Product Reviews(Open Box) Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 AF IS USM Zoom Lens #3

This is a great all-around lens.

If you want to upgrade to something better than the stock lens, this is a great buy. Its pricey, because it's a 2.8, and while not an "L" Series lens, it still offers superb image quality within the standard focal length. I use it for long trips and generally for everything else, especially in the winter months when the lighting gets less than ideal. The motor is fast for focusing, and it seldom has any focus errors (i.e. focusing on the wrong point). I do believe it works better with the T6i than the T5, but its so much more responsive, than the kit lens. And it's got the lower focal length that the 28-135 doesn't, so you don't have to back up when your in too close. Amazingly enough this one is nearly similar to the 16-35mm IS II. I've owned both, and I kept this one, as paying 1300 for the same focal length with just a slightly faster focusing, doesn't really make a whole lot of sense, as their both 2.8's. Your really not going to be disappointed with this lens, over the 16-35mm costing 2.5x times as much.Read full review...

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM - An Excellent Lens

I am now the third owner of my copy, and it doesn't seem to be any worse for wear for it. But then again most camera buffs take pretty good care of their equipment. My copy, perhaps just lucky me, also does not seem to exhibit the dreaded dust sucking problem that it has been reputed to have. I see no dust specks under the front element.

I upgraded to this from the 17-85mm IS f4-5.6, which is a nice lens in its own right. I am glad I did for a number of reasons:
- its constant f2.8 is great for low light and bokeh
- my 40D body shifts its center cross-type autofocus point to a higher accuracy mode with f2.8 (or faster) lenses
- it's sharp wide open, and is razor sharp at f4
- images taken with it have more "pop" (i.e. contrast and colour) compared to the 17-85mm, which is typical of L glass
- its barrel distortion at 17mm is significantly better than the 17-85mm (of course you can use DPP in post processing to further reduce)
- it can directly share the 77mm C-PL, ND4, and ND8 filters I already have
- it feels a bit sturdier than 17-85mm did
- it maintains it's value very well, and the demand is high for it in the secondary market

So it's all good, but there are some (minor) niggles:
- it maintains it's value very well, which means I paid a lot for it which I wouldn't mind so much if ...
- ... and it's the same old complaint: for that kind of money you don't get either the L build or a hood (although admittedly I was lucky the additional EW-83J hood was included in my purchase from the previous owner)
- it is big in comparison to the 17-85mm, but it is well balanced on my 40D
- I mourn the loss of the 30mm of extra reach the 17-85mm had (but I have a 85mm f1.8 and a 70-200mm f2.8 in my kit to take care of that)

In summary the lens is great as a walkaround or for indoors, and you won't be disappointed if you get it. It's considered by many, including myself, to be the best single Canon EF-S lens to date for IQ. I had briefly considered the 24-105mm f4L instead, but felt that not having the wide end was a show stopper for my walkaround needs even though I also own a 10-22mm. The 24-105mm is a perfect range on a FF body though.

Some would advise against buying this lens, or any other EF-S for that matter, because if you ever upgrade to FF you will need to ditch it. That is true, but if that time comes for you, you will have a lineup of buyers ready to take it off your hands without you losing very much from what you paid for it. Canon's 1.6x crop lineup is going to be around for a very long time.Read full review...

Outstanding all around lens

I started with a Sigma 17-70 F2.8-4 lens and thought it took good shots. However, after using on vacation for 10 days, I found that I had many shots that simply were not sharp, so when I returned home, the Sigma was also returned. However, I was sold on the utility of a walkaround lens in that range.

After doing quite a bit of research, it became clear that the Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS lens was loved by everyone that reviewed it and used it. After I read a review that showed it consistently delivers sharpness equal to or better than most primes, I made the leap.

I have to tell you, this lens exceeded my expectations. The only reason I cannot get a sharp image is due to my own failing, not this lens. I can use it wide open and not have to worry about soft edges or other issues often noted when you use lesser lenses at their max aperture. Focus is fast and dead on and while the IS isn't quite as good as my 70-200, it is still terrific. Don't let anyone tell you you don't need IS with wider lenses, you do - at least with Canon's IS.

This is indeed my walkaround lens - great for landscapes and almost every other task not requiring a longer lens. The only reason to go to a prime is for a faster lens - for that, I have my eye on the Sigma 30mm f1.4.

Don't do what I tried to do and settle for less, especially if you have made the investment in a good camera (I have the 7D). Spend the money on a few good Canon lenses - especially zooms, and use Sigma/Tamron for primes and macros where they seem to do quite well.Read full review...

Simply The Best

The 'L-class' APS-C Lens

Feel confidence to know for sure that your pictures are the best

The best wide zoom lens ever for APS-C. With a high price of course but there is a good reason. This is an L-class quality lens, it shares the L-series UD lens elements (L is for Luxury, Canon's top-of-the-line lenses). It’s not designated L because is not full-frame compatible. EF-S is designed only for ASP-C cameras. That said, the price is not so bad after all. There are other lenses from Canon that cover these focal lengths range but does not compare with this one.

This lens has high build quality, superb image quality and great feature set with striking optical performance. You fall in love at first sight. The f2.8 aperture through the entire focal length range from 17mm to 55mm is fast enough to stop action easily. Because of the Ring USM (UltraSonic Motor) it focus very quiet and very fast, also very sharp wide open from edge to edge.

The wide aperture of f2.8 for the entire focal length is an unmatched and significant advantage: more light in. The very shallow depth of field is amazing for Bokeh (blur the background). Shoot indoors with low lighting; capture action fast. Can be used for everything from a wide scenic landscape to portraits, single or group. Not to mention Architecture, buildings, and streets, noteworthy for taking gorgeous scenic photos.

Superb Image Stabilization (IS), an outstanding essential feature that allows you to take remarkably stunning pictures without the assistance of a tripod, handheld photography is most of what I do. This lens is extraordinary at that. I love it.

A very significant feature is the FTM (Full Time Manual) focusing. This is the ability to manually focus when the lens is set to Auto Focus (AF), also avoiding damage, no need to move a switch. Now if you require the lens not to auto focus, just set the switch to Manual (MF).

This is the lens I use the most. If you’re into DSLRs maximum quality pictures, look no farther, the Luxury-Class Canon EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM, it’s your answer. I recommend this lens because I love it, when you look at pictures taken with this lens you know, with confidence and satisfaction, that other pictures out there may be good, but better, no.Read full review...

An "L" lens by any other name!

This truly is a Canon "L" quality lens minus the packaging. The optical quality is certainly up to par with Canon's "L" lenses, but the case build and weatherproofing are not. That's not to say that there is anything wrong with the build, it's typical Canon, which is the highest quality. This lens is:
1) Quick: It focuses quickly and accurately in all types of lighting.
2) Sharp: From fully stopped to fully open. I've read some reports of it being slightly soft at the edges when fully opened, but have not seen it for myself.
3) Lovely Bokeh: Absolutely beautiful, soft bokeh.
4) Smooth: Focus ring and zoom both easy to reach and use and also very smooth.
5) Fast: F 2.8 throughout the entire range of zoom.
6) Spendy, but well worth the money. If you have a good dslr, do yourself a favor and buy good glass for it or you'll be disappointed in the performance. Lens and cameras are like sound systems and speakers. It doesn't matter how good your amplifier is if you buy cheap speakers and it won't matter how good your camera body is if you outfit it with cheap glass.
One of the most useful "walk around" lenses in my opinion, with an effective range of 27mm-88mm on a 1.6 crop apsc sensor. The wide is perfect for panoramic views and the zoom is just enough for portraits. Canon's 28mm-270mm F3.5-5.6 L lens is my second lens and is the perfect accompaniment for this lens.Read full review...

Happy client

Delivery if the lens had me on tenter hooks, but eventually the parcel made it's way to my door. Luckily it was tracked; otherwise I'd have given up a month ago.

Enough about logistics. It is a great lens. I've played around with it a bit and saw it is sharp enough to catch decent sharp images of my 3 year old playing with the camera. The only point worth noting; at wide openings the camera's in-built flash (77D) throws shadows on the photo due to the large lens diameter. An external flash solved this at wide angles. At longer focus lengths the in-built flash gave no shadows. Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: tlx1601

Best Lens for an APS-C Canon

With it's effective 27-88mm range, this lens is the perfect high quality glass for general use.
If you're doing portraits or landscape, you're probably using a FF camera and L glass but for travel, family events, as a backup at a wedding or close photos at a school ball game, this is a great lens.
Image stability, fast f/2.8 throughout the range, excellent image quality, fast and silent focusing make this one of the best non-L lenses out there.
A perfect match for a Canon 7D, 10D to 60D. A bit heavy and overbearing for a Rebel but it will do the job.Read full review...

Versatile and Sharp

The Canon EF-S 17-55mm lens is a very nice fast lens. I've shot a lot of candid performance still images and video and a wedding reception/dance in difficult and varying lighting and this lens has performed remarkably well. With a Canon 7D Mii in servo focus mode it works very well.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: zaks24hr

Fantastic!

Great lens, super sharp with great contrast all the way down to f/2.8. This lens is as close to an 'L' series lens as you can get. Only things I don't like is that the autofocus is too loud for video and the lens gets dust behind the front element but I can manually focus the video and the dust is not noticeable in photos.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: robertscamera

Best wide angle zoom for crop camera!

Takes fantastic "L" quality shots. I can finally get wide shots up close. The only downside is the build quality. It isn't top of the line for ruggedness. I've heard that dust can get I side the lens, but I haven't had any issues myself. Overall I'm extremely happy with this lens. The best wide angle zoom for a crop camera. The 17-40L is a little cheaper and built better, but is only f4, and the 16-35L is way too expensive. I highly recommend this lens if you have no plans on upgrading to a full frame.Read full review...