainly bought it for landscape and portraits with an off camera flash. So far I am very happy with it.

Comments about Canon Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS Image Stabilized Autofocus Zoom Lens for EOS - U.S.A. Warranty:

This is a really nice lens when out hiking and you don't want to be weighed down or have to take several differnt lens with you. It really does take a nice photo and I prefer it over my 28-135.

Comments about Canon Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS Image Stabilized Autofocus Zoom Lens for EOS - U.S.A. Warranty:

Okay, so I know it's not a Canon L series lens, and that's it's an EF-S, but for the quality it should be. The construction is solid, optics are sharp and I love the creamy colors. The focus is snappy and consistent, there's no zoom creep. The range is excellent for general purpose walk around lens. I bought this lens to go with my 7D and it seems to be an excellent pair. Distortion at the wide end is minimal in my view and great for landscapes from 17-24. The other end at 85 handles portraits nicely. I've not gone down to 15mm too often, but it's nice having the extra width. It's not weatherproof, but I've never run into any problems there. I've never owned the 17-85 so I can compare the 2, but I've been extremely pleaseed with the results from the 15-85. It's relatively light, but the construction seems robust. The full time focusing is great as expected, but the focus ring is a little narrow and a little difficult to find for manual focusing while looking through the viewfinder. The zoom ring is nice and beefy and easy to locate while composing. The focus scale hides under the pop-up flash of my 7D but I never really use those anymore. I really think they are a hold over from the old manual focus film days. If I need to see it, I can. The lens is a little pricey, and doesn't include the hood or case. I don't need another case but for the price Canon really should include the lens hood. It is an excellent lens, you won't be dissapointed.

Comments about Canon Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS Image Stabilized Autofocus Zoom Lens for EOS - U.S.A. Warranty:

If you're working outdoors in the sunshine or in a well lit area, this lens is as sharp and as fast as it gets in an EF-S lens. In fact, I would rate this lens the outdoor equivalent of the famed EFS 17-55mm 2.8, but even more versatile as it is much longer. Great for travel.

Indoors is another story. Unless your subject remains perfectly still you can expect blurry images. The aperture is simply not wide enough to gather enough light quickly to take great images indoors, even with a flash you have to crank up the ISO and the shutter speed to freeze the action indoors. To get sharp images indoors usually ends up resulting in an underexposed image.

But if you're taking landscapes or are photographing an outdoor event, you'll love the results you get from this lens.

Comments about Canon Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS Image Stabilized Autofocus Zoom Lens for EOS - U.S.A. Warranty:

All purpose lens. It works well for me. I replaced a 17-85 Canon zoom lens with this one. The the 15-85mm Canon zoom is alot sharper, at lest in the type of pictures I take. I want to be able to the count the hair it portraits I take.

Comments about Canon Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS Image Stabilized Autofocus Zoom Lens for EOS - U.S.A. Warranty:

I like a great walk around lens, and this suits my whims!

Comments about Canon Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS Image Stabilized Autofocus Zoom Lens for EOS - U.S.A. Warranty:

I upgraded to this lens from the 18-55mm IS kit lens. I'm pleasantly surprised how much sharper this lens is, and how much extra field of view the extra 3mm at the wide end gives. It has a lot more reach as well. It's an excellent walk-around lens to leave on the camera, great for landscapes. The image-stabiliser works really well. It feels a lot more substantial (but much heavier) than the kit lens. It's not a cheap lens but I think it's worth it.[...]

Comments about Canon Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS Image Stabilized Autofocus Zoom Lens for EOS - U.S.A. Warranty:

First shots are impressive with good color and sharp focus. Product exceeds my expections.

Comments about Canon Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS Image Stabilized Autofocus Zoom Lens for EOS - U.S.A. Warranty:

Now I realize why Canon is selling the 7D kit with the EF 28-135 lens instead of the EF-S 15-85. The EF 28-135 edges out the 15-85, not only in image quality, but also with it's IS. If you put this lens on a 7D and expect to get clean audio from the mono mic, you are sadly mistaken. This lens has additional "functionality" over the EF lens in terms of the IS, but the operation of such creates additional issues with sound. In fact, the whole issue with sound and the 7D is for another post, but you will learn that the input jack is basically useless for external mics due to it's auto leveling function, which cannot be controlled through any camera function. IF YOU BOUGHT THE 28-135 AND ARE THINKING OF UPGRADING - KEEP THE 28-135, DON'T TRADE IT, LIKE I AID - AND THEN GET A NEW LENS. YOU WILL FIND THE 28-135 A MORE USEFUL LENS THAN THIS ONE.

Comments about Canon Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS Image Stabilized Autofocus Zoom Lens for EOS - U.S.A. Warranty:

This is a very good lens. I just opened it yesterday and I won't go as far as to say I am thrilled, but I am very encouraged! The first thing that strikes you about the lens is the build quality. Though it is not up to L standards, its simply the best constructed EF-S lens in the lineup - I would even say it bests the fan favorite 17-55. The lens feels heavy and substantial - you know instantly this is a better lens than most of the other EF-S consumer grade lenses.

The barrel is tight and is not subject to lens creep like so many of the other EF lenses (I am specifically thinking of the EF-28-135mm the lens that seems to find its way on to every non-Rebel as a kit lens) which extend all the way out when you walk a few feet.

The USM focusing is VERY fast and thus far VERY accurate on my XSi.

At 15mm, indoors, I've noticed strong vignetting (specifically with the pop-up flash), but the barrel distortion doesn't seem as pronounced to me as others have stated. The center is tack sharp and the edges I would say are very good, but its tough to tell if I'm looking at BOKEH or images that aren't as sharp. I'm inclined to assume its bokeh. I've tested the lens at 5.6, 8, 9, 11 and 16. The edge performance improves the higher the F number.

Strengths:

Fast, accurate focus
Best built EF-S lens to date
No lens creep - YEAH!
Center sharpness
Its aesthetically a good looking lens
Very useful zoom range
CAs seem to be well controlled

Weaknesses:

Only 3.5 at its widest and drops to 5.6 as you zoom. Wish it were 2.8 for most of the range, but I tend to think the cost would have been prohibitive for an EF-S lens.

If you use the lens indoors and want fast photos, you'll need a flash, you'll need a hot shoe flash to minimize the vignetting at 15mm - Outdoors this isn't an issue

Similar Products Used:

EF 28-135
EF-S 18-55 kit lens

Bottom Line:

The best constructed EF-S lens
The 2nd best optically to the 17-55mm when indoors. Outdoors they're indistinguishable in terms of image quality.