Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (
More info?)
On Tue, 17 May 2005 14:41:26 -0500, Tom wrote:
>Seems like the latter is recommended often. The first one is one of
>those that come in a kit.
>
>Any pros vs cons for either? I think they are about the same price
>(not sure about this and correct me please if I'm wrong here).
>thanks.
The 17-85mm IS lens is not perfect but what lens is? Every
lens/camera combination has it's pros & cons that need to be
considered by who is going to use it, what it's primary use, how
often, how long? etc......
For your understanding I own a17-85mm IS, a 28-138mm IS & A
Digital Rebel/300D. The 17-85mm IS lens is a good quality lens that
does for the Digital Rebel/300D (1.6x crop factor) what the 28-135mm
IS does for a full frame DLSR or 35mm film SLR.
The lens, like me has a few weaknesses but both it & I are
capable of taking very good pictures if our combined strengths &
weaknesses are considered & compensated for. No regrets after
considerable use with both aside from wishing that the 17-85mm IS lens
was maybe $100 or $200 less than the $600 US I paid for it. Canon
knows that this zoom range is ideal for many people as an good general
purpose walking around lens & correctly figured that enough people
would pay $600 for this convenience to make it profitable.
Yes it has some noticeable distortion @ the ex teems of it's
zoom range, especially full wide angle but it your subjects are people
as with most of what I use it for, it's no problem. If you take
pictures of tall building in narrow ally ways, then yes you will
notice it.
Most of Canon's "L" glass lens certainly are extremely good
quality but not everybody can afford them or justify the expense for
"their needs", I know I can not. As for the humble 50mm f1.8 Mk II
lens, at about $70 US it's a no brainer in low light situations. No
it's not mechanically built as well as the 50mm f1.4 but it also does
not cost about 3.5x the cost either.
Bottom line: Consider "your" needs, "your" budget & lastly
"your" standards. Then go with what serves "your" needs best. So you
can place all of this in perspective, I am an amateur photographer
with 25+ years with 35mm film SLRs & 5+ years in digital photography.
Respectfully, DHB
..
"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President,
or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong,
is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable
to the American public."--Theodore Roosevelt, May 7, 1918