Ive been shooting with Canon crop sensors for like a decade now and I finally pulled the trigger on the 90D last month to replace my aging 70D. I thought my old 18-135mm STM would be fine since it worked great before but man, that 32.5 megapixel sensor is absolutely punishing. Everything looks soft when I zoom in even a little bit and the chromatic aberration is driving me crazy. I didnt realize how much better the glass needed to be for this specific body to actually see the benefit of the extra pixels.
So I was thinking maybe I should just go for the Sigma 18-35mm f1.8 because everyone raves about how sharp it is but then I lose all that reach and I really need some versatility for this trip to Olympic National Park I have coming up in exactly two weeks. My logic was that a constant f2.8 would be better for the darker forest areas but then I'm looking at the Canon 17-55mm and it feels so dated. Does the stabilization even hold up on a high res sensor like this or is it gonna be a blurry mess? I'm also looking at the 15-85mm but the variable aperture makes me nervous for low light stuff.
I'm stuck in this loop where I want the sharpness to match the 90Ds sensor but I really dont want to be swapping lenses every five minutes in the rain. I have about $850 to spend, maybe a bit more if I can find a deal on used gear, but I need to pull the trigger by Friday to get it in time for the flight. I even considered the 24-105mm L series but then I lose the wide end because of the crop factor and 24mm on a crop is basically a 38mm which is way too tight for the mountain vistas I'm planning to shoot.
Is there some hidden gem I'm missing that can actually handle the 90D density without costing three grand? What do you guys actually use as a walkaround that doesnt compromise the sensor?
That 90D sensor is a total lens killer, ngl. It really shows off every little flaw in older glass. I went through the same thing trying to find a balance between price and performance without spending a fortune. Since you're heading to Olympic, you definitely want that f/2.8 for the dark forest floor but need to keep the budget in check.
- Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM: This is basically the gold standard for budget zooms. It is sharp enough for the 32MP sensor and leaves you plenty of cash for extra batteries or a rain cover.
- Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM: Dont let the age scare you off. The optics are still great, and you can find them used for a steal right now if you look on marketplaces. I would probably go with the Sigma 17-50mm. Its a solid workhorse that handles the high resolution well enough for most shots, and you wont be terrified of it getting a little mist on it in the park.
> Since you're heading to Olympic, you definitely want that f/2.8 @Reply #1 - good point! Honestly, I've been very satisfied with the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM on high-res sensors. Dont let the old design fool you; the optics are still incredible and it resolves way better than your current 18-135. It handles that 32.5MP density quite well and the stabilization is solid for dim forests. Its well within your budget too.
I've spent years lugging around huge kits and honestly, for a trip like Olympic where it's always drizzling, you want something reliable that wont fail while you're hiking. In my experience, the Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM is the secret weapon for these high-res Canon bodies. I used it on my old 80D then moved to the 90D and it surprisingly holds up way better than the 18-135 ever did. The focus is fast and that constant 2.8 is a lifesaver under those thick forest canopies. I tried the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art once but I found the autofocus can be a bit finicky on DSLRs unless you spend hours with a calibration dock. For a trip in two weeks, you dont have time to mess with that. The 17-50 gives you that extra reach, fits your budget easily, and its a safe bet.
Im dealing with the exact same headache right now. That 32.5MP sensor has such a tight pixel pitch (about 3.2 microns) that it basically outresolves almost every consumer zoom ever made for the EF-S mount. I am currently stuck in the same loop trying to find a lens that doesnt look like a soft mess when I crop in 100%. One major warning though... be really careful about the weather sealing if youre heading to Olympic. A lot of the popular mid-range zooms lack internal gaskets, and once that PNW mist gets into the zoom barrel, youre looking at fungus or internal fogging that ruins the trip. Also, watch out for the diffraction limited aperture on this body. Since the pixels are so small, you'll start seeing softness from diffraction as early as f/6.3 or f/7.1, which makes those variable aperture lenses even more of a liability in low light. I still havent found a single lens I totally trust to handle the density without compromising on reliability, so I feel your pain.
