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

Standard zoom lenses are the types of lenses that all types of DSLR owners should have because they provide the users with the popular focal lengths for everyday usage. While there are other lenses that are designed to do specific tasks, at least one of the standard zoom lenses will be used for general situations from ordinary scenarios like traveling to more serious ones like wedding photography. Canon presents several lenses in this category including some very affordable ones which happen to be kit lenses so photographers can get started. However, there are also some premium quality lenses like the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM which has a lot of advantages over the cheaper lenses.

Design & Construction

The Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM may not be in the “L” glass category but it certainly has a solid feel compared to the cheaper kit lenses. The zoom handling is rather smooth for most users to appreciate but those that have used the 17-40mm f/4L will notice some stiffness and may find that hollow sound to be unsettling when it reaches the end of a zoom range. This is due to the lower-grade construction of the lens. However, the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM makes up for its smaller size and lighter weight weighing about 1 and a half pounds and measuring 4.4 inches long with a 3.3-inch diameter. Those that find their sub-frame DSLR units to be too light will find that the lens adds some significant mass giving the whole body a more solid feel.

Features & Performance

This EF-S zoom lens is all about delivering better performance and handling than the kit lenses. It has a large circular aperture which is necessary to create that depth-of-field effect bringing emphasis to the subject while blurring the background elements.

This standard zoom lens is all about good distortion handling. At 17mm, the barrel distortion is very modest although this increases when exceeding the 20mm barrier. A good workaround for this is to use a correctional tool like Photoshop or DxO Optics Pro. These tools are also recommended for fixing other minor weak spots like the high vignetting.

Chromatic aberration is a mixed bag but it is not the worst in the Canon lineup. It only becomes a concern at 17mm and that is where it is noticeable on the edges and corners. However, the CA lessens when reaching the longer focal lengths although there is definitely some room for improvement especially when compared to its main competitor which is the heavier and larger Canon 17-40mm f/4L.

The Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM gets some high marks on the autofocus features as well and much of the credit goes to the USM motor which means that this lens is very speedy in autofocusing and it operates silently. Since it is USM, the manual focus ring can be used at any time as long as the AF is not working. This is good for intermediate and professional photographers alike. Image stabilization is exceptional so those that do not have a very steady hand can take some good shots at 1/4 second were images still look pretty sharp. When the flash is not used, the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM lens is very generous with the battery life and the image stabilization does not consume much power.

Conclusion

Although this is not a perfect lens, there is hardly much competition that goes against the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM. Anyone that finds these minor shortcomings to be a big deal can always just get an “L” lens but the overall performance is satisfactory and the autofocus performance is very important for lots of photographers. Many of the minor weaknesses can be corrected through proper image enhancements and they should not take very long to complete. The Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM is even good enough to take on some of the prime lenses if the focal lengths and other features are used properly. Depth of field control and image stabilization are wonderful bonuses that contribute to even better image quality. Those that are not willing to spend over $1,200 for a lens will feel just at home with the 17-55mm lens. Remember this focal length is very common so this is likely the primary lens for many photographers.

Average User Rating:
Actual User Reviews:
• “This lens has quickly become one of my most used lens. It’s the lens I would choose if I could just choose one to shoot a wedding with and I’m free to approach the bride and groom during any part of the ceremony. It’s also THE one lens I would choose to take on a vacation, it’s that versatile. I love the part where I can walk into a dark cathedral and hand hold a shot at 1 second and it’s razor sharp. What a lens!!! “ – G.Brummett (AZ,USA)

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• “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. “ – G.K.Tan (USA)

• “If you have a Canon with the APS-C sized digital sensor (i.e., any of the digital Rebels, or the new 7D), this is absolutely the first lens you should buy. This lens blows away any of the kit lenses, given its much larger aperture (2 full stops faster, letting in 4x the light than the f/5.6 kit lens) and its continuous aperture throughout the zoom range. Add in the 3-stop image stabilizer, and this lens will let you take beautiful low-light photos that you could never get with a kit lens.

One thing to note, this lens is LARGE. So large, that it will interfere with the on-board flash on the digital Rebels. For example, on my XSi (450D), using the pop-up flash with this lens on the camera casts a substantial shadow in the lower portion of the image, which is especially noticeable (and pretty much unacceptable) at the wider end of the zoom range. Thankfully, this lens can handle many low-light situations without needing a flash, and when zoomed to 55mm, crops out most of the shadow cast by the lens. Still, if you’re going to be taking photos where flash may be needed (night-time, very low light situations indoors, etc.), you’ll probably want a hot-shoe mounted flash.” – J.Nelson (CA,USA)

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