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Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 is USM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras, Black - 1242B002

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At a glance

Condition
New
Style
Lens Only
Model
1242B005
Screen size
3.3 in
Weight
645 g
Color
Black
Lens Type
Wide Angle
Warranty
1 Year
Works with
Mirrorless Camera

Features 5

  • 17-55mm wide-angle zoom lens with f/2.8 maximum aperture for Canon DSLR cameras
  • AD and aspherical elements deliver impressive image quality through entire zoom range, Closest focusing distance : 1.15 feet
  • Image Stabilizer lens groups shift to compensate for image shake even in dim lighting
  • Large circular aperture produces shallow depth of field; ring-type ultra-sonic monitor (USM)

Description

The Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM standard zoom lens has specially designed a new lens with a large aperture of f/2.8 for select Canon Digital SLR cameras to meet user demands for a fast EF-S zoom lens. The large circular aperture produces a shallow depth-of-field, creating background blur that draws attention to the photographic subject. The lens construction includes UD and a spherical elements, which deliver impressive image quality throughout the entire zoom range. Image Stabilizer lens groups shift to compensate for camera movement so that the image appears steady on the image plane, ensuring clear, crisp images, even in dim light. With a Ring-type USM, inner focusing and new AF algorithms, this lens achieves autofocus quickly and quietly, and with full-time mechanical manual focusing manually adjusting the focus is possible even in AF mode. From the Manufacturer Designed to meet consumer demands for a fast EF-S zoom lens, the EF-S 17-55mm offers image quality on par with Canon's highly regarded L-series lenses. The lens features a large circular aperture that produces a shallow depth of field, creating background blur that draws special attention to the photographic subject. The lens construction, meanwhile, includes UD and aspherical elements that deliver impressive image quality throughout the entire zoom range. And thanks to the Image Stabilizer lens groups--which shift to compensate for camera shake--the image appears crisp and clear on the image plane, eve in dim light. Finally, the lens offers a ring-type ultra-sonic monitor (USM), inner focusing, and new AF algorithms to help achieve autofocus quickly and quietly, along with full- time mechanical manual focusing that makes it possible to manually adjust the focus even in AF mode. As with all Canon lenses, this lens carries a one-year warranty. Focal length: 17-55mm Maximum aperture: f/2.8 Lens construction: 19 elements in 12 groups Diagonal angle of view: 78 degrees (at 30 feet) to 27 degrees (at 50 feet) Focus adjustment: AF with full-time manual Closest focusing distance: 1.15 feet Zoom system: 5-group helical zoom (front group moves 27mm) Filter size: 77mm Dimensions: 3.3 inches in diameter, 4.4 inches long Weight: 22.8 ounces The EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM offers image quality on a par with Canon's highly regarded L-series lenses. It has a large maximum aperture which, combined with higher shutter speeds, can minimize subject motion blur. Shallow depth-of-field separation of a subject from its background is much easier to achieve and the f2.8 maximum aperture allows a bright finder and extremely precise focusing with f2.8 compatible AF sensors. The internal stabilization has a sharpness benefit equivalent to a three-stop faster shutter speed, making this lens outstanding in low-light situations. Smaller and lighter than lenses of similar specifications, the EF-S 17-55 mm f2.8 IS USM lens has a 35mm equivalent focal length of 27-88mm and is compatible only with the EOS 30D, EOS 20D, EOS Digital Rebel XT, and EOS Digital Rebel SLRs. To meet user demands for a fast EF-S zoom lens, Canon has specially designed a new lens with a large aperture of f/2.8 for select Canon Digital SLR cameras. The large circular aperture produces a shallow depth-of- field, creating background blur that draws attention to the photographic subject. The lens construction includes UD and aspherical elements, which deliver impressive image quality throughout the entire zoom range. Image Stabilizer lens groups shift to compensate for camera movement so that the image appears steady on the image plane, ensuring clear, crisp images, even in dim light. With a Ring-type USM, inner focusing and new AF algorithms, this lens achieves autofocus quickly and quietly, and with full-time mechanical manual focusing, manually adjusting the focus is possible even in AF mode.

Specs 36

Brand Canon
Focal Length Description 17-55 lens
Lens Type Wide Angle
Compatible Mountings Canon EF
Camera Lens Description Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras, Black - 1242B002
Lens Wide Angle
Compatible Camera Mount Canon EF
Maximum Focal Length 5.5 centimeters

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Top Amazon Reviews

You may not realize it yet, but you NEED this lens.
Style: Lens Only
Let me start out by saying that I am NOT a professional photographer by any means. I am a guy who is into photography, who has a penchant for gadgetry and who appreciates quality. This lens fulfills my desires on all three of those levels. You won't hear me talking about "creamy bokeh" or any of the other esoteric stuff that some reviewers rely on for filler material. This is a regular guy's review for other people in my same boat. OK first of all, this thing is expensive. I paid $980 from Amazon and kicked and screamed the whole way. I had agonized over literally 1000 reviews (most of which were very favorable) before making the final decision. I had pros and semi-pros advising me, and in some cases insisting that I buy this thing. I don't know though---a thousand bucks? For a hunk of glass? I felt my gag reflex kicking in a little as I broke out into a cold sweat. Oh sure I wanted it, but did I need it? As most of you know, need is a relative thing, and I can usually rationalize myself into "needing" something with fairly little effort. Usually. A thousand bucks though? The one thing that finally pushed me over the edge was that I joined a couple photography forums and noticed that these lenses were selling on the used market for around $900--and not only that, but when one did pop up for sale, it usually only lasted about a day before it was SOLD! So, I guess I didn't really have that much to lose. When it came (3 short days later), I could swear I heard a Heavenly choir singing and saw a little divine glow eminating as I unboxed that ravishing beauty. And there she was, the culmination of about 60 hours of research, 30 emails, 8 phone calls and me parting with almost 1000 of my very favorite hard-earned dollars. Would she be worth it? Only time would tell. For a few minutes, all I could do was stare. It is a good looking piece of equipment and I'll tell you this too, it's pretty big. Like a soup can. And not one of those condensed soup cans either--more like a "Chunky" can. I'm talkin' BIG. Despite its size and what feels like a much more substantial build quality than most Canon L-lens disciples would have you believe, it is not unweildy or particularly problematic in the weight department. I have it slapped on the front of a Canon 50d and could easily carry it around all day long if need dictated. Back when I was agonizing over this decision and balking about the price, I was trying to rationalize my way into another (less expensive) lens. I looked at the Canon 15-85mm, but it was MUCH slower than this one, didn't have any reviews to speak of and still cost somewhere in the $8-hundo neighborhood. I also thought I could just go with the 17-55mm kit lens and really save myself a whole bunch of money in the process. I mean afterall it's the same focal range, right? Right...sort of. I'm here to tell you right now in as plain a language as I can muster, those two lenses do not even reside on the same planet as one another! It's about like substituting a Honda Civic for a Ferrari---sure they both get you from A to B, but that's where it ends. A Ferrari does things that a Civic can only dream about and a Ferrari instills a certain pride of ownership--particularly in someone who appreciates the fine quality of the marque. A Ferrari can go 200mph, and while that is not always necessary, or even desired, it is still an option. This lens is a Ferrari. The proof is in the pudding (or is it putting? I can never remember) and this baby delivers. On my first day of shooting I was just walking around taking pictures of anything and everything that was in front of me at the time. I wanted to see if f2.8 is really worth all the hubbub and drool from the Photophiles. Trust me, it is. I captured a shot of my dining room in almost total darkness with only the light from an outside street lamp shining through the window--and the pic turned out GREAT! I later got a picture of my kids outside at night with NO FLASH that I would have never been able to capture with one of those other lenses. I've had this lens for about a week now and in that time have shot almost 600 pictures. Exactly ONE of those pictures incorporated the flash--the rest were shot in natural light. The shot with the flash was just an experiment and probably would have looked better without it anyway. I even shot about 150 of those pictures at my children's Christmas program--again--no flash and every picture turned out perfect. Awesome! When I saw the quality of the images I was getting with this thing set at a WIDE OPEN aperture (traditionally yielding softer images) I almost cried. I mean I've had good gear in the past, but this lens takes the cake. Speaking as a person who is not affiliated with Canon in any way , shape or form AND has absolutely nothing to gain by giving a review, I can tell you without reservation that this lens gives me joy. Joy! I paid $980 for about $100,000 worth of joy and in turn have captured memories that are priceless to me. I'd say all in all, that's a pretty good deal. If you are reading this review, you may be in the same position I was in about 2 weeks ago. You like the lens, but aren't quite convinced yet. Do I spend? Do I wait? Do I settle? Believe me, I know a grand isn't easy to come by these days and I also know you are being more careful how you spend, but I have had very few occasions in my life in which an "investment" like this has paid me back so much in so short a time. This lens will bring you joy too, and in this day and age that is even harder to come by than mere money. Buy this lens--you can thank me later. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2009 by NotoriousSEG
f/2.8 (Low Light Capability) and Versatile Focal Lengths (For Landscape or Portrait)Make This One of the Best Walk-Around Lenses
Style: Lens Only
Review Image by Stack⠀Overflow
Review Image by Stack⠀Overflow
Review Image by Stack⠀Overflow
Review Image by Stack⠀Overflow
Review Image by Stack⠀Overflow
I got this lens to replace my 18-55mm kit lens 2 years ago and I have never looked back since. The thing I love most about this lens is its f/2.8 constant aperture (as opposed to the f/3.5-5.6 variable aperture of the kit lens). f/2.8 allows me to take my shots handheld and STILL get impressively sharp pictures (since with a wider aperture, I can crank up the shutter speed to counteract any camera shake from hand-holding the camera). I find it especially useful on my hikes where I'm snapping pictures on the go (I don't usually bring my tripod with me on my hikes simply because it's too cumbersome). This lens, of course, has a lot more to offer. You're paying a premium not only for the f/2.8 constant aperture (which is the lowest f-stop on a zoom (non-prime) lens that money can buy), but for the image quality it delivers. Based on my tests, the image quality is on par with the wildly popular EF 24-105mm f/4 lens. But I do prefer this lens over the 24-105mm because of (1) the wide 17mm focal length (which I frequently use for landscape shots) and (2) the f/2.8 aperture (which is perfect for handheld shots and for low light conditions). Another advantage this lens has over the kit lens is it uses Internal Focus (IF), which is a useful feature if you're using a polarizing filter (AKA a circular polarizer). With Internal Focus, the barrel on which the polarizer is affixed doesn't turn and throw filter out of adjustment, so it saves you from having to readjust the filter after the subject is brought into focus. This lens uses Canon's Ultra-low Dispersion (UD) glass (reserved only for Canon's best lenses), which reduces or eliminates Chromatic aberration (colored fringes around a brightly lit subject) and it has an ultrasonic motor (USM) for fast focusing. To wrap up this review, I would like to comment on a couple of "problems" that many "L"-lens snobs have raised about this lens ad nauseam. (1) No Weather Sealing. Some people have mentioned that the lack of weather sealing causes dust to get inside the lens. This was one of my concerns when I was deciding whether to get this lens. But speaking from personal experience (now that I've had this lens for 2 years), I've never found the lack of whether sealing or dust to be a problem (and I don't exactly baby this lens). (2) Cheap Build Quality. It really boggles my mind when someone says this lens "feels" cheap. How exactly does this lens "feel" cheap? No, the build quality of this lens is NOT cheap, and it does NOT feel cheap. --- The 17-55mm f/2.8, is one of the best (if not the best) low-light walk-around lenses you can buy. Its 17-55mm focal length range makes it versatile for use in either landscape or portrait photography. It may be pricey, but it's the opinion of this reviewer that it's worth every last penny you pay for it. [Update 2012-07-25] A word about the dust issue: If you are worried about dust getting into the lens, it's been suggested that a protective (UV) filter is an effective barrier to dust (it's been purported that dust enters into the lens through cracks in the front element). I have been using a UV filter since I acquired this lens brand new and the fact that I've never had a problem with dust seems to lend credence to the above claim. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2012 by Stack⠀Overflow
The best Lens for 1.6x Crop Canon DSLRs
Style: Lens Only
Review Image by Steven A. Hoagland
Review Image by Steven A. Hoagland
Review Image by Steven A. Hoagland
Review Image by Steven A. Hoagland
Review Image by Steven A. Hoagland
Review Image by Steven A. Hoagland
Review Image by Steven A. Hoagland
Review Image by Steven A. Hoagland
Review Image by Steven A. Hoagland
Review Image by Steven A. Hoagland
I received my Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM lens today (12/28/06). It feels heavier by far than the 18-55mm kit lens, but lighter than I expected. Feels good (well-balanced) cradling the lens in the left hand near the base of the lens when mounted to my Canon Digital Rebel XT. I put the lens on the camera right away in a manner that would limit the opportunity for dust to intrude on the back of the lens or into the camera, since I've read about this lens not being sealed as well as "L" series Canon lenses. I may never take it off. 8-) This lens focuses fast and sure--even in low light, no hunting around to lock onto a subject. Pictures taken with the camera hand-held at 1/10 to 1/15 sec shutter speeds inside with no flash were tack-sharp (Thanks to the IS). With F2.8 and IS, this lens opens up a whole new world of natural low-light photography. Not only are more inside shots possible, you also have the versatility to create gorgeous bokeh. You create these bokeh effects generally zoomed to 55mm (where the kit lens' max aperture is F5.6). Since the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 has a constant F2.8 max aperature, you don't have to worry about the depth of field increasing as you zoom. It is so confidence-inspiring to walk around and set your aperture where you want it to give you the depth of field you want, and not really worry about the shutter speed being too slow. Some of my outside dusk (low-light) shots at 1/6 sec shutter and F22 came out sharp (Thanks again to IS). I almost got vertigo when I first looked at my pics uploaded to my PC--they were so realistic. Images really pop! The decision to go with this lens instead of some of the "L" grade lenses involved the following criteria: 1. Focal Length Range. I wanted at least the range of the 18-55mm kit lens. 2. Max Aperture. I wanted f/2.8, since f/4 is too confining for low-light situations. Also, f/4 doesn't give you the depth of field limiting ability of f/2.8. Trade-off is size and weight (and price). 3. Constant Max Aperture. I wanted a constant max aperture throughout the zoom range. I don't want to set the aperture and have the camera stop it down due to the max aperture decreasing as you zoom in (as is the case with the kit lens). 4. USM. I wanted the Ultrasonic Motor (USM) feature, since this is known to be the fastest and quietest autofocus technology. 5. IS. I wanted Image Stabilization (IS), since this effectively makes your lens faster, because you can shoot in lower light at lower shutter speeds without fear of blur (provided the subject is still). Also, zoomed-into 55mm, camera shake can be more of a problem than at shorter focal lengths. IS has got you covered there as well. This lens only has one IS mode (no mode for panning). 6. Full Format or Crop-optimized. It is true that going with a full format lens would mean that you could use it on any DSLR (35mm film, APS-C DSLR, and Full Format DSLRs such as the 5D and 1Ds Mark II). However, full format lenses are not optimized for the 1.6x crop of the Canon DSLRs Rebel through 30D. The crop-optimized lenses (designated by the "EF-S" in the model name) are tailored to the smaller image sensors of the APS-C camera bodies. The lens elements and coatings are designed to minimize the ghosting and flare that can come from reflections off of the image sensors in digital cameras. Also, the crop-optimized lenses tend to be smaller, lighter and less expensive than otherwise identical full format lenses. I considered the EF 17-40mm f/4L, the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L and the EF 24-105mm f/4L. But, none of these had the focal length range I wanted, and two of them weren't fast enough (f/4), and the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L was very heavy (2.1 lbs). I determined there was no need to sacrifice performance now for some possible benefit later on if I purchase a full format camera. If I ever do, I would hope there would be full format lenses that have been designed to limit chromatic aberrations and introduce other digital optimizations currently provided by the crop-optimized APS-C format-only lenses. Besides, you can always continue to use your old camera and lens as a back-up, or you can sell them to help purchase the new ones. 7. Grade ("L" series or Advanced Amature). Of course, if all else is equal, take the "L" lens with the red stripe. But, all else is not equal. I'd rather have an optically superior lens that is well-built (although not as well as an "L" series) that meets all my other criteria, and just be careful to keep the dust out. The EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 is expensive (I paid $[...] on [...]). But, I'm sure if there were an "L" series version of this lens, it would be even more expensive. Conclusion: This is one great lens! There's nothing else out there for 1.6x crop digital cameras that gives you the sweet spot of zoom range, low light capability, depth of field control, image stabilization, fast and quiet auto-focus, and superior image quality rivaling prime lenses. And to put the considerable weight (22.8 oz.) into perspective, it is still 3.8 oz. lighter than the very good digital-only Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8, and the Nikon does not even have image stabilization (and costs more to boot). Game, set and match! UPDATE 2/3/07: I've taken 1000+ pictures. I'm impressed with battery life given that I thought IS would use a lot of power. But, since flash is nearly never needed (due to f/2.8 and IS), battery life has seemingly been extended. I didn't realize how much I would grow to expect a stable image through the viewfinder until I looked through a viewfinder with a lens without IS and saw the image shaking. Note that cameras with built-in image sensors (such as Sony Alpha) don't stabilize the viewfinder. The EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM autofocus locks-on amazingly fast even in low light. No apparent optical weak spots at any focal length or aperture. Lens hood (optional) eliminated most, but not all, flares from bright sun. I think this is the best, most versatile walk-around lens you can get. I wish Canon would make an EF-S 55-200mm f/2.8 IS USM lens to pair it with so I could zoom in closer on distant wildlife, etc. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2006 by Steven A. Hoagland
Upgrading your lens for Rebel XTi? 17-85 USM IS vs 28-135 USM IS vs 17-55 2.8f USM IS vs 24-105 4.0f USM IS
Style: Lens Only
Folks, I know you want it short. But I am covering quite a bit of information and condensed it so that you can get good information and are able to digest it in less than 5 min. It is quite surprising how many people are being "tortured" with the question on which lens is the right lens when it comes to finding the perfect lens to upgrade the Canon XTi Rebel kit lens (18-55) or even for the Canon 40D (which is often sold with the 28-135 USM IS lens). I read about 500+ reviews and many of them I found very interesting but really did not answer my question on what a good lens is for the Rebel XTi... and with good reasons because YOU have to know what you want or need and then make a call. Here were the criteria I used and I hope you can leverage from these: 1. I wanted a lens which has a great picture quality to have a true upgrade feeling from the Canon 18-55 kit lens (during day light that lens is actually very good and with its light weight is a great carry around lens - however in low light or for really nice portrait shots this lens has limitations not to mention its built quality) 2. I wanted a versatile "Walk Around" lens with good zoom range to cover most of the picture I take (landscape and portraits) in addition to my telephoto lens (70-300mm) 3. If possible a low weight lens - however image quality was a higher priority for me 4. I wanted a Canon lens (though there are very good alternatives from Tamron and Sigma - however they have some disadvantages but given the lower price worth considering) 5. I wanted an Image Stabilizer (IS) and a low noise focus motor, i.e. Canon's USM Many people are looking for a great "Walk Around" lens to avoid changing lenses all the time yet at the same time want great picture qualities. So, your criteria may be different and therefore your choice certainly a good one may differ from mine. As one disclaimer upfront - I am not going into the professional details, i.e. vignetting differeneces at different aperture values or zoom ranges - to make it simple for many readers in this field who just want to make a good decision to buy a great lens without going through the trouble of returning lenses. You will find many reviews on the cropped camera lenses (EF-S) and still people often don't get it right. So, if you have a cropped camera like the Canon Rebel XTi or Canon 40D then the cropped factor is 1.6. In other words no matter what lens you put on these cameras you will get the following zoom ranges which are different from the product names for the lenses: Canon Lens Min Zoom Max Zoom 17-85: 27.2 - 136 28-135: 44.8 - 216 17-55 f2.8: 27.2 - 88 24-105 f4.0 L: 38.4 - 168 Source: Canon's website I went through the extra burden of testing all the lenses myself and not just rely on reviews. So, I went ahead and rented them for 1-2 days and then made up my own verdict so to speak. I also took pictures in similar conditions, looked at them on the computer and printed them out to compare the lenses: 1) The first upgrade lens from Canon which comes to mind is the EF-S 17-85 USM IS f3.5-5.6 lens. This lens would have been a great kit lens but did not meet my requirements for an upgrade lens. It has a very good zoom range and it is still light weight. But the image quality is not as sharp as I would like it to be. And if you commit to spend more money (like $500 for this lens) then you don't want to waste it by just getting a bit more zoom range and an Image Stabilizer. 2) The first lens I actually tried was the EF 24-105 f4.0 USM IS L (luxurious) lens from Canon and I was really happy about the image quality. I was very close to buy this lens but wanted to check out other lenses first. Following drawbacks for me: it is not a wide-angle lens which is useful for landscape shots or even travels shots when you can't afford walking back 5-10 feet. Plus a wide angel lens can give you a nice effect on the picture itself. Another drawback is the aperture value of f4.0 in low light. An aperture factor of f2.8 is faster in low light (the lower the value the larger the aperture - think the Iris of your eye is getting larger and therefore you can see better in low light) and with a running kid or pet at home that is a true advantage. However, with the Image Stabilizer this would not be a big issue. (For more advanced people you can stop down one step to get enough light into the lens in low light conditions but if the object is in motion that may be tricky.) A big plus however is the option to use this lens for any non-cropped canon camera. However, I am ok with using the Rebel XTi and if I want to upgrade to another body later then the 40D would be a great way to go. So, I don't mind to buy EF-S lenses. The EF-S lenses have the advantage that they are generally lighter weight than the full frame lenses. 3) The EF 28-135 USM IS f3.5-5.6 lens has a great zoom range (44-216) but does not have a wide angle (basically anything less than 35mm). However, if zoom range is your top criteria then I'd get the 24-105 L lens without a doubt over this 28-135 lens. For example when you are in full zoom and you are not in bright daylight your pictures will not be as sharp. I tried this lens and the image quality is simply not as good as the 24-105 L lens or the 17-55 f2.8 lens. The 24-105 is also more solidly built. It is a lot of metal built with this lens and it is sealed against dust and water. However, if budget is a constrain to you then the Canon 28-135 lens is a better option for you and according to many folks out there considered to be a better choice than even the EF-S 17-85 USM IS lens. 4) The EF-S 17-55 f2.8 USM IS lens was the last lens I tested and chose over the other three lenses. First, my expectations toward a great image quality (like the 24-105 L lens) were fully met. This lens is using similar components like the L lenses (but it is not fully sealed like the 24-105 L lens is) and shoots extremely well in low light conditions. Plus for a f2.8 (main advantage is large aperture which is very useful for taking great shots in dim lights and faster than f4.0 lenses). Also this lens has less weight (640g) in comparison to the Canon 24-70 EF L f2.8 lens (950g). So, you get a great lens with an acceptable weight. Even the zoom range is fully acceptable to me on my Rebel XTi which comes to 27-88mm. I can take very good portraits shots (without hitting someone's nose with the lens if you will) and it has very nice blur as well (meaning a sharp face in the front and with a blurry background). The only drawback is a flare on some pictures at the bottom of the image when you take pictures using its built-in flash due to the larger lens diameter. However you can either put a better (external) flash light or use Photoshop to correct this issue. I am not a professional photographer and for me this is ok. If you are a professional photographer then you are most likely not as interested in this article anyways. +++Summary+++ The bottom line is that for a true upgrade lens to your kit lens for the Rebel XTi I would recommend the EF-S 17-55 f2.8 IS USM lens. It is worth the investment. This type of lens along with any other L lenses from Canon will always keep its value and you can certainly sell this lens a lot easier if that is the final information you were looking for... ;) I hope this article helps you in directing your decision on which lens to buy. If you are still not sure about what to do then I can only recommend testing the lenses of your choice in a store or ideally rent them or ask your buddies to lend you a lens for a few days. Good luck and enjoy taking great pictures to treasure your memories! Uwe ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2008 by Uwe Weinkauf
Great image quality. Dust issue=NOT really an issue
Style: Lens Only
I have this lens for almost a year. Although there're plenty of reviews, I thought I'd give my experience with this lens. hope it'll be helpful for people still debating getting this lens vs. other L lenses. I shoot with a 60D camera body. Other good lenses in my gear, to compare this lens against, include 50mm f1.4 USM prime, 70-200mm f2.8L IS USM II. 1. Image quality: really good and very sharp, as good or a little better than my 50mm f1.4 prime which I use much less now only when I really need low light or very shallow DoF. my 70-200mm f2.8L is still a little better (this 70-200L IS markII is of course the IQ king of zoom lenses and rivals the best prime lenses). I shoot mostly landscape and some home parties/weddings and have been very satisfied with the IQ of this lens. 2. comparison to other lenses: Most people considering this lens also consider other L zoom lenses such as 24-70L f2.8, 17-40L f4, 24-105L f4. if you don't plan to upgrade to a full frame, I recommend this lens over the 24-70L for a few reasons: a. 17mm is much wider than 24mm and much more useful for shooting landscape, or for taking pics of a group of people in a small room. b. this lens is sharper than the 24-70L (and the 17-40L) at all apertures and focal lengths according to the-digital-picture.com. I also read that the 24-70L f2.8 is a little sharper than the 24-105L f4. This EF-S 17-55 f2.8 lens has 2 UD and 3 aspherical elements compared to 1 UD and 2 aspherical elements in the 24-70L. Ultra-Low Dispersion glass (UD) elements eliminate secondary chromatic aberrations that otherwise reduce sharpness and introduce color fringing. aspherical lens elements are used to avoid spherical aberrations that can soften images, especially at wider apertures. c. This lens has 3-stop IS. most people think you don't need IS at these focal lengths but it's quite helpful in low light when you shoot a outdoor scene at night and don't have a tripod, you can go as low as 1/5 second handheld (if you use 17mm, to avoid blur when handholding, the shutter speed recommended is 1/(17x1.6)=1/27 or faster. with 1 stop IS,it's down to 1/14, 2 stop IS brings it down to 1/7, and 3 stop IS gets it down to 1/4 second). if you use the 24-70L on a crop body in this situation, the shutter speed recommended is 1/(24x1.6)=1/40 or faster which may not be slow enough at night even if you bump up the ISO to 3200 or 6400. 3. Build quality: and dust issue that some people complain. buid quality is very good but not L quality weather sealed. I didn't see any dust issue for a few months then noticed a few tiny speckles of dust inside after shooting a few times in windy environment at the beach. but they don't affect image quality at all because these dust particles are too close for the lens to focus. if you see spots on an image, it's likely from dust on the sensor. over the years, If there's a layer of dust which may diffract light, then it may cause softness at that area. in that case, you can always have Canon clean it. dust is gonna get inside any non L lenses if exposed in a windy, dusty environment repeatedly. for People wanting L lens build quality, I think it would raise the price of this lens another $400-500. on the other hand, by not having L quality build, this lens is lighter than the 24-70L (1.4 lbs vs. 2.1). i have no issue carrying this lens all day but my 70-200L f2.8 is so heavy that I don't bring out much, only when I think I really need it. Final thought: if you shoot a crop body and don't plan to upgrade to a full frame, in my opinion (and many others'), this lens is best choice as a general purpose lens from landscape to portraits. the 70-200L f2.8 or 85 f1.8 are better portrait lenses though, due to their focal length) ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2011 by a gadget lover
Review from a long time user
Style: Lens Only
This lens has everything I want in a lens. 1. Good build quality Everything about this lens is quality. I could ask more from the zoom ring. It doesn't feel as good as it could at this price range. It does the job fine however. Everything else about this lens is the highest quality. I would not let this one minor thing stop you from buying it. 2. Image Stabilization (seem to work to at least 3 stops...maybe 4) 3. Large constant aperture (F/2.8 all the way through) 4. USM focus (quick and quiet. Does the job fine.) If you have a "kit" lens (18-55) and want your pictures to look WAY better, get this lens. You must consider two things before buying. Are you planning to move to a 5D MkII or another full frame body? (this lens does not fit full frame bodies.) Is your style of photography suited to the 17-55 range? (do you take most shots between 17 and 55mm....as most people do) If you meet these criteria.....you need this lens. You may need a long zoom to go with it, but don't think for one minute that you can get an 18-200 or 18-135 and still get the same image quality. I have the 18-135 and the 17-55 gives me FAR better image quality. If you need more zoom from time to time get this lens and a 55-250. The 55-250 is a good lens and gives you decent image quality at long ranges. It's only about 1/4 of what this lens costs but will cover you in long telephoto shots. The 17-55 will be great for most shots most people take. It took me a long time to realize that all I needed was a better lens. I didn't need more zoom. I finally got this and wish I had done it years ago. I have found this lens more than good in the month since I got it. It weighs a lot but I have taken hundreds of pictures and hundreds of videos with it and love it. If there was an "EF" alternative to this, I would have purchased it. There is no comparison to this lens in the "EF" line-up. Only this EF-S lens has a 2.8 aperture, image stabilization, and USM in this zoom range. All those EF lenses like the 24-70, 24-105, etc... are missing one thing or another. I looked into EF lenses first. If you want it all, this is your lens. There is no EF lens that has these features. I use it with a 7D and have had good, solid results. It will let you shoot with a "pro-caliber" lens. It should be an "L" lens and it should come with a hood. I gave it 4 stars at first because it's zoom mechanism was not as smooth as it could have been and it costs more than it should. Since then I have grown to like the zoom ring and the overall performance of the lens made me change to 5 stars. Update after 9 months : I have used this lens a lot in the past 9 months. I could not be any happier. The one issue I was concerned about was dust getting inside. I have not seen a problem with dust. I used a UV filter for about 4 months. I then took it off and still did not see any issue with dust getting inside. I live in a dry dusty area so I would have seen the problem if it were a problem. The IQ of this lens is great! The F/2.8 aperture all the wat through the zoom range has been the best however. Other companies make similar lenses as you might know. One or both of the major companies lenses have zoom mechanisms which turn the opposite of Canon lenses. That would not be easy to get used to...but it might save you some money. I decided to go with Canon because I knew it would be good quality and I am SO glad I did. After 9 months of heavy use I cannot say enough about the lens. From handling to IQ to size and weight it just satisfies me in every way. I also have a 24-105 F/4L I really like. If I could only choose 1 I don't know what I would do. Update 4/21/13 - I have now had this lens for about 3 years. I use it more than any other lens. I have a 24-105 F/4L which I love. The 17-55 wins out for everyday use because it can go so much wider at 17mm and it's constant F/2.8 aperture. I have had no problems with the lens. I kept a filter on for a while because of dust concerns. I have now used it for about 2 years mostly with no UV filter. I have seen no dust problems. The lens is overpriced. I think Canon should drop the price by at least $200 to be competitive with Sigma and Tamron who now have alternatives. With that said, the Canon is still the best option for the best results. Resale will be much better with the Canon should you ever decide to sell. I would highly recommend you buy this lens. With all it's features and resale value you simply can't loose. It's the best all around every day lens for a Canon EF-S mount for almost anything...including video. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2010 by nate42nd
So far works as advertized
Style: Lens Only
Like so many people, I bought this to replace my kit lens. In my case that's the 18-55mm IS associated with the XSI. The main issue I had with that lens was the variable (and small) aperature. I wanted constant 2.8 without sacrificing zoom or IS. That's what you get here. 1. Optical quality. So far, it seems unambiguously better than the 18-55. No surprises there. I don't see any issues with aberrations, though I seldom take photos fully wide open and that's where people tend to see them. 2. Performance. It zooms quickly and quietly and it has full time manual, so you can tweak the zoom after it has zoomed. It's really nice that the focus ring doesn't twist when it focuses. You can keep your hand on it without worrying about interfering with the focusing. It's an excellent design. 3. Weight. It's heavy. There's a huge difference between this and the kit lens. If I were to go on a long walk with my camera, I'd take the kit lens for weight reasons. Besides, outdoors the advantages of this lens are much less. Also this is an expensive lens so I'd never take it somewhere where it might get hurt. 4. Design. The front lens is really close to the front, so watch out for fingerprints. I use a lens hood and it keeps stuff away from the glass. It also cuts down on the ghosting, which apparently this lens is prone to although I haven't experienced it. Like I mentioned, I really just use this lens indoors. The construction has been critisized, but it feels pretty solid to me. It's not metal, but it's heavy, hard plastic. I have used L lenses before and unless you are coming under gun fire I see no need for the metal construction. People have complained of dust inside the lens. I have been using mine frequently for a month or so and I don't have any dust in there at all. That's not much time, so we'll see. The zoom ring is very large. It practically begs you to use the zoom instead of walking back and forth. And the constant F2.8 helps encourage that. Why physically move when you can zoom without losing aperature? 5. Aperature. I think 2.8 is a great aperature for indoors. It's not so wide that the field of view is so narrow that people's noses are out of focus if their eyes are in. It's wide enough that you get a pleasant bokeh and take pictures in pretty low light. It's an excellent width for indoor shots of your kids and stuff. That's what I use it for. When I want crazy bokeh I use my F1.8 prime, which works well for that. That doesn't happen much, though. The difference between F2.8 and what you'd be using in the kit lens is very noticeable. Totally a good thing. 6. Accessories. I don't use any filters, but this lens really deserves a hood. I can't abide the prices canon charges for their hood here, but on ebay you can get a knockoff shipped from Hong Kong for like 1/6 the price. I did, and it's a really sturdy, well-fitting, excellent hood. 7. Image stabilization. I'm in the camp that thinks IS is really important. Shaky hands and all that. The IS doesn't make any noise and it doesn't noticeably drain the battery, so I have it on almost all the time. I haven't really tested it thoroughly to see how well it works, but I assume it works about as well as other lens based IS systems. If so, it works well. So far this lens has lived up to my expectations. The USM is nicer than I expected and everything else is pretty much what people say. It's a great lens. Overpriced, yes, but it's a real winner. As long as you remember it's just a lens and it can't change the quality of your composition and lighting, you won't be disappointed. I wasn't. By the way, if you want something that will magically make your photos way better, get the Canon 430ex II or 580ex II external flash and bounce it, along with a DIY or Fong diffuser. That makes a huge difference. By the way the external flash is kind of necessary with this lens because it sticks out farther, so if you use the onboard lens you will get a shadow in the picture from it, especially if you are using the lens hood. Not a problem with the bounced external flash. If I had to give up this lens or my flash, I'd give up the lens. Get both, though. You won't be disappointed. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2009 by j3kf88sfjj22
Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM
Style: Lens Only
I've now had this lens for more than two months and shot more than 3,000 photos with it. Deciding on the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM lens for my wedding photography business is a no-brainer. Nonetheless, I did full due diligence before choosing to part with over $1000 for the glass. Key Considerations: The purpose of this purchase is to get a professional quality lens for shooting weddings to minimize the number of lens swaps I currently have to make today. Durability. Shooting weddings is not quite the same as a photojournalist going into combat. Nonetheless, equipment takes a beating from constant packing and unpacking, bouncing around in the back of cars, being rained upon, getting knocked and jostled as we move about, and being occasionally dropped. Our gear must hold up or we will discover the false economy of buying equipment twice. Weight. Wedding days are marathons for photographers that can last 8-10 hours without much opportunity for a break. That's not much fun when you have 7lbs hanging from your neck all day and evening long. It's exhausting. This is especially important for people with bad backs, knees or ankles. So I try to keep our equipment as light as possible without sacrificing quality. Low-light performance. One of the great challenges of wedding photography is working in bad light. Some chapels or officiates prohibit the use of flashes during the ceremony. And receptions are often at night and are in dark halls. In order to capture the action throughout, we need lenses that can perform well in low light. For me, this means a fixed maximum aperture of f/2.8 or faster. Angle of view. In the past I have used 24-105mm lenses with my 135 film cameras. I consider this focal range ideal for general people photography; 24mm is wide enough for indoor use and group shots without introducing too much distortion and 105mm is fantastic for beautiful portraiture. Our Canon camera bodies have APS-C sensors that are smaller than 35mm film, which reduces the effective angle of view of each image recorded. Placing a 24-105mm lens in front of an APS-C sensor narrows the angle of view by a factor of 1.6, making it the equivalent angle as a 38-168mm lens in front of a 35mm film or full frame digital sensor camera. 38mm on the wide end is simply not wide enough for general wedding work. In order to approximate on an APS-C sensor the angle of view that the 24-105mm lens on a 35mm body provides we multiply the lens size by 0.625, resulting in a lens that is 15-66mm. Options: There are no lenses that are precisely that size. Some L-series glass that are close include: * EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II * EF 17-40mm f/4L * EF 20-35mm f/2.8L * EF 24-70mm f/2.8L * EF 24-105mm f/4L I'm not happy with any of these for use on an APS-C body. The 16-35mm is too short on the long end for portrait work. The 17-40mm is too dark and too short on the long end. The 20-35mm is too narrow a zoom range for all-purpose work (i.e. too narrow on the wide end and too short on the long end). The 24-70mm doesn't get wide enough. Likewise the 24-105mm, which is also darker than I want. EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM I had intended to buy only Canon L-series lenses, but Canon doesn't make an L-series lens optimized for APS-C digital sensor cameras. Yet Canon currently makes only two cameras that feature full-size digital sensors, the 5D Mk II ($2400, 2.5 lbs w/battery grip) and the 1Ds Mk III ($7000, 2.5 lbs.). The rest of their cameras are APS-H (1D Mk IV) or APS-C, including the Rebel models, 60D, and excellent 7D bodies. Angle of view. For those of us that shoot with Canon APS-C bodies, the 17-55mm promises to be the best general purpose standard zoom lens for wedding photographers due to its low-light performance and exceptional sharpness. It is lighter than the L-series lenses but its construction, while solid, is not as bomb proof. 55mm does not reach as far as I would like on the long end (i.e. 66mm), but it is an acceptable compromise to make to preserve the fast maximum aperture. Image stabilization. IS for a lens in this category is a thing of debate. Conventional wisdom among many is that it is unnecessary for a lens this wide. On the other hand, many reviews place the sharpness of this lens on par with or ahead of the world class lenses in this category so it seems to be good for something. Besides, I don't always have the steadiest hands, so I welcome the technological assist. The 17-55mm's IS is a single mode system that does not allow for panning while IS is engaged. Optics. Contributing to the 17-55mm's image quality is the use of three aspherical lens elements and a Super-UD glass element, the kind of glass that is normally only found in L-series lenses. It features internal focusing, coatings to control flare, and a circular aperture diaphragm for buttery beautiful bokeh. What others are saying about this lens: * LensPlay ranks the lens 9th best among all EOS compatible lenses, averaging 9.3 (on a 10 point scale) from 480 user ratings. * Bryan Carnathan at The-Digital-Picture.com writes: "This lens is sharp! Wide open and from edge to edge... I expected its image quality to match or nearly match that of Canon's L Series Lenses as it shares the L-Series UD lens elements. As it turns out, my 17-55 matches or exceeds the optical performance of my L-Series zooms in the similar focal length range... [this] lens is an ideal lens to include in your kit [for] weddings, events, parties, family activities, portraits, etc..." * Gordon Laing at Camera Labs writes, "When you also take the 17-55mm's Image Stabilization facilities into account, you've got a lens which can perform relative miracles under poor light... If you're seriously into portraits or low light work though, the Canon EF-S 17-55mm will delight." * Canonlensreview.com "How does the Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM lens compare to L-Series lenses? You will find out that the Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM lens will either meet or beat the similar range L-Series zoom lenses. In many cases the image quality was better with this lens. It is extremely sharp, very fast and equipped with the image stabilizer function making the Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM lens a force to be reckoned with... The Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM lens will meet and beat the standard zoom L-Series lenses." * SLRGear.com "This would be the lens for a shooter interested in top-notch optical quality and low-light shooting." What's Not So Hot Of course there are some complaints about this lens as well. Fortunate these are few and far between. Dust. Far and away the most frequent complaint about this lens is that it tends to suck dust into it when you are zooming in and out. However, I have not read any reviews that implicate this dust in degrading image quality. Also, there is a simple preventative measure to keep the dust out: use a filter. Apparently the dust finds its way into the lens around the front glass element. Screwing a filter onto the end completes the dust sealing. The folks that do so report no dust problem. Since I always use a lens protector filter, this is not a problem for me. Zoom Ring. I've read a couple of reviews that claim that the zoom ring does not turn as smoothly as do L-series zoom lenses. I've read this complaint more than once but not more than twice, so perhaps these are isolated cases. Or maybe the reviewers had unrealistic expectations. I find the zoom and focus rings to be adequately smooth. Incompatibility. Finally, some folks have complained that they cannot use this lens on their full frame bodies. If we had full frame bodies we'd be buying the excellent EF 24-70mm f/2.8L without hesitation, so I don't understand this complaint. Final Thoughts In the last two months I've used this lens to cover weddings, family portrait sessions, concerts, music competitions, and a convention. This lens has been a joy every step of the way. This lens devours light and is as sharp or is sharper than any L-series lens I have seen. The auto focus is brilliantly fast and quiet. I didn't think that with f/2.8 on an APS-C sensor that I would be able to get such shallow DOF. At the last wedding I shot I didn't swap lenses even once (I keep a longer lens on another body). The IS motors create enough noise that you can hear it when it is really really quiet but it isn't loud enough to be distracting. Contrary to conventional wisdom, IS really does help sharpen things up with wide-angle lenses. My only wish is that it was weather sealed for use in direct rain. The EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM is unequalled (including Canon L-series, Nikkor, or 3rd party) as the ideal general-purpose standard zoom lens for rapidly changing low-light shooting such as weddings for APS-C shooters. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2011 by Bill
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