Product ReviewsCanon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 AF IS USM Lens

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...

Good product!Fast shipping!

et me show you 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.Read full review...

Great optical quality from this lens!

I purchased this lens because I had the Canon EF 24-105mm f4 IS USM, and it just wasn't quite fast enough in some low-light situations that I'd been in recently during weddings. I needed the fast aperture as well as IS. I had read a lot of good things about the 17-55, so decided to pursue it.

Let me first say that I loved the 24-105mm. If it were not for the difference between f4 and f2.8, I would have definitely stuck with it. It took awesome photos, the range on it was awesome, and it was very solid in terms of build and feel. If it will meet your needs, I would highly recommend it.

Back to the 17-55:

Pros
-Great image quality
-Very usable at f/2.8 and produces great bokeh for a zoom
-Relatively light
-Focus and zoom rings are smooth
-Overall, a great performer and I can recommend it

Cons
-The build; I guess I was spoiled by L lenses (also had a 70-200mm), but the 17-55mm is very plastic-y and definitely not as solid as the L lenses I've owned. It is still superior to kit lenses, but definitely not "L" material (although I supposed if it was, and it had the nice red ring around the barrel, it would be much more expensive).
-Dust easily gets into the barrel - the zoom acts as a vacuum, and there's been quite a bit of dust that's accumulated. I haven't seen this affect any images yet.

All-in-all I would highly recommend this lens, although do not expect it to feel or handle like an L lens.Read full review...

This is the swiss armyknife for 1.6 crop canon (rebels)

Google and read the pro reviews if you want details and samples on how this is better than the kit lense. I am not a pro but it is well worth the money to have this range (17-55)--and the image stabilization (3 stop) is ridiculous--great for baby pics, walkaround lense. Images are sharp, it's quick and you can do a lot of no flash shots indoors with low/medium light. The background blur is great. I have this lense the 50 f/1.8 and 85 f1.8 and 28-135 f3.5-5.6 IS. This 17-55 2.8IS will be on most of the time

Bad--it is big but if you are lugging around a DSLR you aren't exactly pocketing it anyway. If you upgrade to full frame you can't use this lense (EF-s) but it works on rebels XT/XTI/XSI and EOS 30/40/50.

My recommendation is to save your money and buy this lense first then determine what you need next. I bought the cheaper ones which are not bad but not nearly as useful. The primes are great but you are not going to get a shot 1-2 feet away.Read full review...

Sweet piece of kit on the cheap

I use this lense on a C100 MkII. My primary use is for Club soccer matches. The auto focus and crisp clear image is exactly what I was looking for. I normally use it in the 28-40mm focal range.
>KevinRead full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: chocky592

Great upgrade from the Canon Rebel kit lens

Super sharp images compared to the kit lens the Canon Rebel series cameras come with. The AF is fast, accurate and very quiet (not silent however). The manual focus ring is well placed, and wide enough to get a hold of easily. I like the fact that when you zoom and focus, the lens barrel doesn't rotate so my polarizer, or graduated filters don't need to be readjusted - and the f2.8 aperture is super helpful in low light situations. Also being a fixed aperture lens, you don't need to change your exposure settings when you zoom in and out with it like all my other zoom lenses. All this goodness comes at a cost - its bigger and heavier than the standard kit lens, but it's worth the trade-off in my opinion. Read full review...

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

Amazing complement for a crop sensor camera, LOVE IT IN MY CANON 7D

Excellent for crop-sensor cameras, cristal clear pictures means less time editing. I believe in getting it in camera right instead of making something up in photo shop. This lens is fast, good quality, silent, etc. If you thinking on moving up to a full sensor camera don't buy it...it wont work. For my Canon 7D this is the perfect compliment!Read full review...

nice lens for my 7d II camera

took it out for nature walk using 7d II - worked well. switched to a SL1 worked fine but was a little heavy for the SL1.
if you see on for a good price buy it.

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

Responses to the questions...

1).Is is durable? I realize it is an older lens. Just moving the camera when walking moves the lens from 17mm position loosely to another position. It doesn’t seem to hold its axis stable. 2).Is the image sharp? So far in just a short few pictures I’ve taken outside, they seem to be ok. I guess I was expecting a bit more than what I have headed from the reviews. 3). Is it a good value? Canon lenses (even older ones) tend to be pricy. Do value is subjective. However, it is in the average price range as to expect others selling/buying.

The noises of the lens (sounds like internal noise, mild grinding noise of the IS and/or AF...(which I have heard from other owners of these issues).

The shipping was in great packing and well protected. Delivery Time was on time.

Overall at the moment a ‘4’ star. Weak axis knocks down the star. I may learn to love it after more time to shoot.Read full review...

Product Reviews Images

Product Reviews Images

  Product Reviews Images

Previous Image

• 
• 

Next Image

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: dev-g1jreav5

Great Lens

I have used this lens for indoor sports events at our high school and it's takes a great picture with no flash. Moving objects are no longer blurred. It is a bit larger and bulkier, but worth the money.Read full review...

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