Canon 18-135mm or 28-135mm

[Malloc]

I have a Canon Rebel XT with a kit lens, a 50mm 1.8 and a Sigma 70-300mm in my bag today.

I have been eyeing the EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens to replace the kit lens on my Rebel XT to try to get some sharper images and increase range. I don't want to pay for an L series but looking for something new. I was just about the pull the trigger, when a friend showed me EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS UD Standard Zoom Lens
This is a little newer cheaper, wider, and EFS vs EF, but not USM. I believe the IS on the 18-135 is better than the 28-135. Which would you chose and why?

Then of course this comes across my radar while looking and I'm not sure if it would be even better or not: EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Standard Zoom Lens

Out of all three, what would your choices be in order, and why?

Or is there another lens you would recommend in the ~$400 range? I'm finding the 18-135 and 28-135 for around $290 on Craigslist.

[gturner]

the 28-135 is a better lens than the 18-135 in terms of IQ and AF speeds. The 18-135mm has slow and noisy AF, I do not like it.



BUT - you are really going to miss the wide angle. 28mm on a crop frame sensor is very tight. The 28-135mm is far better range for a full frame camera.

I would look at the 15-85mm from canon, it gives the best of both worlds.
Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens Review

The issue of price may bash that idea though....

Others may have input on 3rd party (Tamron/ Sigma options)

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by gturner

.

I would look at the 15-85mm from canon, it gives the best of both worlds.
Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens Review

Came to post exactly this

[Malloc]

The problem is that the 15-85mm costs twice as much as either lens I'm considering. I find that with my 18-55 I always want to be a bit closer and I wouldn't mind some improvement in IQ, so being able to go to 135 is attractive to me. 85 would be better than what I have, but not as far as the lenses I'm looking at.

[gturner]

why not look for a second hand 24-105 L? That would tick a lot of boxes.

I have owned the 28-135 and was frustrated by the lack of width as a walk around lens, effectively a 45mm lens.

it was sold as the kit for the 50D, but that didn't work out that well in the long run.