I don't agree the 17-85 is lack lustre at all. It is sharp with good contrast, its one weakness is the barrel distortion which AP described as moderate. I shoot mainly landscape and never notice it at all so unless you shoot architecture or similar I think you would be happy with one. The IS is a boon, I find it easier to shoot sharp low light shots with it than with the 50mm f1.8. Why Canon have never produced a 17-135 like Nikon beats me but apart from the extra length I find the 17-85 a superb general purpose lens.
|