Which would you buy?

[Lizziejane]

I am going on vacation in a few months and have decided I want to replace the XTi kit lens for either the 17-85 IS or the 28-135 IS. Aside from the fact that DH wants the 17-85 (he tends to shoot wide a lot) and I want the other for the zoom, does anyone have any experience with both these lenses?

Specifically, I'm wondering if one is sharper than the other? The 17-85 is f3.5, vs. f4 on the other, so I'm thinking not much difference there. It's really about sharpness. I've checked several sites and both get good reviews. I'm also wondering about carrying it around all day - would the 28-135 be noticeably heavier/more cumbersome than the 17-85? This lens would be my primary walk-around so it has to be "convenient".

Part of my DH's arguement is that we have the 70-300 IS, and that the 28-135 would be too much overlap. I'm thinking it would be mighty convenient not to have to change lens as often.

Any input/feedback would be greatly appreciated!

 

[jann1033]

don't have the 17 but i do think your husband is right about overlap, i rarely use the 28 because i have a 50 and 70 -200mm and it's not worth the trouble to put it on for under 50 so i only use it if i really need it. i occasionally make myself use it just cause i have it but i probably will eventually sell it for something wider. don't know the weight diff. but imo the 28 gets heavy after a while, plus it is a little annoying with the way the zoom creeps. if the 17 has a lock for that that might make the deal for me. it's just a weird range for me, the 28 is not really wide enough, the 135 is not really long enough so i would end up changing it anyway. i loved it till i got the 70-200 which i like so much better it just kind of made it obsolete for me( well get used to using something else for 8 months probably didn't help endear it to me either)

 

[Lizziejane]

jann, I'm not sure what you mean by "the way the zoom creeps"?

 

[jann1033]

jann, I'm not sure what you mean by "the way the zoom creeps"?

when you are just walking around it doesn't have a lock to keep the lens from zooming on it's own when it's pointed down. usually i hold it up to keep it from doing that but sometimes i forget ,,,annoying but not damaging.

 

[handicap18]

jann, I'm not sure what you mean by "the way the zoom creeps"?

If you hold the camera straight down or straight up, the zoom will change by itself. Say you have it set to 85mm and point it down, the zoom will "creep" to 135mm or at least longer than 85mm. Its is kind of a pain, especiall on the XTi because there is no top LCD you have to check the LCD monitor for everything and if your holding the camera down to check the last pic or your settings, the zoom will have moved from where you had it.

 

[0bli0]

the 28-135 is, by far, the worst canon lens for zoom creep. if you have a decent copy, it's a good lens. fortunately dw's copy is very good. i have heard very good things about the 17-85, if it's a range that's suitable.

 

[mabas9395]

I've had my 28-135 for about a year and a half and haven't experienced any noticeable creep (and I use it all the time, including 5 days at DL with it hangning around my neck the whole time). I have noticed some slight dust on the inside of the lens due to the zoom, but most non-L zooms have some of that.

Just get a better neck strap if you are worried about the weight (you should get an Op-Tech strap anyway).

 

[DVC Jen]

I have never had any problems with the zoom "creeping" I carried that thing attached to my 30D - around my neck for 11 days at WDW and it never happened once.

I must have a good copy. (whew)

Personally for me - since I am so used to it being attached to the 30D - when I do put it on the XTi - it seems MUCH lighter. Of course that is because the camera body is so much lighter.

When it is on the 30D I do have a tendency to also hold the lens in the palm of my hand - to both keep it from swinging into anything and to take some weight off my neck.

So far I REALLY like the lens. Maybe that is because it is probably the best lens that I have - it certainly is the most expensive. Perhaps if I got another Canon IS lens I would feel differently... but for now - I am a happy camper with it.

gosh - I hope I didn't just jinx myself.

 

[Lizziejane]

I had never heard of the creep problem before! My 70-300 has a lock so it makes sense that it might be an issue on a lens that doesn't lock.

Still don't know which way to go - I have 3 months before I *need* it (cough, cough!), so perhaps I'll wait and see if one of them goes on sale.

 

[jann1033]

it's interesting that others don't have the creeps with it although i never had a problem when i had it up, just down( usually i have my hand on the lens as well as the body since it is heavier than say the 50mmf1.8 but it still moves unless i remember to keep it parallel which i usually don't do since i try to carry my lenses pointing down when i'm walking around so i don't get junk on the lens or bump it into something lens first . maybe my new copy won't do it. i just figured it was something inherent with the way it was made since none of my other lenses do it, even my 70-200 doesn't do it at all even though it's heavier( i thought maybe it had something to do with the weight of the lens barrel)

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Mine doesn't creep.