Comments on: Canon EFS 1785mm f/45.6 Image Stabilized USM SLR

By: deepclue

deepclue — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:58:15 +0000

Sharp but slow
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I bought this lens with a EOS 20D. The lens is reasonably sized, and the pictures looks sharp and overall very nice. However, the maximum aperture of this lens is 4.0, and in fact beyond 50mm (80mm equivalent) it goes down to 5.6. The IS works great and compensates for this fact iin low-light conditions quite well, but it can’t give you the depth of field of larger apertures. I ended up buying a 50mm 1.4 (about $300) and boy is that a nice, sharp, fast lens. You can’t go wrong by buying both.

By: R. W. Patton

R. W. Patton — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:36:16 +0000

OK lens
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Some expensive purchases grow on you: the more you use them the more you like them. My Canon 20D (and presumably the new 30D) is like that. This lens is not.

These comments update a review I wrote a year ago and have deleted, reflecting 12 months of experience with the lens:
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From August 7, 2005:
I've been using film SLRs for thirty years, and over the last three years have owned two digital cameras (a point-and shoot and a Dimage Z3) in addition to the 20D that I bought two weeks ago and to which this lens is attached. In the last two weeks I've taken about 300 photos with this lens.

It seems to be a bit over-hyped. Don't get me wrong - it's a fine instrument: autofocus works quickly and quietly and the lens is fairly versatile. It appears sturdy and well-built. There's a little vignetting at 17mm, but mainly in the very corners of the image and I don't consider it a problem.

But the lens is slow, and that limits your ability to manage depth-of-field. And although the image stabilization system helps a lot, of course it doesn't help if the problem is a moving subject. If you plan to photograph moving subjects in anything other than bright light you should try the lens before you buy it. I'm not convinced it's worth the money. The camera is GREAT but, considering the price, the lens just doesn't quite get there.
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One-year update (September 9, 2006):
If you're really serious about your photographs this lens is likely to be a disappointment. The 20D is too good a camera for this lens.

The vignetting at wide angles is more of a problem than I initially thought. Sometimes it's so bad that even Photoshop CS2 can't remove it, and I have to crop the images severely. And cropped and enlarged images really bring out the lack of sharpness in images from this lens. If I had it to do over again I'd buy the cheap 50mm 1.8 (sharper than this lens) and spend more money on a better zoom or tele or wide angle.

The lens is very good for snapshots and as a walking-around lens. It can help you take some fine photographs. It's very versatile, and with the 1.6 crop sensor in the 20D, some wide-angle help is needed - that's the value here. You can take a LOT of good pictures with this lens. But if you're going to spend the money on a high-end DSLR, you should also get good processing software, a good photo printer, and lenses that don't unnecessarily limit your results. One good thing about this lens: it's versatile, and keeping it on the camera helps you avoid getting dust on the sensor, which can happen every time you change lenses.

By: Jedidad

Jedidad — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:22:41 +0000

Soft With Horrible Vignetting
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I just purchased this lens and I noticed horrible vignetting through the viewfinder the second I mounted it to my camera. I ran some tests at all focal lengths and apertures which confirmed my initial observation.

The vignetting is unbelievable at 17mm. I've been a photographer for 35 years and I've NEVER seen a lens this bad.

This is unacceptable for any lens, much less a Canon branded lens.

The vignetting is not the only problem. There is nothing sharp about this lens except when stopped down.

Pardon me, but if I buy a 17mm f4.0 lens is it too much to ask that I actually be able to use it at this focal length and aperture?

I'm returning this lens immediately.

By: Careful shopper

Careful shopper — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:11:00 +0000

Does as the specs show, can't do more than that
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Based on reading other reviews here, then compared with ownership, I'd have to say...

I like mine and it does what it's built to do.

Fastest lens you can buy ? >Nope

Best build quality out there? >No, but it's not bad

As good as "L" glass ? >How could it be..

Should it come with a lens shade at this MSRP level? >Yes it should

Does it work as the specs indicate it will? >Sure does

You know when you are shopping for a lens that the list of specs tell what you will get when you buy it...

Seems some people think it will be different with their purchase, but it won't do better than it's built to do.

I didn't get mine with the body... wish I would have, could have saved some money.....didn't think much of it at the time. Then saw some shots using it and bought it here. I get some great shots using it and do not regret buying for a minute.

By: mathewshooter

mathewshooter — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 03:08:45 +0000

Canon 17-85 EF-S; Nice lens…canon quality?
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Well I was excited about this lens because of it’s range so I purchased it from Amazon. I had it shipped overnight because I was going on a trip and need it right away. When I received the lens right out of the box the mount ring was not seated in place all the way. I pushed the one side back in place because I did not have time to return the lens. The lens worked well for a while and seemed to have good images but then my zoom ring started to “stick” around 70mm and at one point it completely froze and would not move at all. I took it off and it started to work but now there is something that rattles inside the lens. I have contacted Canon and was told to send it in for “possible” warranty repair. We will see what happens. I would suggest that you save your money and buy the 24-105L lens and that is what I am also going to do.

By: Cypress Texas

Cypress Texas — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:14:08 +0000

Very good lens but has some barrel distortion at 17mm
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I got this lens to replace the kit lens that came with my Canon EOS 30D. This lens is definitely a more “substantial ” lens than the kit lens. Even though the outer housing is plastic, it has a metal mount and seems very durable and sturdy. The IS really helps to improve the image quality induced by my unsteady hand. The USM is very fast and quiet. I have read accounts of this lens not being able to lock on, but I have not had any issues with it in varying (including low) lighting conditions. I know the lens supports FTM focus, but I have not tried it yet. I like the focal length range on this lens. At 17mm even with the 1.6x multiplier, the angle is very wide. The only drawback to this lens for me is at 17mm there is significant barrel distortion. My test shots my next shot was at 24mm and the distortion was completely gone at this focal length. It’s not a showstopper though since it is easily corrected in Photoshop. Of all the lenses I plan to get, (Sigma 30mm 1.4, Canon EF 50mm 1.8 II, and the Canon EF 70-300mm IS USM), this will most likely be the lens I keep on the camera most of the time, using the others as opportunities warrant.

By: Paul G. Atkinson

Paul G. Atkinson — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:52:35 +0000

Best Non-L Canon Lens You Can Buy
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Obviously there are lots of reviews already out there on this lens. It is as simple as this… this is Canon’s best non-L lens available. As far as non-L lenses this would be #1 with the 28mm – 135mm Lens being #2. So there you go!

By: David Ralph

David Ralph — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 20:23:52 +0000

excellent!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
i ordered this lens cause its one of the ones i use at work and i love it. it is an excellent lens cause it is wider than the average 18 – 55 and it has more zoom. i just love the wide angle perspective it makes it so much better when taking a photo. for those who have a shakey hand it has the option to switch on the image stabilizer which obviously cannot replace a tripod but it does improve the photo when you are in low light situations. make sure you pay attention to what camera you are gonna use it for though as it only fits the rebel series, the 20D and 30D.

By: Robert C.

Robert C. — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:42:11 +0000

Only virtue is zoom range.
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
The only virtue of this lens is the zoom range.

Chromatic abberation, highly abnormal distortion, and slow aperture above 17mm make this a bad value.

The new Canon 18-55 IS is much better optically. Even better, go for the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 or the Canon 17-40L for a bit more. This is the worst lens I have ever used without a doubt.

Check photozone.de for detailed comparisons of the lenses and save yourself some money and get quality instead!

By: ksrp

ksrp — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:46:01 +0000

Produces professional quality shots
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I just sold pictures to a very, very well-known national magazine to accompany a travel story. Picture editors are a very choosy and discriminating lot. My lens? The EF-S 17-85mm. Enough said.

It is not the world's greatest lens but will be perfect for 99% of users.