• Wide Zoom Range (24-135mm equiv)
• Optical Image Stabilization
• Ultra Sonic Motor (USM)
• Manual Focus Override
• Lightweight and Compact Design
• EF-S Mount for APS-C Format EOS Cameras

The new EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM sets a new standard for everyday photography on APS-C sensors. With a focal length range equivalent to 24-136mm in 35mm format, image stabilization and high-precision optics, the EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM offers stellar performance from wide-angle through to telephoto.

Containing 17 elements (including a UD-glass element) in 12 groups, the lens captures an angle-of-view (AOV) range of about 84° to 18°, for capturing wide landscapes and telephoto portraits.

The lens features a minimum focusing distance of 1.15′ and image stabilization for up to 4-stops of shake-control when shooting under lower lighting conditions. An Ultra Sonic Motor (USM) offers fast, quiet autofocus performance.

Wide Focal Range
With 84° to 18° angle-of-view, the Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens offers excellent wide angle to telephoto focal lengths with Canon APS-C EOS Digital SLRs.

Lightweight and Compact Design
Measuring just under 4″ in length and weighing about 1.25 lbs, the lens is easy-on-the-shoulder while maintaining a convenient range of optical choices when composing still or video imagery.

Optical Image Stabilization
Canon’s Image Stabilization system allows you to shoot sharp images with a 4-stop advantage under less-than-optimum lighting conditions.

Ultra Sonic Motor (USM)
Canon’s Ultra Sonic Motor (USM) technology enables fast and quiet focus control with on-demand manual override when shooting in AF mode.

Optimized for Canon APS-C Sensor Cameras
As with all Canon EF-S optics, the Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens is designed to deliver optimum sharpness edge-to-edge when used with Canon APS-C format DSLRs.

Read more at Canon USA

Reviews

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS – Review / Lens Test Report by photozone.com

The Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS is one of the more promising lenses released for Canon APS-C DSLRs. So far Canon had a bit of a problem regarding their EF-S standard zoom lenses.

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens Review by the-digital-picture.com

The Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens delivers top-tier image quality over an excellent general purpose focal length range in a nicely-sized/weighted/built body with great AF and an excellent implementation of Image Stabilization at a for-what-you-get great price. I’m impressed.

Like all Canon EF-S Lenses, the Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens mounts only to EF-S compatible Canon bodies – more specifically, only those with APS-C sized sensors. APS-C sensors have a FOVCF of 1.6x. Multiplying the 15-85′s focal length range by 1.6x shows that the 15-85 mounted on an APS-C body will deliver a 35mm angle of view equivalent of 24-136mm. This focal length range completely encompasses and extends what I consider the general purpose range.

The Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens is a great leave-on-the-camera lens – It is going to share this role with my 17-55.

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS – Review / Lens Test Report by photozone.de

The Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS is certainly a desirable lens … if you can get a good one (ours had a bit of QC issue). The resolution is generally very good from 15-50mm whereas you should expect some border softness at 85mm. A weak spot of the lens is the amount of vignetting which is extreme at 15mm @ f/3.5. An edge shading of 1.94EV represents a new (negative) record here at PZ – the lens is somewhat underdesigned here obviously. However, stopping down resolves most of the problem. The amount of distortions is typical for such a lens (heavy barrel distortions at 15mm). Lateral CAs can be visible at the extreme ends of the zoom range.

The build quality of the lens is very good and definitely an improvement over previous Canon consumer zoom lenses. Typical for Canon lenses featuring a ring-type USM the AF performance is very impressive. The IS (“Image Stabilizer”) works just fine within its limits but that’s a proven technology by now and no real news. anymore.

Canon EF-S 15-85 mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM review by lenstip.com

Pros:

* Universal focal lengths
* Excellent image quality at the center of the frame, starting from the maximum aperture, at all focal lengths
* Very good image quality at the edge of the frame
* Chromatic aberration medium or small for most combinations of focal lengths and apertures
* Coma smaller than in competitors
* Small astigmatism
* Quite good work against bright light
* Fast, silent and accurate autofocus
* Efficient image stabilization

Cons:

* Large chromatic aberration at 15 mm and around the maximum aperture
* Large distortion at the widest angle
* Noticeable vignetting
* Build quality at this price could be better
* Poor standard equipment

Links

Press Release from DPReview