Canon EF-S 17–55mm lens

EF-S 17–55mm f/2.8 IS USM
Technical data

Maker	Canon
Type	Zoom
Focal length	17–55mm
Focal length (35mm equiv.)	27–88mm
Crop factor	1.6
Aperture (max/min)	f/2.8 / f/22
Close focus distance	0.35 m (1.15 ft)
Max. magnification	0.17 @ 55mm
Diaphragm blades	7
Construction	19 elements / 12 groups
Features
Short back focus	Yes
Ultrasonic motor	Yes
Lens-based stabilization	Yes
Macro capable	No
Application	Fast Standard Zoom
Physical
Max. length	110.6 mm (4.4 in)
Diameter	83.5 mm (3.3 in)
Weight	645 g
Filter diameter	77 mm
Accessories
Lens hood	EW-83J, optional
Case	LP1219, optional
Angle of view
Horizontal	68°40'–23°20'
Vertical	48°–15°40'
Diagonal	78°30'–27°50'
History
Introduction	2006
Retail info
MSRP	$1,179 USD

The Canon EF-S 17–55mm f/2.8 IS USM is a standard zoom lens for Canon digital single-lens reflex cameras with an EF-S lens mount. The field of view has a 35 mm equivalent focal length of 27–88mm.

Reception

Praise

It is praised as "one of the best general/multi-purpose lenses available",^[1]^[2] and ideal for available light photography on a Canon APS-C camera.^[3]

The fast f/2.8 aperture, combined with 3-stop Image Stabilization, makes the 17–55 very useful in low light compared to an un-stabilized f/3.5–5.6 Canon EF-S 18–55mm lens, which is a frequent kit lens, and thus the 17–55 is much more suited for hand-holding and available light photography. Newer versions of the 18–55 kit lens include 4-stop Image Stabilization, but remain slower aperture, partly addressing this concern.

Criticism

This lens has been criticized by one review as prone to flare when used without a hood,^[2] and especially with low-quality photographic filters.

The 17–55 suffers from vignetting at f/2.8 of 0.5–1 EV throughout the focal range,^[3]^[4] though current Canon bodies are able to correct this by storing the vignetting data within the camera memory.

Chromatic aberration is a relative weakness at the wide end (at the edges and corners),^[3] but is quite low for a zoom lens in this range.^[4] Barrel distortion is evident at the wide end.^[4]

Some users have reported dust gathering inside the lens.^[2]

Quality

The 17–55mm is not an L-series lens, but it has two UD (ultra-low dispersion) lens elements, which are largely reserved for L-series lenses, and some say that the 17–55 has comparable image quality to L-series lenses.^[2]^[4] Some regard the decision to not designate the lens as L-class as marketing-driven,^[4] but being EF-S it will not fit on a full-frame body—therefore, at least under current Canon marketing strategy, cannot be labeled L-series.

"The resolution figures are among the very best seen so far for an APS-C standard zoom lens."^[4]

The build quality is inferior to L-series lenses (plastic body, not magnesium alloy), though superior to the EF-S 17–85mm lens.

Similar lenses

Unlike most other EF-S lenses, the 17–55mm does not have a direct equivalent in the range of traditional EF lenses. As a general purpose EF-S zoom lens, the alternatives to the 17–55mm are the EF-S 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6, which is a cheaper kit lens; the EF-S 17–85mm f/4–5.6 IS USM, which is midway between the 18–55mm and 17–55mm in some respects — depending on which version of the 18–55 one is comparing — and boasts a longer telephoto end; and the newer EF-S 15–85mm f/3.5–5.6 IS USM, which has similar build quality to the 17–55mm and the largest focal length range of the group.

The 17–55 is at times compared to the EF 17–40mm f/4L USM, which has similar image quality (despite the latter being L series and the 17–55 not being so designated), though the 17–55's faster aperture and IS make it more suited (by one stop) for hand-holding and available light photography. Also, it can be compared to the three Canon EF 24–70 mm L lenses. Two of the 24–70 lenses have the same f/2.8 maximum aperture as the 17–55, but no image stabilization; the newest 24–70 has a maximum f/4 aperture but adds stabilization. When mounted on their equivalent cameras (full-frame for the 24–70, and crop for the 17–55), the two lenses have similar focal lengths. The IS system of the 17–55 gives that lens an advantage over the 24–70 f/2.8 in lower light by reducing the amount of camera shake. The 17–55 and the 24–70 f/4 are both stabilized, but the 17–55 has a one-stop advantage over that version of the 24–70.

The EF 28–90mm, though having corresponding full-frame equivalent focal length, is an inexpensive kit lens and is not comparable to the 17–55mm, having slower aperture, a variable maximum aperture, lower image quality, and no image stabilization.

Notes and references

↑ Greenspun, Philip. "Canon EF-S 17-55/2.8 IS USM Review". photo.net. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
1 2 3 4 Carnathan, Bryan. "Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens Review". The-Digital-Picture.com. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
1 2 3 "Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM". SLRgear.com. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
1 2 3 4 5 6 "Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 USM IS – Test Report / Review". photozone. Retrieved 25 February 2008.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Canon EF-S 17-55mm F2.8 IS USM.

Canon EF/EF-S/EF-M lenses

EF-S zoom	EF-S 10–18mm EF-S 10–22mm EF-S 15–85mm EF-S 17–55mm EF-S 17–85mm EF-S 18–55mm EF-S 18–135mm EF-S 18–200mm EF-S 55–250mm

Ultra-wide zoom	EF 11–24mm EF 16–35mm EF 17–40mm

Standard zoom	EF 24–70mm EF 24–105mm EF 28–135mm EF 28–300mm

Telephoto zoom	EF 70–200mm EF 70–300mm EF 75–300mm EF 100–400mm EF 200–400mm

Wide-angle prime	EF 14mm EF 20mm EF 24mm EF-S 24mm EF 28mm EF 35mm

Standard prime	EF 40mm EF 50mm

Telephoto prime	EF 85mm EF 100mm EF 135mm EF 200mm

Super telephoto prime	EF 300mm EF 400mm EF 500mm EF 600mm EF 800mm

Distorting lens	EF 8–15mm Fisheye

Tilt-shift	TS-E 17mm TS-E 24mm TS-E 45mm TS-E 90mm

Macro	EF-M 28mm Macro EF 50mm Compact Macro EF-S 60mm Macro MP-E 65mm 1–5x Macro EF 100mm Macro EF 180mm Macro

EF-M zoom	EF-M 11–22mm EF-M 15–45mm EF-M 18–55mm EF-M 18–150mm EF-M 55–200mm

EF-M prime	EF-M 22mm EF-M 28mm Macro

Lens accessories	Extender EF

Discontinued zoom	EF 17–35mm EF 20–35mm EF 22–55mm EF 24–85mm EF 28–70mm EF 28–80mm EF 28–90mm EF 28–105mm EF 28–200mm EF 35–70mm EF 35–80mm EF 35–105mm EF 35-135mm EF 35–350mm EF 38–76mm EF 50–200mm EF 55–200mm EF 70–210mm EF 80–200mm EF 90–300mm EF 100–200mm EF 100–300mm

Discontinued prime	EF 15mm Fisheye EF 135mm with Softfocus EF 1200mm

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