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

Product information

Key specs

Lens mount

Canon EF-S mount

Suitable for camera type

APS-C

Lens compatible with

Canon SLR cameras

Zoom or prime lens

Zoom lens

Lens type

Wide-angle

Lens mount	Canon EF-S mount
Suitable for camera type	APS-C
Lens compatible with	Canon SLR cameras
Zoom or prime lens	Zoom lens
Lens type	Wide-angle
Type of photography	Architecture and interior, Landscape, Nature photography, Portrait, Product
Aperture	2,8
Image stabilization

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View all specifications

Pros and cons

According to our camera lens expert

• This lens is ideal for landscape photography.
• This lens has a f/2.8 aperture across its entire zoom range.
• The lens is only suitable for APS-C cameras.
• You can't have the lens in hand at all times, due to it's relatively heavy weight of 645g.

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Description

The Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM is a zoom lens for Canon SLR cameras with an EF-S mount. This wide-angle lens is ideal for landscape photography. You can photograph large groups of people, without having to take too much distance. You can also capture beautiful skylines and street scenes with more depth and dynamics. The lens has a fixed aperture of f/2.8 across its entire range, so it's very suitable for the semi-professional user. The built-in Image Stabilizer ensures sharp and natural takes, because it compensates vibrations or a lack of light.

The Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM is a zoom lens for Canon SLR cameras with an EF-S mount. This wide-angle lens is ideal for landscape photography. You can photograph large groups of people, without having to take too much distance. You can also capture beautiful skylines and street scenes with more depth and dynamics. The lens has a fixed aperture of f/2.8 across its entire range, so it's very suitable for the semi-professional user. The built-in Image Stabilizer ensures sharp and natural takes, because it compensates vibrations or a lack of light.

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Tips for using this product

Tips for using this product

Read our tips and find out all about how to set up your product and use it the right way.

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Download the manual

Download the manual (305.33 KB)

Included by default

• Manual (305.33 KB)
• Lens caps (2x)
• Canon the Netherlands original

Included by default

• Lens caps (2x)
• Canon the Netherlands original

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Download the manual

Download the manual (305.33 KB)

Key specs

Lens mount

Canon EF-S mount

Suitable for camera type

APS-C

Lens compatible with

Canon SLR cameras

Zoom or prime lens

Zoom lens

Lens type

Wide-angle

Lens mount	Canon EF-S mount
Suitable for camera type	APS-C
Lens compatible with	Canon SLR cameras
Zoom or prime lens	Zoom lens
Lens type	Wide-angle
Type of photography	Architecture and interior, Landscape, Nature photography, Portrait, Product
Aperture	2,8
Image stabilization

View all specifications

View all specifications

Reviews

32 reviews

9,4/10 (32 reviews)

Rating

23 reviews with 5 stars

5 stars 0 reviews

9 reviews with 4 stars

4 stars 0 reviews

0 reviews with 3 stars

3 stars 0 reviews

0 reviews with 2 stars

2 stars 0 reviews

0 reviews with 1 star

1 star 0 reviews

Customer images

Most helpful reviews

8,0/10

Pricey topper...

• UD glass (L-series quality)
• F2.8
• Not water or dust resistant (completely in plastic)

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• Thibault dosunmu
• 19 January 2010
• Automatically translated from Dutch

10/10

super lens

• very sharp in low light
• enough zoom range for night photography
• for me it has no negatives

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• Ludo
• 19 November 2013
• Automatically translated from Dutch

10/10

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

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• Rousseau lötter
• 9 March 2010
• Automatically translated from Dutch

9,6/10

Best all-round crop factor lens available.

• Large zoom range
• f2.8 over entire range
• Barrel destruction visible at 17mm

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• Alexander koelewijn
• 17 August 2016
• Automatically translated from Dutch

9,2/10

Super all-round lens

• Nice bright
• Fast AF
• Feels plastic

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• Hans pluijgers
• 25 October 2014
• Automatically translated from Dutch

9,2/10

Added value for a hobby photographer

• Easy to use
• Good focus
• heavier

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• Jolien melis
• 18 February 2019
• Automatically translated from Dutch

10/10

Excellent, good value for money.

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• Rommelaere johan
• 25 March 2017
• Automatically translated from Dutch

10/10

Highly recommended for those looking for a bright lens

• Sharp
• Good stabilization
• No lens hood supplied as standard

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• Martijn scheffel
• 11 June 2017
• Automatically translated from Dutch

10/10

great lens

• Hair Sharp
• Solid
• No

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• R sleven
• 14 September 2017
• Automatically translated from Dutch

8,4/10

Very solid and very good with low light.

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• Perry de ruijter
• 23 October 2017
• Automatically translated from Dutch

8,0/10

Pricey topper...

• UD glass (L-series quality)
• F2.8
• IS + USM
• Not water or dust resistant (completely in plastic)

I've owned the EF-S 17-55 F2.8 IS USM lens for about 2 years and personally I don't think there is a better all-round lens for a half-frame body, not even in the L lens series.
In terms of quality, the EF-S 17-55 F2.8 IS USM is without a doubt the very best (all-round) EF-S lens Canon has ever made.
Lightweight, 2.8 aperture over the entire zoom range, IS, USM focus, UD glass (synonymous with L quality glass). In short, a beautiful "general purpose" lens. The optical quality of the EF-S 17-55 F2.8 IS USM (and admittedly its price) even surpasses that of some L lenses.
A logical question then is: "Why doesn't this lens get the coveted L letter?". Two main reasons for this.

First, the lens cannot be used on a full frame body (like the 5D, 1Ds). Professional photographers also use half-frame devices, of course, but all L lenses are made according to the 35mm film format, so they can be used with all EF bodies.
Second, the lens is finished in plastic as opposed to the aluminum finish of an L lens. Although some prefer to work with a lens that feels a bit heavier, this has the advantage / consequence that the lens is lighter than an L lens with similar F value and zoom range. An additional advantage is that the production costs (and therefore also the selling price) are also somewhat lower. Compared to an L lens, the EF-S 17-55 F2.8 IS USM is also much less dust resistant and there is no water resistance at all.

The EF-S 17-55 F2.8 IS USM may be the best EF-S lens, the direct consequence is that it is also the most expensive, but I don't think this should be considered a real disadvantage as it is also worth the price compared to other products. Quality does have a price. After 2 years of intensive use I have not experienced the slightest problem with it. The focus speed is impressive and the 2.8 aperture in combination with IS allows even in very dark environments to take pictures without a tripod with acceptable sharpness and noise.

In short, if this lens fits your budget, there is simply no worthy alternative in terms of optical quality as an all-round (crop) lens.
For me personally, the biggest problem with the EF-S 17-55 F2.8 IS USM is the lack of water resistance, but frankly it doesn't outweigh the beautiful photos this critter can deliver... but everyone's priorities are on that flat different.

• Thibault dosunmu
• 19 January 2010
• Automatically translated from Dutch

10/10

super lens

• very sharp in low light
• enough zoom range for night photography
• equivalent to the more expensive one with red ring
• for me it has no negatives

I immediately started taking night photos what the intention of this purchase was
since the f value is low, these photos are very nice and sharp
also no blur in low light

• Ludo
• 19 November 2013
• Automatically translated from Dutch

10/10

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

The Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM lense is a must have for any photographer with an EF-S camera. I found it to be extremely versatile, and compatible to my L-series lenses, even in low light conditions. The image quality is clear and crisp, with the lense fast as anything. I'd give this product two thumbs up any day, as it even looks great on my 50D. This 17-55mm f2.8 is definitely top-of-the-range for EF-S users.

• Rousseau lötter
• 9 March 2010
• Automatically translated from Dutch

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Specifications

Product

Product number

36908

Manufacturer code

1242B005

Brand

Canon

Warranty

2 years

Processing of your defect

Carry-in warranty

Usage

Lens type

Wide-angle

Type of photography

Architecture and interior, Landscape, Nature photography, Portrait, Product

Suitable for

Lens mount

Canon EF-S mount

Lens compatible with

Canon SLR cameras

Suitable for camera type

APS-C

Compatible with lens filter

Filter size

77 mm

Lens series

Canon EF-S

Properties

Zoom or prime lens

Zoom lens

Maximum magnification factor

0,17

Aperture

2,8

Number of aperture shutters

7

Fixed aperture

Number of groups

12

Number of elements

19

Special lens elements

Number of stops

3

Image stabilization

Minimum focal length

17 mm

Maximum focal length

55 mm

Fixed focal point

Focus

Shortest focusing distance

35 cm

Manual focus override

Silent focusing motor

Type of focusing motor

Ring type USM

Internal focus

Focal distance control

Autofocus

Physical properties

Color

Black

Weight

645 g

Material

Metal, Plastic

Diameter

83,8 mm

Length camera lens

111,8 mm

Resistance

Dustproof

Shockproof