Blown out highlights on images from new lens

[AuthenticJourneys]

Hi-
I just purchased a Canon 15-85mm IS USM lens for my XSi and I am not real happy with the images I have been getting with it. I had the 18-55mm kit lens but wasn't able to use it much before it got damaged in a flood so I can't really compare. That said, I feel like I got better IQ with the kit lens than I am getting with the 15-85. I also have the 50mm 1.8 and decided to do a test of the same subject taken with the same settings at the same focal length and found that the 15-85 had pretty badly blown out highlights. Could it be the lens (lemon or damaged)? I can still return it within the next couple of days for refund but I am not sure if it is defective or if I am doing something to cause it.
Any ideas?
Thanks!

[zona5101]

Originally Posted by AuthenticJourneys

Hi-
I just purchased a Canon 15-85mm IS USM lens for my XSi and I am not real happy with the images I have been getting with it. I had the 18-55mm kit lens but wasn't able to use it much before it got damaged in a flood so I can't really compare. That said, I feel like I got better IQ with the kit lens than I am getting with the 15-85. I also have the 50mm 1.8 and decided to do a test of the same subject taken with the same settings at the same focal length and found that the 15-85 had pretty badly blown out highlights. Could it be the lens (lemon or damaged)? I can still return it within the next couple of days for refund but I am not sure if it is defective or if I am doing something to cause it.
Any ideas?
Thanks!

one of those instances when a picture is worth a thousand words... post both, the one from the l15-85 lens and one from the 50mm