Which general-purpose travel zoom is best for a Canon 600D: 15-85mm or 18-135mm?
Asked 6/18/2012
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I have a Canon 600D with the EF 50mm f/1.8 II and want one general-purpose lens for travel, hiking landscapes, family photos, and pictures of my young son. I’d prefer to travel with a single lens, though I could also pack the 50mm since it’s small.
I’m considering the Canon EF-S 15-85mm and EF-S 18-135mm. My budget matters, but I’d rather buy the right lens and keep it for a while.
As a beginner, would I notice much image-quality difference between these lenses? Would the 18-135mm feel disappointing after using the 50mm prime? Is the extra reach on the 18-135mm more useful for portraits and candid travel shots?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
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For my money you already have a great general purpose lens - that little 50!! Lovely lens, and the IQ will probably beat both the other lenses you mention.
But if you are going to go for one of those, I'd go with the 15-85mm. I've heard great things about this lens especially to do with image quality. I think it will give you sharper images than the 18-135. Remember, however that it is a "slow" lens, starting at f/3.5 and increasing to f/5.6 by the long end of the zoom.
I know you were looking to spend less rather than more (aren't we all), but may I also offer the following into the mix - the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM. I owned this lens for about 18 months or so, and it really is a fantastic bit of kit. Sharp as a razor blade, fast constant f/2.8 aperture through the whole zoom range AND Image Stabilizer. You can literally take decent shots indoors and in the dark with this thing (as you can with the fifty), but with the convenience of a zoom. It's not small or light like the 50, and it's really quite expensive (though not crazy like some lenses) - about £700 ish. But it's really nice, and L quality, but in an EF-S body. Can't recommend it highly enough...
Originally by user7566. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user7566
14y ago
0
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Your 50mm f/1.8 already gives you excellent image quality, and it will likely be sharper than either zoom. Between the two zooms you listed, the EF-S 15-85mm is generally the better choice if image quality matters most. It has a strong reputation for sharpness and also starts wider, which is useful for travel and landscapes on a crop-body camera.
The 18-135mm gives you more reach, which can help for portraits, candid shots, and situations where you can’t get closer. The tradeoff is that superzoom-style convenience usually comes with some loss in image quality compared with shorter-range zooms or primes.
Neither zoom will match the look of your 50mm f/1.8 in sharpness or low-light ability, since both are relatively slow variable-aperture lenses. So the 18-135mm may feel less impressive than the prime if you compare them directly.
If you want the best balance of versatility and image quality from your two options, choose the 15-85mm and keep the 50mm for low light or portraits. If carrying only one lens and maximizing zoom range matters more than image quality, then the longer zoom is the more convenient choice.
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