Help, please!: Canon 15-85mm IS USM or Canon 18-200mm?

[Brendan7]

Hey Randy!

I keep seeing the term IQ, but I'm not sure I understand what it means as applied to lenses

It means the quality of the images it can produce in terms of sharpness, color & contrast, susceptibility to distortion, etc. At comparable focal lengths the 15-85 has better IQ on paper and in lab results, but in normal use the difference will be smaller and if you're planning to have one, versatile lens than the 18-200mm is the best unless you want to shell out $2500 for the 28-300mm L. I suggest you review your shots and see how many of them were taken between 85-200mm. If there are many, than stick with that lens. However, if the majority of your shots are taken from 18-85mm than the 15-85mm might be the better choice.

So, would you say that it is a decent lens for my purposes?

Yes.

I'd love to have the full range you suggest with the two lens, but at this point, I think I should start with one for simplicity sake and current budget limits.

Sounds good.

I think I need to earn the right to move up to an L build.[img]/emoticons/emotion-1.gif[/img]

Since you're considering the 15-85mm, you could also buy the 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM for $300 more. You gain a fast f/2.8 aperture (really helpful if you shoot indoors a lot). It isn't an L lens but it has the optics and IQ of an L. However, I have a feeling that 55mm is probably too short a focal length if the 17-55 was your only lens.

Thanks again,

happy to help [H]


brendan