Canon EF-S 17-55 2.8 IS USM Lens

The Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8, IS USM Lens is a large fixed aperture (f/2.8) lens specifically designed for EF-S type digital SLR cameras.

It offers a very wide angle to short telephoto zoom range and has built in Image Stabilization. The focal length is equivalent to approx. 27 to 88mm in 35mm format.

The lens features the latest optical Image Stabilizer technology, providing up to 3 stops compensation for camera shake and slow shutter speeds.

This lens is only suitable for Canons APS-C sensor sizes. Only Canon Extension Tube EF 25 II and 12 II fit on this lens.

Being an f/2.8 lens for low light applications this is one of the ultimate lenses for the APS-C size sensor camera.  If you have an APS-C Canon camera and love to shoot in low light levels, then this is the lens to own. With the latest cameras and a lens such as this it gives you the capability to virtually shoot in near darkness without a tripod or monopod. This assumes that the subject is not moving as tripods and image stabilisation do not help with subject movement. The Image Stabilisation does help greatly to extend the low light capability of this lens. I really love this latest technology.

This lens is very suitable for photojournalism type applications, where you will be photographing things in your everyday life such as people, landscapes and even for indoor and outdoor sporting events with its low f/2.8 aperture, when you can get close enough to the subject.

This lens is also excellent for use when travelling and you have a need for low light photography without a tripod or monopod,  in capturing travel images such as street scenes, candid images of people, night scenic shots, wildlife parks where you can get close to the subject. This would be a great lens for use at theme parks such as Disneyland where it may be difficult to use or where tripods and monopods are not allowed. Do not get me wrong, you may get better images with a tripod or monopod, but in some places and events they are just not allowed.

The lenses in this category are as follows:

• EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Lens – Ultra wide angle lens with variable aperture
• EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens – Wide angle variable large aperture lens
• EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Zoom Lens - Fixed large aperture low light zoom
• EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Autofocus Lens – Wide angle variable large aperture lens
• EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens – Wide focal length variable large aperture lens
• EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens – Wide focal length range variable large aperture lens
• EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens – Low aperture macro lens

A lens such as this low aperture zoom was one of the first zoom lenses I used, and I was able to get some of the best images from it.

If you have one of the APS-C cameras then you will be very pleased with this lens.

See the sample images from this lens on the Flickr site.

Specifications

• Focal Length, 17 – 55 mm
• Aperture Maximum,  f/2.8
• Aperture Minimum,  f/22
• Camera Mount Type, Canon EF-S
• Format Compatibility, Canon APS-C
• Angle of View, 78.3° – 27.5°
• Minimum Focus Distance, 1.2′,  36.58 cm
• Magnification, 0.17 times
• Maximum Reproduction Ratio, 1:5.8
• 12 Groups,  19 Elements
• Diaphragm Blades, 7
• Filter Thread, 77 mm
• Dimensions (DxL),  3.3 x 4.4″,  8.38 x 11.18 cm
• Weight, 1.40 lb,  635 grams
• Three aspherical lens elements
• Super UD glass element
• Optimized lens coating minimizing flare and ghosting
• Ring type USM
• Inner Focusing
• Full time mechanical manual focusing
• Circular aperture diaphragm

Features

• Image Stabilization,  Yes
• Autofocus,  Yes
• Tripod Collar,  No