Canon EF-S 17-55mm lens
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| Nice bit o' kit - au revoir 02/08/2010 I was very happy with this lens from the day I received it, even though the outrageously expensive lens hood was not included (it's a Canon thing). The 3 negatives are (1) its tendancy to suck dust in (2) L standard optics without the cachet of the red ring (3) the price. The focal lengths covered are pretty much the equivalent of the 28-80 type zooms on a full frame. Picture quality rather good (beware the British understatement). Is it worth it? If you have the money then yes. It knocks spots off the kit lens and others of similar ilk. Mine is now bound for the 'pre-loved' market as I can't fit short back-focus lenses on my wonderful new toy (5D mkII). By R. Hill UK | ||||||
| great Lens just a bit pricey new 15/06/2010 Great all round zoom, the combination of IS and a fast aperture at all focal lengths mean this is an amazing lens. My go to lens for most situations. I use a 40D and a 70-200 F4L Optically Im not sure it is as good as an L series, but Bokeh is nice and the IS is invaluable for low light work By Jez Sullivan England | ||||||
| Sharp, fast and ultra reliable 22/04/2010 I love this lens! In a nutshell it feels top quality (would you expect less from Canon), it handles nicely - nice wide zoom ring, and well placed focusing ring and all the buttons are intuitively placed. The picture quality is superb - it's super quick focusing and top build quality make it incredibly sharp even wide open (NOT as sharp as the 24-70L as some reviews would have you believe though). I am a wedding photographer and have read other reviews which describe it as the 'perfect wedding zoom' and I'd agree. At the 17mm end it's wide enough for impactful wide shots of inside churches and venues, or larger groups, and the 55mm end is perfect for closer shots, details and nice tight crops. (I also use the 70-200, and I don't find that I 'miss' the 55-70mm range) I use this lens on a 40D and a 50D. The only reason I've not given it five stars is that it's not supplied with a case or a lens hood. You have to buy these separately taking it closer to the price of the 24-70L but the 24mm end of that lens isn't wide enough on an APS-C camera in my opinion. By A. Johnson Manchester, UK | ||||||
| Amazon description incorrect 16/02/2010 This is indeed a great lens. However, just wanted to point out that Amazon's product description is incorrect. Under 'Box Contents' it states that a lens hood and a lens case is included with the lens; this is not the case. Both lens case and hood have to be purchased separately. By Scarfex 1 Old London Town, Blighty | ||||||
| Canon EF-S 17-55 f2.8 IS USM lens - Best in the Range? 06/02/2010 Is this the best in the EF-S range of Canon lenses? Perhaps, but it's certainly the most expensive! Add on the cost of a pouch, hood and filter, and you're being asked to pay a huge amount for a non-L class lens. Crop-sensor DSLR owners are served pretty badly by the L class at this zoom range. The only choice I suppose is the 17-40 L USM. This offers a smaller aperture & zoom range and doesn't have IS. If you can overcome the price barrier, and your desire for an L range lens, you will be the proud owner of a superb lens for your crop-sensor DSLR. Read any book on DSLR cameras, and you will find that crop-sensor cameras require higher quality lenses than full sensor or film cameras because of a parameter called circle of confusion. The EF-S range lenses are designed specifically for their crop-sensor cameras, and won't work with full sensor cameras. That isn't a problem for me - I'm unlikely to upgrade as I find those cameras too heavy and bulky. They won't work on my now elderly film SLR either! That body is now permanently attached to an EF 28-135 IS lens, where the comparatively poor optics of the lens don't show up as much. The 17-55 lens is heavy - that's down to the glass for the large aperture - but balances nicely on my 500 DSLR. Build quality isn't L class, so it isn't weatherproofed. Nor is my DSLR, so I avoid taking photos in the rain. Lots of reviews complain of dust collection, but I haven't had the lens long enough to comment. I can say that I've used similar construction EF lenses for many years without any problem. Treated with reasonable care, this lens should give many years service, almost certainly outlasting your camera body. What you are paying for is lens performance, and this is delivered in spades. Zoom range is the usual 27-88 in film terms, ideal for landscapes, group photos, portraits etc. The wide aperture and IS are great for low light photography, and auto focus is fast and accurate. Technical reviews claim an L class performance for this lens. I'm not into lens testing, but images are so good they can be cropped quite severely (in effect increasing the zoom range) and still give high quality prints. Best in Range? Perhaps not for you. If you don't need the f2.8 constant aperture, the newer EF-S 15-85 IS could be a better choice. I have no hands on experience of this lens, but it obviously gives a wider zoom range and technical reviews claim it has a very good performance. All in a slightly smaller, lighter and cheaper package. I might yet be tempted - it's on my Amazon Wish List! By John W. Thompson England | ||||||
