Topic: Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

[Rick]

Anyone use this lens? If so, how is it for general purpose stuff?

[dmccabe]

All the Canon lenses that have the designation EF-"S" (the "S" at the end) are meant for the 1.6 crop cameras, like the Rebel XT and XTi.
They will NOT work on a full-frame camera. That said, this lens is the stock lens that comes with the "package" deal for the new XTi.

Basically, it sucks. (OK, I'm spoiled with expensive lens)

They charge you like $300 extra and it is too slow a lens. Save the $300, get the body only and save a few hundred more to get a real medium zoom with a "L" designation (pro lens)... 85mm @ f5.6 is a waste of time.

I have a brand new 17-85 IS USM that I never use -- if you really want to buy one, pm me and I sell it cheap.
I never use it. Took less than 50 images with it and back in the box.

Below shot with Canon XTi with 70-200 f2.8 IS

[phanophish]

Yep, there is no substitute for fast glass.  Particularly for concert shooting.  If you are looking for fast on a budget Canon & Nikon both have 50/1.8 lenses that are quite good for around $100 brand new and they are easy to find used for 60-80.

[evilchris]

Anyone use this lens? If so, how is it for general purpose stuff?

For general photography, the 17-85 is a pretty good lens for the money.  It's not an L lens, but it does a decent enough job.  Step it down to f/8 or so and it's pretty solid.

It won't shine in difficult situations (esp. low light), but it's as wide as it gets on the wide end (unless you get a 10-22 or a < 17mm prime) and the 85mm end is long enough for decent portrait work.  A lot of people gag at the thought of f/5.6 for portraits, but those are the people who can afford $1500 for the 70-200/2.8IS. 

A lot of people own and love the lens you're looking at.  The good news is that Canon lenses hold their value pretty well, so you can buy it and use it for a while.  If you're unhappy with it, sell it for a few bucks less than what you paid and put that money toward a 17-40/4L or a 24-70/2.8L.

[Rick]

If you are looking for fast on a budget Canon & Nikon both have 50/1.8 lenses that are quite good for around $100 brand new and they are easy to find used for 60-80.

It's already on my list 

I decided to go with the 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS EF USM. I just hope it's wide enough for my needs.

[phanophish]

If you are looking for fast on a budget Canon & Nikon both have 50/1.8 lenses that are quite good for around $100 brand new and they are easy to find used for 60-80.

It's already on my list 

I decided to go with the 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS EF USM. I just hope it's wide enough for my needs.

It will be a good all around lens.  I had a 24-70 and got rid of it to go to a 18-50/2.8.  I needed something wider as you give up some field of view with the APS size sensors on most DSLRs. But for typical shooting the 28-135 should be just fine.