Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras
by Canon
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras
Customer Review: Superb (but pricey) walkaround lens
Summary: 5 Stars
I agonized over this lens vs. the 17-40 F/4 L. I've only had it a few hours but I will tell you it is superb. The image quality is very sharp (a little less so at f/2.8) and colors and contrast are great. USM performs exactly as expected. This is my first IS lens and I'm already impressed.
If you're also deciding between this and the 17-40, let me share why I picked this.
1. Longer range - The extra 15mm does come in handy.
2. Faster - I try to shoot available light and f/2.8 increases the odds that I can. It also allows me to shoot crisper images of my two very busy little ones.
3. IS - I've heard only good things and I really wanted to try it.
4. Optical quality - Check out photozone.de. Optically sharper in the center AND edges than the 17-40. Some vignetting but not a big deal for the work I do.
Two last points. Yes, it's expensive for a non-L lens. You'll get over that as soon as you see your pictures. The build quality is sturdy enough (solid, no wobbles) and it's got a great set of features (IS, f/2.8, longer range). As for EF-S not working with full-frame, here's my view: I'm not a pro, I don't support my family with my pictures. I have an XTi, and if the day comes when I can afford $3K for a 5D (or higher), I'm probably not going to be worried about another $1K for some new lenses.
Buy it and enjoy it.
Customer Review: Great bang for the buck, even at this price!
Summary: 5 Stars
I just bought my first digital SLR a few weeks ago and chose this as my "walk-around" lens. It took me only one day of shooting to get over the sticker shock: The casual test shots I took were absolutely tack-sharp, and the lens was extremely responsive with both a Canon 40D EOS and a Rebel XSi. I was drawn to this lens for its focal range, since I shoot mostly landscapes, architecture, and portraits. It serves beautifully for all three -- and still lets you get close enough to your subjects to take some macro-like shots. As you'd expect, it performs well in low-light situations, and the nice, wide aperture blurs the background beautifully in portraits. I've been pleasantly surprised at this lens' excellent depth of field, too, and by its superb responsiveness for "action" shots. The image stabilization works well, though at the smallest apertures (f/22) it may still not be enough to compensate for camera shake, depending on the shutter speed. The only complaint I have (and this is just a minor annoyance) is that the barrel sticks a bit when zooming between the 28 mm and 20 mm focal ranges. At first I thought my lens was defective, but I tried a couple of other lenses at the local shop and found the all behaved the same. It's loosened up a bit with use, so I hold out hope this'll disappear over time. All told, I'm extremely happy with my purchase and would buy this lens again in a heartbeat.Customer Review: The ultimate all purpose lens for a 1.6x crop canon
Summary: 5 Stars
Photography is one of my avocations and I truly enjoy taking a beautiful image. I have to say that without a doubt, this lens is the ultimate all purpose lens for a 1.6x crop body Canon. The image quality is stunning - I have many portraits that look as if they can go into a professional level magazine. It's simply amazing how razor sharp the images are! The image stabilization, quick focus, and the ease of use are indicative of the sheer quality of this lens. Now I'm not partial to Canon. The only reason I own one over a Nikon is because I got a good deal on a used 20D on craigslist. However, until Nikon puts out a similar caliber lens (i.e. a 2.8 standard zoom WITH image stabilization a.k.a. vibration reduction) there is simply no competition between these two imaging competitors in this price point and focal range. In fact, I have personally tested both lenses (canon 2.8 17-55mm IS on my 20D and the Nikon 2.8 17-55mm on a 80D) and the Nikon lacks - you WILL miss the image stabilization! Who cares if the Nikon is built like a tank, the Canon is reasonably sturdy and unless you're super hard on your lens it should hold up fine. I'm sure in the future this lens will be outdated once full frame digital SLRs become more affordable and a similar focal range is offered with IS, but until then do yourself a favor and capture some stunning images with this phenomenal lens!Customer Review: excellent lens for a 1.6x crop
Summary: 5 Stars
I considered this and the 24-70 2.8L lens. This just makes more sense for me since I'm pretty committed to my Canon Digital Rebel XTI. If/when I upgrade to a full frame camera, I'll be able to sell this particular lens at a very small loss and upgrade-- but for the time being it's the IMAGE STABILIZATION that really makes a big difference. The advantage is worth it since I can make shots I wouldn't have been able to otherwise in lower light situations.
Also, with a 1.6 crop the 17mm wide angle is an excellent bonus since it translates into an effective wide angle lens. 24mm on a 1.6 crop is still not wide enough for some photos.
Image quality has been fantastic, rivaling that of my 70-200mm 2.8L IS lens. Sharp wide open, but with some noticeable vignetting on the 17mm end. I don't mind the effect and it can be removed easily as well.
Note that this is a significantly larger lens than the 18-55mm kit lens or a 50mm 1.4f prime... it will be more intimidating for street photography and contributes to a "pro" look which may not necessarily be what you want depending on what you're photographing. Add a lens hood for maximum intimidation factor. =)
I was surprised at the size when I opened it, but quickly got used to shooting with this larger zoom. Once you see the photos, you won't care how large the lens is.
Customer Review: Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a fantastic lens. The build quality is very good - the only noticeable difference between this and an L is the lack of a red ring and weather/dust proofing. It's not quite up to my 70-200 f/2.8L, but what is? I have only 1 concern and 2 complaints about the lens. The concern is that it is an EF-S and not an EF. It's a not-insignificant investment for most people and will not work on full frame cameras. On a personal level, I'm not convinced that this will ever be an issue for me (especially with the 50D coming) as I won't by a SLR camera (which there was a true Canon equivalent to the Nikon D700) that doesn't have a pop-up flash, which I find very convenient for fill flash and saves me the effort of having to carry a separate flash unit all the time. The complaints are the lack of a lens hood and case in this price range. IMHO, this is inexcusable. However, the reality is, there is no other equivalent lens in the Canon family. I gave up waiting for an L (and thus an EF mount) version - and I don't regret it. The images are beautiful and it is the perfect complement to the 70-200. Additionally, with the huge installed EF-S base, the mount isn't going anywhere; which will preserve resale value if I ever do trade up to a full frame body. Go ahead and live a little. This lens is worth the splurge.