Canon 17-85mm or Canon 28-135 ?
Question: I own a Rebel XTI, and I need a replacement for my kit lens. I've researched and I'm stuck between the 17-85 and 28-135. I only take general pictures, with a bit of portraits. Any advice is greatly appriciated:)
Answers: If you shoot some portraits, go with the longer lens.
OK, I see that wasn't enough information for some people; the minimum focal length for flattering portraiture is around 80 mm; a longer focal length makes the face look more slender. Whether digital or not, wider angle shots-less than 50 mm especially, tend to emphasize features...like make people look like they have big NOSES.
Keep in mind that the 1.6 difference between film and digital refers to the AREA the sensor covers vs. film and NOT to the perspective offered by the focal length.
The additional 11 mm on the wide angle focal length won't make THAT much difference, and won't be nearly as noticeable as an extra FIFTY mm on the telephoto side unless you shoot stuff like architecture for critical applications like publication. Even so, when you get below 28mm you are more likely to see some unsatisfactory edge sharpness dropoff and distortion-like curving lines that are supposed to be straight, particularly in off brand lenses.
Unless you intend to do close-up photography on a regular basis, I'd go with the Canon 28-135mm lens.
Both have a focal range that would be ideal for portraiture, so the real question is what would prove to be more useful to you, a wider angle lens (17mm) or the moderate telephoto focal length (135mm). I believe that on both of these lenses, you have to multiply the focal length by 1.6 to compensate for the APS-sized sensor of the Rebel. So the 17mm lens capability becomes closer to 27.2mm and the 28mm becomes closer to 45mm. If you do a lot of group shots or scenics, the first lens might be the better choice. If you shoot outdoor sports in good light, the 135mm is actually closer to a 216mm angle of view.
I would suggest to go with the 28-135 because of being more versatile.
currently I'm using 28-200 as my all around lens
Based solely on range, I like the 28-135. For portrait photography, it will let you move back a little to allow the subject to be more relaxed.
You don't mention how fast the different lenses are. If one is an f3.5 vs an f6 then the 3.5 wins out easily.
I would recommend Canon 17-85mm for taking family pictures, birthday parties, etc. 28mm often is not wide enough on Rebel XT or XTi. Another alternative is Sigma 17-70mm.
Personally, I'd choose the 17-85. I have a Nikon 17-55 and it is a great focal range to work with. I love long telephoto lenses, but for general pictures, I think you will wish you had a wider angle than 28 mm, which is not even considered a wide angle lens on your XTi. The classic range for portraits is the equivalent of 85-105 mm. In Canon digital world, that would mean 53-65 mm. This is well within the range of the 17-85 lens. You did not specify, but I only see the 28-135 as an IS lens. Image stabilization is for real and this lens might be more attractive for that reason, although this review: http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Revie... agrees with my assessment that the 28 mm might not be wide enough for digital.
Oddly enough, you have chosen two lenses that are a match in focal length in each realm. The 17-85 on an XTi is IDENTICAL to the 28-135 on a full format or film camera. If you think about it, this tells you something about the general utility of the focal length range. The 28-135 is thought of as a film lens and the 17-85 is thought of as a digital lens. On fact, the Canon 17-85 is specifically NOT for use on a full format camera while the 28-135 is. Yes, this ought to tell you something.
The Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM (28-135 equiv.) (October 2007-$515) is a good walk around lens at a good price.
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/contro...
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Revie...
Answers: If you shoot some portraits, go with the longer lens.
OK, I see that wasn't enough information for some people; the minimum focal length for flattering portraiture is around 80 mm; a longer focal length makes the face look more slender. Whether digital or not, wider angle shots-less than 50 mm especially, tend to emphasize features...like make people look like they have big NOSES.
Keep in mind that the 1.6 difference between film and digital refers to the AREA the sensor covers vs. film and NOT to the perspective offered by the focal length.
The additional 11 mm on the wide angle focal length won't make THAT much difference, and won't be nearly as noticeable as an extra FIFTY mm on the telephoto side unless you shoot stuff like architecture for critical applications like publication. Even so, when you get below 28mm you are more likely to see some unsatisfactory edge sharpness dropoff and distortion-like curving lines that are supposed to be straight, particularly in off brand lenses.
Unless you intend to do close-up photography on a regular basis, I'd go with the Canon 28-135mm lens.
Both have a focal range that would be ideal for portraiture, so the real question is what would prove to be more useful to you, a wider angle lens (17mm) or the moderate telephoto focal length (135mm). I believe that on both of these lenses, you have to multiply the focal length by 1.6 to compensate for the APS-sized sensor of the Rebel. So the 17mm lens capability becomes closer to 27.2mm and the 28mm becomes closer to 45mm. If you do a lot of group shots or scenics, the first lens might be the better choice. If you shoot outdoor sports in good light, the 135mm is actually closer to a 216mm angle of view.
I would suggest to go with the 28-135 because of being more versatile.
currently I'm using 28-200 as my all around lens
Based solely on range, I like the 28-135. For portrait photography, it will let you move back a little to allow the subject to be more relaxed.
You don't mention how fast the different lenses are. If one is an f3.5 vs an f6 then the 3.5 wins out easily.
I would recommend Canon 17-85mm for taking family pictures, birthday parties, etc. 28mm often is not wide enough on Rebel XT or XTi. Another alternative is Sigma 17-70mm.
Personally, I'd choose the 17-85. I have a Nikon 17-55 and it is a great focal range to work with. I love long telephoto lenses, but for general pictures, I think you will wish you had a wider angle than 28 mm, which is not even considered a wide angle lens on your XTi. The classic range for portraits is the equivalent of 85-105 mm. In Canon digital world, that would mean 53-65 mm. This is well within the range of the 17-85 lens. You did not specify, but I only see the 28-135 as an IS lens. Image stabilization is for real and this lens might be more attractive for that reason, although this review: http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Revie... agrees with my assessment that the 28 mm might not be wide enough for digital.
Oddly enough, you have chosen two lenses that are a match in focal length in each realm. The 17-85 on an XTi is IDENTICAL to the 28-135 on a full format or film camera. If you think about it, this tells you something about the general utility of the focal length range. The 28-135 is thought of as a film lens and the 17-85 is thought of as a digital lens. On fact, the Canon 17-85 is specifically NOT for use on a full format camera while the 28-135 is. Yes, this ought to tell you something.
The Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM (28-135 equiv.) (October 2007-$515) is a good walk around lens at a good price.
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/contro...
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Revie...
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