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

03 May

Posted by Jayce as Hardware, Photography, Review

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens was introduced back in May 2006. It is the best EF-S lens that Canon makes so far. And it is the most expensive EF-S lens too. It is sharp, fast, fixed f/2.8 aperture and come with 3-stop Image Stabilizer (IS). It is the best general/multi purpose lens. It mounts at my Canon EOS 400D Digital body most of the time.

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

Specifications
Focal Length & Maximum Aperture - 17-55mm 1:2.8
Lens Construction - 19 elements in 12 groups
Diagonal Angle of View - 78Â°30′ - 27Â°50′
Focus Adjustment - AF with full-time manual
Closest Focusing Distance - 1.15 ft. / 0.35m
Zoom System - 5-group helical zoom (front group moves: 27mm)
Filter Size - 77mm
Max. Diameter x Length, Weight - 3.3 in. x 4.4 in., 22.8 oz. / 83.5mm x 110.6mm, 645g (lens only)

It does not come along with hood and case like other L lens for this expensive lens. Therefore, I bought a cheap hood from eBay to attach to it.

Zoom out with hood attached.

I love the Image Stabilizer very much. It helps a lot in low light environment. I can take shot at even as slow as 1/8 s. A great help on places that flash is not allowed like museum. Besides IS, the sharpness of the lens also makes me love it so much. With fixed f/2.8 aperture, you can take a nice portrait too when zoom to 55mm. Its focus speed is fast due to ring type USM. It is a great lens to own but you have to pay for its price.

Below are some photo samples taken with Canon EOS 400D Digital.

f/3.5 1/60 ISO 100

f/2.8 1/20 ISO 800

f/2.8 1/30 ISO 400

f/4 1/1600 ISO 100

f/2.8 1/60 ISO 100

f/2.8 1/20 ISO 400

f/2.8 1/8 ISO 1600

f/2.8 1/30 ISO 400

Conclusion
You will love Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens. It is fast and suitable to use in almost any environment. The best general/multi purpose lens for me.

Buy Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens at B&H Photo Video

Related topics:
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Lens Review

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Tags: 17-55, 2.8, Canon, EF-S, general, IS, lens, portrait, USM

36 Responses

Bernie

May 3rd, 2008 at 7:32 pm

Bro, putting up ads for B&H too?
Jayce

May 3rd, 2008 at 10:25 pm

I joined B&H affiliate long time ago. Only got 1 transaction done so far. Got US$ 5.80 from there. Got lot of clicks but no deal.
RR

May 4th, 2008 at 12:56 am

Jayce,
Wow cost about 6K++.
Did u use tripod /stand when taking photo especially those taken at night?
ah-vin

May 4th, 2008 at 10:18 am

very good lens indeed.

ru feeling the power of f/2.8 now ? lol
Jayce

May 4th, 2008 at 11:58 am

It is a nice lens indeed. I prefer f/1.4 with IS.
RR

May 4th, 2008 at 1:39 pm

f/2.8 already cost 6k++ how bout f/1.4.
Btw, did u use tripod/stand to take those photos?
Jayce

May 4th, 2008 at 1:47 pm

Oh… This lens only cost around RM3700. Not yet reach RM6000.
I have the normal 50mm f/1.4 which cost RM1300 only.
And none of the photo above are taken by tripod, all hand-held. This is the power of IS.
ah-vin

May 5th, 2008 at 8:25 am

dude…cant compare a zoom with a prime u know.

prime is well-known to be sharper, and better for bokeh.
Jayce

May 5th, 2008 at 9:06 am

Ya… Ya… I know that.
I wish that I can have those good good prime lens like 85mm f/1.2 L, 200mm f/2 IS L. Wow… They are great.
ah-vin

May 6th, 2008 at 9:03 am

no need to wish..just buy…lol
Jayce

May 6th, 2008 at 9:16 am

I go to buy and you pay for me, ok?
Nicholas

May 16th, 2008 at 9:28 pm

Oh my god!!!!!!!!!! You own this lens!!!! f2.8 + IS powderful! I am now targeting for Tamron f2.8 17-50. T
Jayce

May 16th, 2008 at 9:46 pm

Tamron f2.8 17-50 is OK too ma. Just lack of IS lo.
KK

May 17th, 2008 at 12:54 am

i m very interested in DSLR also…always see ppl take out a bulky camera like very pro like that ^^

but i have no idea where to start…any good website to recommend about DSLR for first timer?

i just need a camera that take sharp pic all the time..no fancy add on except maybe the zoom lens…my digicam cannot take good photo at night…sad..

any particular brand of DSLR is better than others?…i only know nikon and canon is good…coz most of the paparazzi use them….haha
Jayce

May 17th, 2008 at 5:49 am

World top camera review site - http://www.dpreview.com
I almost go there everyday. It have a lot of information there in the forum where all the experts of the world are gather around.
You can’t go wrong with Canon, Nikon and Sony digital SLR. But reminder… SLR is way too expensive investment. You will always thinking of buying new lens to play with.
Roger

May 17th, 2008 at 9:28 pm

I need one of those! Can I borrow yours?
Jayce

May 18th, 2008 at 1:03 am

He… He… I am afraid that we stay too far away. You are in US while I am in Malaysia.
cryo

June 20th, 2008 at 12:16 am

saw your comment on Fred Miranda
Jayce

June 20th, 2008 at 8:16 am

Hehe… Thanks for dropping by, cryo.
ayob karim

July 10th, 2008 at 9:35 am

hello jayce, can you please tell me where to buy that lens and hood
please? iam using same like u so i am very interested from what you have written and the photo i have seen (D400 canon)
around selangor or KL
thank you.
Jayce

July 10th, 2008 at 10:08 am

I got my lens from B&H Photo Video and hood from eBay.

Sorry, I am from Kedah. Don’t know which shop in Selangor or KL.
ayob

July 15th, 2008 at 8:55 am

thank you
can you tell me how to shoot at night when i use automatic part but the picture not clear and how you use the 1/30 ISO 400/1/8 ISO 1600 and other use which part i cannot get that? like all you picture above,
tq
Jayce

July 15th, 2008 at 9:46 am

Switch to Av or M mode. You can select ISO then.
ayob

July 17th, 2008 at 11:38 am

thank you……
Jayce

July 17th, 2008 at 1:33 pm

No problem.
AYOB

July 17th, 2008 at 7:29 pm

HOW CAN I GET ANY DISCOUNT BUYING THE LENS AND HOOD SAME THAT YOU USE ? I AM VERY INTERESTED TO BUY THAT
THANK YOU….
Jayce

July 17th, 2008 at 7:58 pm

Use this link - B&H Photo Video to buy it. There is USD 70 discount now.
AYOB

July 20th, 2008 at 12:36 am

jayce
can you please tell me how much did you bought the lens and hood?
is it reach about 6000 over?
thank you
Jayce

July 20th, 2008 at 11:23 am

No. It just around RM3700 with B+W filter.
AYOB

July 20th, 2008 at 8:32 pm

thank you!
Jayce

July 20th, 2008 at 9:00 pm

No problem.
AYOB

July 24th, 2008 at 7:22 pm

hello jayce
do you use any flash? which type do you use can you tell me because i want to buy one
thank you.
Jayce

July 24th, 2008 at 7:29 pm

I am using Canon SpeedLite 580EX II.
WW39 weekly contest by Jayce Ooi’s Paradise

October 2nd, 2008 at 10:36 pm

[...] contest question Find out any 3 posts at JayceOoi.com that have more than 1,000 views. Example, Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens Review. Write the post title and link it. Just like the [...]
cherry

November 16th, 2008 at 2:59 pm

Why you never buy Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM Lens?
Jayce

November 16th, 2008 at 3:02 pm

3 reasons.
- I don’t have full frame body.
- It is expensive than 17-55 2.8 IS.
- No IS.