Standard Zoom : DSLR Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM
Standard Zoom : DSLR Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM
The Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens, with a fast, fixed f/2.8 aperture, very high image quality, 3-stop Image Stabilization and a very popular focal length range, is one of the best general/multi-purpose lenses available.
Since EF-S lenses only mount on Canon EF-S bodies - which all feature a 1.6x FOVCF - the 17-55mm focal length range always equates to the field of view of a 27.2-88mm lens mounted on a full-frame Digital SLR. This range covers what I consider to be the most important focal lengths for a Canon general purpose lens. This is a focal length range that can be used for everything from a wide scenic landscape to a relatively-close portrait.
Canon already had these focal lengths similarly covered in their econo kit lens - the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens. Reality is that these are vastly different lenses - in build, optical and feature qualities - and price. The kit lens is a good value for the money, but does not compare with the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens.
Canon already had a superset of the 17-55mm focal length range covered with the Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens. This lens has a higher build quality, image quality and feature set than the EF-S 18-55 - adding Ring USM and 3 stop image stabilization to the feature set. What the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens adds to the 17-85's feature set is a fixed f/2.8 aperture and L-Series grade UD (Ultra-Low Dispersion glass) lens elements. Of course, price, size, weight and a reduced focal length range are the downsides of the 17-55 compared to the 17-85.
Reference: http://www.the-digital-picture.com
