--- product_id: 1156891 title: "Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras, Black - 1242B002" brand: "canon" price: "1124892CFA" currency: XOF in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 category: "Canon" url: https://www.desertcart.sn/products/1156891-canon-ef-s-17-55mm-f-2-8-is-usm store_origin: SN region: Senegal --- # Ring-type USM for fast, silent autofocus Constant f/2.8 aperture for bright, sharp shots 3-stop Image Stabilizer for crisp low-light images Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras, Black - 1242B002 **Brand:** canon **Price:** 1124892CFA **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 📸 Elevate your vision with pro-grade clarity and speed — the lens that means business. ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras, Black - 1242B002 by canon - **How much does it cost?** 1124892CFA with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.sn](https://www.desertcart.sn/products/1156891-canon-ef-s-17-55mm-f-2-8-is-usm) ## Best For - canon enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted canon brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Silent Precision Focus:** Ring-type USM ensures lightning-fast, whisper-quiet autofocus—never miss the moment or disturb your scene. - • **Steady Shots, Anywhere:** Advanced 3-stop Image Stabilizer combats shake so your photos stay razor-sharp, even handheld in dim conditions. - • **Bright & Bold Every Frame:** Constant f/2.8 aperture delivers stunning low-light performance and creamy bokeh that makes your subject pop. - • **Versatile Zoom Range for Every Story:** 17-55mm wide-angle to short telephoto covers landscapes, portraits, and everyday moments with ease. - • **Pro-Level Optics in a Compact Package:** UD and aspherical elements provide L-series caliber image quality without the bulk—perfect for on-the-go creatives. ## Overview The Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM lens is a premium wide-angle zoom designed exclusively for Canon APS-C DSLRs. Featuring a constant f/2.8 aperture, advanced UD and aspherical optics, a 3-stop Image Stabilizer, and a fast, quiet ring-type USM autofocus motor, it delivers exceptional image quality and versatility in a compact, lightweight form. Ideal for professionals and serious enthusiasts seeking sharp, vibrant images in diverse lighting conditions, this lens offers a perfect balance of performance, portability, and reliability. ## Description From the Manufacturer Designed to meet consumer demands for a fast EF-S zoom lens, the EF-S 17-55mm offers image quality on par with Canon's highly regarded L-series lenses. The lens features a large circular aperture that produces a shallow depth of field, creating background blur that draws special attention to the photographic subject. The lens construction, meanwhile, includes UD and aspherical elements that deliver impressive image quality throughout the entire zoom range. And thanks to the Image Stabilizer lens groups--which shift to compensate for camera shake--the image appears crisp and clear on the image plane, eve in dim light. Finally, the lens offers a ring-type ultra-sonic monitor (USM), inner focusing, and new AF algorithms to help achieve autofocus quickly and quietly, along with full-time mechanical manual focusing that makes it possible to manually adjust the focus even in AF mode. As with all Canon lenses, this lens carries a one-year warranty. Focal length: 17-55mm Maximum aperture: f/2.8 Lens construction: 19 elements in 12 groups Diagonal angle of view: 78 degrees (at 30 feet) to 27 degrees (at 50 feet) Focus adjustment: AF with full-time manual Closest focusing distance: 1.15 feet Zoom system: 5-group helical zoom (front group moves 27mm) Filter size: 77mm Dimensions: 3.3 inches in diameter, 4.4 inches long Weight: 22.8 ounces The EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM offers image quality on a par with Canon's highly regarded L-series lenses. It has a large maximum aperture which, combined with higher shutter speeds, can minimize subject motion blur. Shallow depth-of-field separation of a subject from its background is much easier to achieve and the f2.8 maximum aperture allows a bright finder and extremely precise focusing with f2.8 compatible AF sensors. The internal stabilization has a sharpness benefit equivalent to a three-stop faster shutter speed, making this lens outstanding in low-light situations. Smaller and lighter than lenses of similar specifications, the EF-S 17-55 mm f2.8 IS USM lens has a 35mm equivalent focal length of 27-88mm and is compatible only with the EOS 30D, EOS 20D, EOS Digital Rebel XT, and EOS Digital Rebel SLRs. To meet user demands for a fast EF-S zoom lens, Canon has specially designed a new lens with a large aperture of f/2.8 for select Canon Digital SLR cameras. The large circular aperture produces a shallow depth-of-field, creating background blur that draws attention to the photographic subject. The lens construction includes UD and aspherical elements, which deliver impressive image quality throughout the entire zoom range. Image Stabilizer lens groups shift to compensate for camera movement so that the image appears steady on the image plane, ensuring clear, crisp images, even in dim light. With a Ring-type USM, inner focusing and new AF algorithms, this lens achieves autofocus quickly and quietly, and with full-time mechanical manual focusing, manually adjusting the focus is possible even in AF mode. Product Description The Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM standard zoom lens has specially designed a new lens with a large aperture of f/2.8 for select Canon Digital SLR cameras to meet user demands for a fast EF-S zoom lens. The large circular aperture produces a shallow depth-of-field, creating background blur that draws attention to the photographic subject. The lens construction includes UD and a spherical elements, which deliver impressive image quality throughout the entire zoom range. Image Stabilizer lens groups shift to compensate for camera movement so that the image appears steady on the image plane, ensuring clear, crisp images, even in dim light. With a Ring-type USM, inner focusing and new AF algorithms, this lens achieves autofocus quickly and quietly, and with full-time mechanical manual focusing manually adjusting the focus is possible even in AF mode. Review: Upgrading your lens for Rebel XTi? 17-85 USM IS vs 28-135 USM IS vs 17-55 2.8f USM IS vs 24-105 4.0f USM IS - Folks, I know you want it short. But I am covering quite a bit of information and condensed it so that you can get good information and are able to digest it in less than 5 min. It is quite surprising how many people are being "tortured" with the question on which lens is the right lens when it comes to finding the perfect lens to upgrade the Canon XTi Rebel kit lens (18-55) or even for the Canon 40D (which is often sold with the 28-135 USM IS lens). I read about 500+ reviews and many of them I found very interesting but really did not answer my question on what a good lens is for the Rebel XTi... and with good reasons because YOU have to know what you want or need and then make a call. Here were the criteria I used and I hope you can leverage from these: 1. I wanted a lens which has a great picture quality to have a true upgrade feeling from the Canon 18-55 kit lens (during day light that lens is actually very good and with its light weight is a great carry around lens - however in low light or for really nice portrait shots this lens has limitations not to mention its built quality) 2. I wanted a versatile "Walk Around" lens with good zoom range to cover most of the picture I take (landscape and portraits) in addition to my telephoto lens (70-300mm) 3. If possible a low weight lens - however image quality was a higher priority for me 4. I wanted a Canon lens (though there are very good alternatives from Tamron and Sigma - however they have some disadvantages but given the lower price worth considering) 5. I wanted an Image Stabilizer (IS) and a low noise focus motor, i.e. Canon's USM Many people are looking for a great "Walk Around" lens to avoid changing lenses all the time yet at the same time want great picture qualities. So, your criteria may be different and therefore your choice certainly a good one may differ from mine. As one disclaimer upfront - I am not going into the professional details, i.e. vignetting differeneces at different aperture values or zoom ranges - to make it simple for many readers in this field who just want to make a good decision to buy a great lens without going through the trouble of returning lenses. You will find many reviews on the cropped camera lenses (EF-S) and still people often don't get it right. So, if you have a cropped camera like the Canon Rebel XTi or Canon 40D then the cropped factor is 1.6. In other words no matter what lens you put on these cameras you will get the following zoom ranges which are different from the product names for the lenses: Canon Lens Min Zoom Max Zoom 17-85: 27.2 - 136 28-135: 44.8 - 216 17-55 f2.8: 27.2 - 88 24-105 f4.0 L: 38.4 - 168 Source: Canon's website I went through the extra burden of testing all the lenses myself and not just rely on reviews. So, I went ahead and rented them for 1-2 days and then made up my own verdict so to speak. I also took pictures in similar conditions, looked at them on the computer and printed them out to compare the lenses: 1) The first upgrade lens from Canon which comes to mind is the EF-S 17-85 USM IS f3.5-5.6 lens. This lens would have been a great kit lens but did not meet my requirements for an upgrade lens. It has a very good zoom range and it is still light weight. But the image quality is not as sharp as I would like it to be. And if you commit to spend more money (like $500 for this lens) then you don't want to waste it by just getting a bit more zoom range and an Image Stabilizer. 2) The first lens I actually tried was the EF 24-105 f4.0 USM IS L (luxurious) lens from Canon and I was really happy about the image quality. I was very close to buy this lens but wanted to check out other lenses first. Following drawbacks for me: it is not a wide-angle lens which is useful for landscape shots or even travels shots when you can't afford walking back 5-10 feet. Plus a wide angel lens can give you a nice effect on the picture itself. Another drawback is the aperture value of f4.0 in low light. An aperture factor of f2.8 is faster in low light (the lower the value the larger the aperture - think the Iris of your eye is getting larger and therefore you can see better in low light) and with a running kid or pet at home that is a true advantage. However, with the Image Stabilizer this would not be a big issue. (For more advanced people you can stop down one step to get enough light into the lens in low light conditions but if the object is in motion that may be tricky.) A big plus however is the option to use this lens for any non-cropped canon camera. However, I am ok with using the Rebel XTi and if I want to upgrade to another body later then the 40D would be a great way to go. So, I don't mind to buy EF-S lenses. The EF-S lenses have the advantage that they are generally lighter weight than the full frame lenses. 3) The EF 28-135 USM IS f3.5-5.6 lens has a great zoom range (44-216) but does not have a wide angle (basically anything less than 35mm). However, if zoom range is your top criteria then I'd get the 24-105 L lens without a doubt over this 28-135 lens. For example when you are in full zoom and you are not in bright daylight your pictures will not be as sharp. I tried this lens and the image quality is simply not as good as the 24-105 L lens or the 17-55 f2.8 lens. The 24-105 is also more solidly built. It is a lot of metal built with this lens and it is sealed against dust and water. However, if budget is a constrain to you then the Canon 28-135 lens is a better option for you and according to many folks out there considered to be a better choice than even the EF-S 17-85 USM IS lens. 4) The EF-S 17-55 f2.8 USM IS lens was the last lens I tested and chose over the other three lenses. First, my expectations toward a great image quality (like the 24-105 L lens) were fully met. This lens is using similar components like the L lenses (but it is not fully sealed like the 24-105 L lens is) and shoots extremely well in low light conditions. Plus for a f2.8 (main advantage is large aperture which is very useful for taking great shots in dim lights and faster than f4.0 lenses). Also this lens has less weight (640g) in comparison to the Canon 24-70 EF L f2.8 lens (950g). So, you get a great lens with an acceptable weight. Even the zoom range is fully acceptable to me on my Rebel XTi which comes to 27-88mm. I can take very good portraits shots (without hitting someone's nose with the lens if you will) and it has very nice blur as well (meaning a sharp face in the front and with a blurry background). The only drawback is a flare on some pictures at the bottom of the image when you take pictures using its built-in flash due to the larger lens diameter. However you can either put a better (external) flash light or use Photoshop to correct this issue. I am not a professional photographer and for me this is ok. If you are a professional photographer then you are most likely not as interested in this article anyways. +++Summary+++ The bottom line is that for a true upgrade lens to your kit lens for the Rebel XTi I would recommend the EF-S 17-55 f2.8 IS USM lens. It is worth the investment. This type of lens along with any other L lenses from Canon will always keep its value and you can certainly sell this lens a lot easier if that is the final information you were looking for... ;) I hope this article helps you in directing your decision on which lens to buy. If you are still not sure about what to do then I can only recommend testing the lenses of your choice in a store or ideally rent them or ask your buddies to lend you a lens for a few days. Good luck and enjoy taking great pictures to treasure your memories! Uwe Review: Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM - I've now had this lens for more than two months and shot more than 3,000 photos with it. Deciding on the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM lens for my wedding photography business is a no-brainer. Nonetheless, I did full due diligence before choosing to part with over $1000 for the glass. Key Considerations: The purpose of this purchase is to get a professional quality lens for shooting weddings to minimize the number of lens swaps I currently have to make today. Durability. Shooting weddings is not quite the same as a photojournalist going into combat. Nonetheless, equipment takes a beating from constant packing and unpacking, bouncing around in the back of cars, being rained upon, getting knocked and jostled as we move about, and being occasionally dropped. Our gear must hold up or we will discover the false economy of buying equipment twice. Weight. Wedding days are marathons for photographers that can last 8-10 hours without much opportunity for a break. That's not much fun when you have 7lbs hanging from your neck all day and evening long. It's exhausting. This is especially important for people with bad backs, knees or ankles. So I try to keep our equipment as light as possible without sacrificing quality. Low-light performance. One of the great challenges of wedding photography is working in bad light. Some chapels or officiates prohibit the use of flashes during the ceremony. And receptions are often at night and are in dark halls. In order to capture the action throughout, we need lenses that can perform well in low light. For me, this means a fixed maximum aperture of f/2.8 or faster. Angle of view. In the past I have used 24-105mm lenses with my 135 film cameras. I consider this focal range ideal for general people photography; 24mm is wide enough for indoor use and group shots without introducing too much distortion and 105mm is fantastic for beautiful portraiture. Our Canon camera bodies have APS-C sensors that are smaller than 35mm film, which reduces the effective angle of view of each image recorded. Placing a 24-105mm lens in front of an APS-C sensor narrows the angle of view by a factor of 1.6, making it the equivalent angle as a 38-168mm lens in front of a 35mm film or full frame digital sensor camera. 38mm on the wide end is simply not wide enough for general wedding work. In order to approximate on an APS-C sensor the angle of view that the 24-105mm lens on a 35mm body provides we multiply the lens size by 0.625, resulting in a lens that is 15-66mm. Options: There are no lenses that are precisely that size. Some L-series glass that are close include: * EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II * EF 17-40mm f/4L * EF 20-35mm f/2.8L * EF 24-70mm f/2.8L * EF 24-105mm f/4L I'm not happy with any of these for use on an APS-C body. The 16-35mm is too short on the long end for portrait work. The 17-40mm is too dark and too short on the long end. The 20-35mm is too narrow a zoom range for all-purpose work (i.e. too narrow on the wide end and too short on the long end). The 24-70mm doesn't get wide enough. Likewise the 24-105mm, which is also darker than I want. EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM I had intended to buy only Canon L-series lenses, but Canon doesn't make an L-series lens optimized for APS-C digital sensor cameras. Yet Canon currently makes only two cameras that feature full-size digital sensors, the 5D Mk II ($2400, 2.5 lbs w/battery grip) and the 1Ds Mk III ($7000, 2.5 lbs.). The rest of their cameras are APS-H (1D Mk IV) or APS-C, including the Rebel models, 60D, and excellent 7D bodies. Angle of view. For those of us that shoot with Canon APS-C bodies, the 17-55mm promises to be the best general purpose standard zoom lens for wedding photographers due to its low-light performance and exceptional sharpness. It is lighter than the L-series lenses but its construction, while solid, is not as bomb proof. 55mm does not reach as far as I would like on the long end (i.e. 66mm), but it is an acceptable compromise to make to preserve the fast maximum aperture. Image stabilization. IS for a lens in this category is a thing of debate. Conventional wisdom among many is that it is unnecessary for a lens this wide. On the other hand, many reviews place the sharpness of this lens on par with or ahead of the world class lenses in this category so it seems to be good for something. Besides, I don't always have the steadiest hands, so I welcome the technological assist. The 17-55mm's IS is a single mode system that does not allow for panning while IS is engaged. Optics. Contributing to the 17-55mm's image quality is the use of three aspherical lens elements and a Super-UD glass element, the kind of glass that is normally only found in L-series lenses. It features internal focusing, coatings to control flare, and a circular aperture diaphragm for buttery beautiful bokeh. What others are saying about this lens: * LensPlay ranks the lens 9th best among all EOS compatible lenses, averaging 9.3 (on a 10 point scale) from 480 user ratings. * Bryan Carnathan at The-Digital-Picture.com writes: "This lens is sharp! Wide open and from edge to edge... I expected its image quality to match or nearly match that of Canon's L Series Lenses as it shares the L-Series UD lens elements. As it turns out, my 17-55 matches or exceeds the optical performance of my L-Series zooms in the similar focal length range... [this] lens is an ideal lens to include in your kit [for] weddings, events, parties, family activities, portraits, etc..." * Gordon Laing at Camera Labs writes, "When you also take the 17-55mm's Image Stabilization facilities into account, you've got a lens which can perform relative miracles under poor light... If you're seriously into portraits or low light work though, the Canon EF-S 17-55mm will delight." * Canonlensreview.com "How does the Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM lens compare to L-Series lenses? You will find out that the Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM lens will either meet or beat the similar range L-Series zoom lenses. In many cases the image quality was better with this lens. It is extremely sharp, very fast and equipped with the image stabilizer function making the Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM lens a force to be reckoned with... The Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM lens will meet and beat the standard zoom L-Series lenses." * SLRGear.com "This would be the lens for a shooter interested in top-notch optical quality and low-light shooting." What's Not So Hot Of course there are some complaints about this lens as well. Fortunate these are few and far between. Dust. Far and away the most frequent complaint about this lens is that it tends to suck dust into it when you are zooming in and out. However, I have not read any reviews that implicate this dust in degrading image quality. Also, there is a simple preventative measure to keep the dust out: use a filter. Apparently the dust finds its way into the lens around the front glass element. Screwing a filter onto the end completes the dust sealing. The folks that do so report no dust problem. Since I always use a lens protector filter, this is not a problem for me. Zoom Ring. I've read a couple of reviews that claim that the zoom ring does not turn as smoothly as do L-series zoom lenses. I've read this complaint more than once but not more than twice, so perhaps these are isolated cases. Or maybe the reviewers had unrealistic expectations. I find the zoom and focus rings to be adequately smooth. Incompatibility. Finally, some folks have complained that they cannot use this lens on their full frame bodies. If we had full frame bodies we'd be buying the excellent EF 24-70mm f/2.8L without hesitation, so I don't understand this complaint. Final Thoughts In the last two months I've used this lens to cover weddings, family portrait sessions, concerts, music competitions, and a convention. This lens has been a joy every step of the way. This lens devours light and is as sharp or is sharper than any L-series lens I have seen. The auto focus is brilliantly fast and quiet. I didn't think that with f/2.8 on an APS-C sensor that I would be able to get such shallow DOF. At the last wedding I shot I didn't swap lenses even once (I keep a longer lens on another body). The IS motors create enough noise that you can hear it when it is really really quiet but it isn't loud enough to be distracting. Contrary to conventional wisdom, IS really does help sharpen things up with wide-angle lenses. My only wish is that it was weather sealed for use in direct rain. The EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM is unequalled (including Canon L-series, Nikkor, or 3rd party) as the ideal general-purpose standard zoom lens for rapidly changing low-light shooting such as weddings for APS-C shooters. ## Features - 17-55mm wide-angle zoom lens with f/2.8 maximum aperture for Canon DSLR cameras - AD and aspherical elements deliver impressive image quality through entire zoom range, Closest focusing distance : 1.15 feet - Image Stabilizer lens groups shift to compensate for image shake even in dim lighting - Large circular aperture produces shallow depth of field; ring-type ultra-sonic monitor (USM) - Measures 3.3 inches in diameter and 4.4 inches long; weighs 22.8 ounces; 1-year warranty ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | ASIN | B000EW8074 | | Best Sellers Rank | #469 in SLR Camera Lenses | | Brand | Canon | | Built-In Media | Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens, E-77 II 77mm Lens Cap, Lens Dust Cap E (Rear), Warranty | | Camera Lens | Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras, Black - 1242B002 | | Camera Lens Description | Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras, Black - 1242B002 | | Color | Black | | Compatible Camera Mount | Canon EF | | Compatible Devices | Mirrorless Camera | | Compatible Mountings | Canon EF | | Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 642 Reviews | | Exposure Control Type | Automatic, Manual | | Focal Length Description | 17-55 lens | | Focus Type | Auto Focus | | Global Trade Identification Number | 00013803064445 | | Image stabilization | 3 stops | | Item Weight | 645 Grams | | Lens | Wide Angle | | Lens Design | Zoom | | Lens Fixed Focal Length | 17 Millimeters | | Lens Mount | Canon EF | | Lens Type | Wide Angle | | Manufacturer | Canon Cameras US | | Manufacturer Part Number | 1242B005 | | Maximum Focal Length | 55 Millimeters | | Media Type | ProductImage | | Minimum Aperture | 22 | | Minimum Focal Length | 17 Millimeters | | Model Name | EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM | | Model Number | 1242B002 | | Number of Diaphragm Blades | 7 | | Photo Filter Size | 77 Millimeters | | Real Angle Of View | 78.5 | | Screen Size | 3.3 Inches | | UPC | 013803064445 | | Warranty Description | 1 year coverage for labor, 1 year coverage for parts | | Water Resistance Level | Not Water Resistant | | Zoom Ratio | 3.24:1 | ## Product Details - **Brand:** Canon - **Focal Length Description:** 17-55 lens - **Lens Type:** Wide Angle - **Compatible Mountings:** Canon EF - **Camera Lens Description:** Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras, Black - 1242B002 ## Images ![Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras, Black - 1242B002 - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71TwRcbV8AL.jpg) ![Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras, Black - 1242B002 - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/414ygQg-LKL.jpg) ![Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras, Black - 1242B002 - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/21gy3orCe8L.jpg) ![Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras, Black - 1242B002 - Image 4](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/21y3MlBKJBL.jpg) ![Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras, Black - 1242B002 - Image 5](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71x0pkzmb1L.jpg) ## Available Options This product comes in different **Style** options. ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Upgrading your lens for Rebel XTi? 17-85 USM IS vs 28-135 USM IS vs 17-55 2.8f USM IS vs 24-105 4.0f USM IS *by U***F on January 8, 2008* Folks, I know you want it short. But I am covering quite a bit of information and condensed it so that you can get good information and are able to digest it in less than 5 min. It is quite surprising how many people are being "tortured" with the question on which lens is the right lens when it comes to finding the perfect lens to upgrade the Canon XTi Rebel kit lens (18-55) or even for the Canon 40D (which is often sold with the 28-135 USM IS lens). I read about 500+ reviews and many of them I found very interesting but really did not answer my question on what a good lens is for the Rebel XTi... and with good reasons because YOU have to know what you want or need and then make a call. Here were the criteria I used and I hope you can leverage from these: 1. I wanted a lens which has a great picture quality to have a true upgrade feeling from the Canon 18-55 kit lens (during day light that lens is actually very good and with its light weight is a great carry around lens - however in low light or for really nice portrait shots this lens has limitations not to mention its built quality) 2. I wanted a versatile "Walk Around" lens with good zoom range to cover most of the picture I take (landscape and portraits) in addition to my telephoto lens (70-300mm) 3. If possible a low weight lens - however image quality was a higher priority for me 4. I wanted a Canon lens (though there are very good alternatives from Tamron and Sigma - however they have some disadvantages but given the lower price worth considering) 5. I wanted an Image Stabilizer (IS) and a low noise focus motor, i.e. Canon's USM Many people are looking for a great "Walk Around" lens to avoid changing lenses all the time yet at the same time want great picture qualities. So, your criteria may be different and therefore your choice certainly a good one may differ from mine. As one disclaimer upfront - I am not going into the professional details, i.e. vignetting differeneces at different aperture values or zoom ranges - to make it simple for many readers in this field who just want to make a good decision to buy a great lens without going through the trouble of returning lenses. You will find many reviews on the cropped camera lenses (EF-S) and still people often don't get it right. So, if you have a cropped camera like the Canon Rebel XTi or Canon 40D then the cropped factor is 1.6. In other words no matter what lens you put on these cameras you will get the following zoom ranges which are different from the product names for the lenses: Canon Lens Min Zoom Max Zoom 17-85: 27.2 - 136 28-135: 44.8 - 216 17-55 f2.8: 27.2 - 88 24-105 f4.0 L: 38.4 - 168 Source: Canon's website I went through the extra burden of testing all the lenses myself and not just rely on reviews. So, I went ahead and rented them for 1-2 days and then made up my own verdict so to speak. I also took pictures in similar conditions, looked at them on the computer and printed them out to compare the lenses: 1) The first upgrade lens from Canon which comes to mind is the EF-S 17-85 USM IS f3.5-5.6 lens. This lens would have been a great kit lens but did not meet my requirements for an upgrade lens. It has a very good zoom range and it is still light weight. But the image quality is not as sharp as I would like it to be. And if you commit to spend more money (like $500 for this lens) then you don't want to waste it by just getting a bit more zoom range and an Image Stabilizer. 2) The first lens I actually tried was the EF 24-105 f4.0 USM IS L (luxurious) lens from Canon and I was really happy about the image quality. I was very close to buy this lens but wanted to check out other lenses first. Following drawbacks for me: it is not a wide-angle lens which is useful for landscape shots or even travels shots when you can't afford walking back 5-10 feet. Plus a wide angel lens can give you a nice effect on the picture itself. Another drawback is the aperture value of f4.0 in low light. An aperture factor of f2.8 is faster in low light (the lower the value the larger the aperture - think the Iris of your eye is getting larger and therefore you can see better in low light) and with a running kid or pet at home that is a true advantage. However, with the Image Stabilizer this would not be a big issue. (For more advanced people you can stop down one step to get enough light into the lens in low light conditions but if the object is in motion that may be tricky.) A big plus however is the option to use this lens for any non-cropped canon camera. However, I am ok with using the Rebel XTi and if I want to upgrade to another body later then the 40D would be a great way to go. So, I don't mind to buy EF-S lenses. The EF-S lenses have the advantage that they are generally lighter weight than the full frame lenses. 3) The EF 28-135 USM IS f3.5-5.6 lens has a great zoom range (44-216) but does not have a wide angle (basically anything less than 35mm). However, if zoom range is your top criteria then I'd get the 24-105 L lens without a doubt over this 28-135 lens. For example when you are in full zoom and you are not in bright daylight your pictures will not be as sharp. I tried this lens and the image quality is simply not as good as the 24-105 L lens or the 17-55 f2.8 lens. The 24-105 is also more solidly built. It is a lot of metal built with this lens and it is sealed against dust and water. However, if budget is a constrain to you then the Canon 28-135 lens is a better option for you and according to many folks out there considered to be a better choice than even the EF-S 17-85 USM IS lens. 4) The EF-S 17-55 f2.8 USM IS lens was the last lens I tested and chose over the other three lenses. First, my expectations toward a great image quality (like the 24-105 L lens) were fully met. This lens is using similar components like the L lenses (but it is not fully sealed like the 24-105 L lens is) and shoots extremely well in low light conditions. Plus for a f2.8 (main advantage is large aperture which is very useful for taking great shots in dim lights and faster than f4.0 lenses). Also this lens has less weight (640g) in comparison to the Canon 24-70 EF L f2.8 lens (950g). So, you get a great lens with an acceptable weight. Even the zoom range is fully acceptable to me on my Rebel XTi which comes to 27-88mm. I can take very good portraits shots (without hitting someone's nose with the lens if you will) and it has very nice blur as well (meaning a sharp face in the front and with a blurry background). The only drawback is a flare on some pictures at the bottom of the image when you take pictures using its built-in flash due to the larger lens diameter. However you can either put a better (external) flash light or use Photoshop to correct this issue. I am not a professional photographer and for me this is ok. If you are a professional photographer then you are most likely not as interested in this article anyways. +++Summary+++ The bottom line is that for a true upgrade lens to your kit lens for the Rebel XTi I would recommend the EF-S 17-55 f2.8 IS USM lens. It is worth the investment. This type of lens along with any other L lenses from Canon will always keep its value and you can certainly sell this lens a lot easier if that is the final information you were looking for... ;) I hope this article helps you in directing your decision on which lens to buy. If you are still not sure about what to do then I can only recommend testing the lenses of your choice in a store or ideally rent them or ask your buddies to lend you a lens for a few days. Good luck and enjoy taking great pictures to treasure your memories! Uwe ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM *by B***L on December 13, 2011* I've now had this lens for more than two months and shot more than 3,000 photos with it. Deciding on the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM lens for my wedding photography business is a no-brainer. Nonetheless, I did full due diligence before choosing to part with over $1000 for the glass. Key Considerations: The purpose of this purchase is to get a professional quality lens for shooting weddings to minimize the number of lens swaps I currently have to make today. Durability. Shooting weddings is not quite the same as a photojournalist going into combat. Nonetheless, equipment takes a beating from constant packing and unpacking, bouncing around in the back of cars, being rained upon, getting knocked and jostled as we move about, and being occasionally dropped. Our gear must hold up or we will discover the false economy of buying equipment twice. Weight. Wedding days are marathons for photographers that can last 8-10 hours without much opportunity for a break. That's not much fun when you have 7lbs hanging from your neck all day and evening long. It's exhausting. This is especially important for people with bad backs, knees or ankles. So I try to keep our equipment as light as possible without sacrificing quality. Low-light performance. One of the great challenges of wedding photography is working in bad light. Some chapels or officiates prohibit the use of flashes during the ceremony. And receptions are often at night and are in dark halls. In order to capture the action throughout, we need lenses that can perform well in low light. For me, this means a fixed maximum aperture of f/2.8 or faster. Angle of view. In the past I have used 24-105mm lenses with my 135 film cameras. I consider this focal range ideal for general people photography; 24mm is wide enough for indoor use and group shots without introducing too much distortion and 105mm is fantastic for beautiful portraiture. Our Canon camera bodies have APS-C sensors that are smaller than 35mm film, which reduces the effective angle of view of each image recorded. Placing a 24-105mm lens in front of an APS-C sensor narrows the angle of view by a factor of 1.6, making it the equivalent angle as a 38-168mm lens in front of a 35mm film or full frame digital sensor camera. 38mm on the wide end is simply not wide enough for general wedding work. In order to approximate on an APS-C sensor the angle of view that the 24-105mm lens on a 35mm body provides we multiply the lens size by 0.625, resulting in a lens that is 15-66mm. Options: There are no lenses that are precisely that size. Some L-series glass that are close include: * EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II * EF 17-40mm f/4L * EF 20-35mm f/2.8L * EF 24-70mm f/2.8L * EF 24-105mm f/4L I'm not happy with any of these for use on an APS-C body. The 16-35mm is too short on the long end for portrait work. The 17-40mm is too dark and too short on the long end. The 20-35mm is too narrow a zoom range for all-purpose work (i.e. too narrow on the wide end and too short on the long end). The 24-70mm doesn't get wide enough. Likewise the 24-105mm, which is also darker than I want. EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM I had intended to buy only Canon L-series lenses, but Canon doesn't make an L-series lens optimized for APS-C digital sensor cameras. Yet Canon currently makes only two cameras that feature full-size digital sensors, the 5D Mk II ($2400, 2.5 lbs w/battery grip) and the 1Ds Mk III ($7000, 2.5 lbs.). The rest of their cameras are APS-H (1D Mk IV) or APS-C, including the Rebel models, 60D, and excellent 7D bodies. Angle of view. For those of us that shoot with Canon APS-C bodies, the 17-55mm promises to be the best general purpose standard zoom lens for wedding photographers due to its low-light performance and exceptional sharpness. It is lighter than the L-series lenses but its construction, while solid, is not as bomb proof. 55mm does not reach as far as I would like on the long end (i.e. 66mm), but it is an acceptable compromise to make to preserve the fast maximum aperture. Image stabilization. IS for a lens in this category is a thing of debate. Conventional wisdom among many is that it is unnecessary for a lens this wide. On the other hand, many reviews place the sharpness of this lens on par with or ahead of the world class lenses in this category so it seems to be good for something. Besides, I don't always have the steadiest hands, so I welcome the technological assist. The 17-55mm's IS is a single mode system that does not allow for panning while IS is engaged. Optics. Contributing to the 17-55mm's image quality is the use of three aspherical lens elements and a Super-UD glass element, the kind of glass that is normally only found in L-series lenses. It features internal focusing, coatings to control flare, and a circular aperture diaphragm for buttery beautiful bokeh. What others are saying about this lens: * LensPlay ranks the lens 9th best among all EOS compatible lenses, averaging 9.3 (on a 10 point scale) from 480 user ratings. * Bryan Carnathan at The-Digital-Picture.com writes: "This lens is sharp! Wide open and from edge to edge... I expected its image quality to match or nearly match that of Canon's L Series Lenses as it shares the L-Series UD lens elements. As it turns out, my 17-55 matches or exceeds the optical performance of my L-Series zooms in the similar focal length range... [this] lens is an ideal lens to include in your kit [for] weddings, events, parties, family activities, portraits, etc..." * Gordon Laing at Camera Labs writes, "When you also take the 17-55mm's Image Stabilization facilities into account, you've got a lens which can perform relative miracles under poor light... If you're seriously into portraits or low light work though, the Canon EF-S 17-55mm will delight." * Canonlensreview.com "How does the Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM lens compare to L-Series lenses? You will find out that the Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM lens will either meet or beat the similar range L-Series zoom lenses. In many cases the image quality was better with this lens. It is extremely sharp, very fast and equipped with the image stabilizer function making the Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM lens a force to be reckoned with... The Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM lens will meet and beat the standard zoom L-Series lenses." * SLRGear.com "This would be the lens for a shooter interested in top-notch optical quality and low-light shooting." What's Not So Hot Of course there are some complaints about this lens as well. Fortunate these are few and far between. Dust. Far and away the most frequent complaint about this lens is that it tends to suck dust into it when you are zooming in and out. However, I have not read any reviews that implicate this dust in degrading image quality. Also, there is a simple preventative measure to keep the dust out: use a filter. Apparently the dust finds its way into the lens around the front glass element. Screwing a filter onto the end completes the dust sealing. The folks that do so report no dust problem. Since I always use a lens protector filter, this is not a problem for me. Zoom Ring. I've read a couple of reviews that claim that the zoom ring does not turn as smoothly as do L-series zoom lenses. I've read this complaint more than once but not more than twice, so perhaps these are isolated cases. Or maybe the reviewers had unrealistic expectations. I find the zoom and focus rings to be adequately smooth. Incompatibility. Finally, some folks have complained that they cannot use this lens on their full frame bodies. If we had full frame bodies we'd be buying the excellent EF 24-70mm f/2.8L without hesitation, so I don't understand this complaint. Final Thoughts In the last two months I've used this lens to cover weddings, family portrait sessions, concerts, music competitions, and a convention. This lens has been a joy every step of the way. This lens devours light and is as sharp or is sharper than any L-series lens I have seen. The auto focus is brilliantly fast and quiet. I didn't think that with f/2.8 on an APS-C sensor that I would be able to get such shallow DOF. At the last wedding I shot I didn't swap lenses even once (I keep a longer lens on another body). The IS motors create enough noise that you can hear it when it is really really quiet but it isn't loud enough to be distracting. Contrary to conventional wisdom, IS really does help sharpen things up with wide-angle lenses. My only wish is that it was weather sealed for use in direct rain. The EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM is unequalled (including Canon L-series, Nikkor, or 3rd party) as the ideal general-purpose standard zoom lens for rapidly changing low-light shooting such as weddings for APS-C shooters. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review from a long time user *by N***D on September 5, 2010* This lens has everything I want in a lens. 1. Good build quality Everything about this lens is quality. I could ask more from the zoom ring. It doesn't feel as good as it could at this price range. It does the job fine however. Everything else about this lens is the highest quality. I would not let this one minor thing stop you from buying it. 2. Image Stabilization (seem to work to at least 3 stops...maybe 4) 3. Large constant aperture (F/2.8 all the way through) 4. USM focus (quick and quiet. Does the job fine.) If you have a "kit" lens (18-55) and want your pictures to look WAY better, get this lens. You must consider two things before buying. Are you planning to move to a 5D MkII or another full frame body? (this lens does not fit full frame bodies.) Is your style of photography suited to the 17-55 range? (do you take most shots between 17 and 55mm....as most people do) If you meet these criteria.....you need this lens. You may need a long zoom to go with it, but don't think for one minute that you can get an 18-200 or 18-135 and still get the same image quality. I have the 18-135 and the 17-55 gives me FAR better image quality. If you need more zoom from time to time get this lens and a 55-250. The 55-250 is a good lens and gives you decent image quality at long ranges. It's only about 1/4 of what this lens costs but will cover you in long telephoto shots. The 17-55 will be great for most shots most people take. It took me a long time to realize that all I needed was a better lens. I didn't need more zoom. I finally got this and wish I had done it years ago. I have found this lens more than good in the month since I got it. It weighs a lot but I have taken hundreds of pictures and hundreds of videos with it and love it. If there was an "EF" alternative to this, I would have purchased it. There is no comparison to this lens in the "EF" line-up. Only this EF-S lens has a 2.8 aperture, image stabilization, and USM in this zoom range. All those EF lenses like the 24-70, 24-105, etc... are missing one thing or another. I looked into EF lenses first. If you want it all, this is your lens. There is no EF lens that has these features. I use it with a 7D and have had good, solid results. It will let you shoot with a "pro-caliber" lens. It should be an "L" lens and it should come with a hood. I gave it 4 stars at first because it's zoom mechanism was not as smooth as it could have been and it costs more than it should. Since then I have grown to like the zoom ring and the overall performance of the lens made me change to 5 stars. Update after 9 months : I have used this lens a lot in the past 9 months. I could not be any happier. The one issue I was concerned about was dust getting inside. I have not seen a problem with dust. I used a UV filter for about 4 months. I then took it off and still did not see any issue with dust getting inside. I live in a dry dusty area so I would have seen the problem if it were a problem. The IQ of this lens is great! The F/2.8 aperture all the wat through the zoom range has been the best however. Other companies make similar lenses as you might know. One or both of the major companies lenses have zoom mechanisms which turn the opposite of Canon lenses. That would not be easy to get used to...but it might save you some money. I decided to go with Canon because I knew it would be good quality and I am SO glad I did. After 9 months of heavy use I cannot say enough about the lens. From handling to IQ to size and weight it just satisfies me in every way. I also have a 24-105 F/4L I really like. If I could only choose 1 I don't know what I would do. Update 4/21/13 - I have now had this lens for about 3 years. I use it more than any other lens. I have a 24-105 F/4L which I love. The 17-55 wins out for everyday use because it can go so much wider at 17mm and it's constant F/2.8 aperture. I have had no problems with the lens. I kept a filter on for a while because of dust concerns. I have now used it for about 2 years mostly with no UV filter. I have seen no dust problems. The lens is overpriced. I think Canon should drop the price by at least $200 to be competitive with Sigma and Tamron who now have alternatives. With that said, the Canon is still the best option for the best results. Resale will be much better with the Canon should you ever decide to sell. I would highly recommend you buy this lens. With all it's features and resale value you simply can't loose. It's the best all around every day lens for a Canon EF-S mount for almost anything...including video. ## Frequently Bought Together - Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras, Black - 1242B002 - Amazon Basics UV Protection Camera Lens Filter - 77mm - Haoge Bayonet Lens Hood for Canon EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 is USM Lens Replaces Canon EW-83J --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.sn/products/1156891-canon-ef-s-17-55mm-f-2-8-is-usm](https://www.desertcart.sn/products/1156891-canon-ef-s-17-55mm-f-2-8-is-usm) --- *Product available on Desertcart Senegal* *Store origin: SN* *Last updated: 2026-06-02*