Wrap up features of Canon EF-S 17-85mm:
• Ring-type ultrasonic monitor (USM) is superior for auto-focusing (1.15ft close)
• standard zoom lens with f/4-5.6 maximum aperture
• very handy weighing 475g (1 lb) measuring 78.5mm (3.1”) in diameter and 92mm (3.6”) long
• EF-S Lens mount appropriate for EOS (Canon) bodies particularly 20D and Rebel Series bodies
• Image Stabilization (IS) – reduces camera shake and convenient to use in low-light situations
• 1 year warranty

The Pros:
• Efficient image stabilization (IS)
• High quality autofocus with useful manual focus option
• Good build quality- better than any of Canon's 18-55mm kit lenses
• Excellent focal length rage

The Cons:
• Poor optical performance at wideangle with the intrusion of /magenta chromatic deviation and marked barrel distortion
• Average close-up performance
• Slow aperture speed

Cannon’s EF-S 17-85mm is the main advancement from Canon’s EF-S 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 II kit lens. Its versatile “walkaround” lens makes it ideal when traveling light. Features included are extended focal length range, image stabilization, high quality manual focus option for fast and silent autofocus, and essentially improved build quality. So, if you have any thoughts of buying or upgrading your kit lens, Cannon EF-S 17-85mm is best fit for you and for your photographic activity.
Cannon EF-S 17-85mm main feature is the image stabilization that works as promised delivering a good imaging performance especially in the telephoto region.
However, the intrusion of green/magenta chromatic deviation at 17mm brings poor optical performance at the wideangle end which is highly visible mostly in any shooting situations. At this range the lens reveal a barrel distortion but it can be remedied through the use of either Photoshop Lens Correction adjustment or Canon's Digital Photo Pro (v3.4 or later).

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• Powerful ring-type ultra-sonic monitor (USM) produces fast and silent autofocusing (1.15ft close)
• Standard zoom lens with f/4-5.6 maximum aperture
• Very handy weighing 475g (1 lb) measuring 78.5mm (3.1”) in diameter and 92mm (3.6”) long
• EF-S Lens mount ideal for EOS (Canon) bodies specifically in 20D and Rebel Series bodies
• Image Stabilization (IS) technology – for less-blurry photos as a result of shaky hands
• 1 year warranty
• Effective image stabilizer (IS) that works as promised
• Decent manual focus option beneficial for high quality autofocus
• Superior build quality- better than any of Canon's 18-55mm kit lenses
• Extremely useful focal length rage for faster and higher quality

• Intrusion of magenta chromatic deviation and marked barrel distortion brings poor performance at wide-angle
• Average close-up performance
• Slow aperture speed

Canon EF-S 17-85mm, a major improvement from Canon’s EF-S 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 II kit lens offers attractive features appropriate for individuals who are into photography while traveling light. Its extended focal length range, image stabilization (IS), good manual focus option for fast and silent autofocus, and essentially improved build quality makes it an ideal all-in-one “walk around” lens for Canon’s APS-C SLRs.
Canon EF-S 17-85mm key feature is its good imaging performance across almost all range specializing in the telephoto region and image stabilization (IS), which is one of the recent developments in digital camera technology promising photos to appear less-blurry or clearer compare to its original result.
On the other hand, Cannon EF-S 17-85mm exhibits poor optical performance at wide angle end by the interference of green/magenta chromatic deviation at 17mm, which is extremely visible in almost any of shooting situations. Also, at 17mm range, the lens displays a barrel distortion which makes it far from being an ideal lens for photographic architecture. But need not to worry, with the help of Photoshop Lens Correction adjustment or Canon's Digital Photo Pro (v3.4 or later) the “uninvited substance” can be eliminated.

-Affordable
-Useful focal range
-Reasonably sharp
-Quick and quiet AF
-Internal focussing
-Well built but portable
-Effective IS

-Lots of Chromatic Aberration
-A little soft towards the edges

I bought this lens to replace the 18-55mm kit lens that came with my Canon EOS 450D as i felt that first optic just wasn't sharp enough. Upon handling the lens for the first time it felt significantly heavier than the 18-55mm which is evidence for its superior optical quality and build. The lens barrel has a matte black finish and does not significantly deform when pressure is applied, whilst the all-metal lens mount adds to the more professional handling experience. Meanwhile the focussing ring can be rotated at any time (full time manual focussing as it's known) due to the more advanced optical design than the kit lens, which is a useful feature in certain situations when the photographer wishes to tweak the focus after the AF system has done it's job. Both zoom and focus rings are of a manageable width and turn smoothly. Neither feels too tight or too loose and there is no 'creep' when the lens is stored vertically or aimed down or up. Overall the 17-85mm handles well, being comfortable to hold and having reassuring weight, whilst being highly portable. So it feels nice, but what about optical quality? Well when images are printed at A4 and larger or when they are viewed at 100% on the computer screen there is a clear advantage in sharpness over the 18-55 kit lens. When paired with a 12 megapixel camera like the 450D this glass can resolve a very decent amount of detail and contrast and colour is very good. Photos do tend to get a little soft towards the edges of the frame, especially at maximum aperture but this is to be expected. The lens' circular iris produces some very attractive Bokeh aswell which is a bonus for portrait and macro photographers. One place where it does fall down slightly is in terms of chromatic aberration. There is very obvious coloured fringing along high contrast edges which can distracting when looking at your pictures. However, if you're shooting RAW and you have Canon's Digital Photo Professional software this can be effectively removed post capture. There is some noticeable barrel distortion at the 17mm end of the focal length range but in most situations this isn't a huge issue and most certainly shouldn't be a deal breaker. Performance wise the auto focus is lightning-quick and very quiet thanks to Canon's USM and the IS system is very welcome in lower-light conditions.
Overall this is a very attractive piece of glass that is perfect for the enthusiast who is looking for quality but can't afford Canon's L-series lenses. This optic can be used in virtually every situation but is especially useful for the landscaper, portrait photographer and possibly for wedding photography. The Canon EF-S 17-85mm IS USM lens has made me very happy (especially considering i'm an 18 year-old student on a tight budget!) and i'd recommend it if, like me, you're looking to upgrade your bundled kit lens. A good all-round performer that is great for the enthusiast and even the professional.

Customer Service

Park Cameras offered me a very good deal on this lens. It arrived rapidly only a few days after i ordered it, was well packaged and came with a free canon lens guide for me to drool over (pity they couldn't have sent me a free EF 200 f2 IS USM aswell!) Overall the service was good and i would recommend people who are looking to buy the 17-85mm or similar lens to keep an eye on Park Cameras' sales.

Similar Products Used:

-Canon EF-S 18-55mm IS
-Canon EF 50mm f1.8

Good focus range, build quality, light, focuses fast and silently.

VERY soft !

Got this in a kit with Canon 40D.
The lens has a very useful focus range, well built for the prices and boast very efficient image stabilization.
The image quality is simply horrible, the images looks much softer than my EF 28-135, which was developed much earlier.
I had to send the whole kit back.

Similar Products Used:

Canon EF 28-135

Above average in all departments.

not yet found any

This is an all round very able lens . It is a "Walk Round" lens. Therefore there are compromises in its design / construction.

When you consider it is a L O N G Zoom with near "L" quality optics you will realise that it is not as expensive as it first appears.

Nicely balanced, a little soft at f4 17mm and yes fringeing is noticable from time to time. All round though this is a fine piece of glass. If you want an f1 1mm-1000mm with NO vices then start to save your money 'cause when they invent one it WILL be expensive. For now we have this, which is probably the best compromise availabe at this time... Excellent lens.

Well built
IS is amazing
Light and small-ish
Consistently excellent photos, given a little sharpening in Photoshop

Expensive for a non- L lens - NZ$1100
Some CA
Soft, but see above.
Doesn't come with a hood

An excellent mid-range zoom. Photos are slightly soft but sharpen up nicely in Photoshop although at least it's consistent through all apertures and focal lengths. IS is impressive, and the lens is built tough by consumer lens standards. I dropped my 30D with this attached, and the lens hit the deck hood-first which bent the lens completely out of shape, but given a good yank it snapped back into shape and shows no damage or image quality problems at all.
Purple fringing is a bit of an issue but only when at 17mm or so. Lightroom or DxO correct this so no worries.
Very happy with this lens, would certainly get another if I ever destroy it completely!

Customer Service

Not needed it yet!

Similar Products Used:

Canon 18-55
Canon 70-300

Unique Versatile Focal Range, Image Stabilization, USM, Low Weight, Low light possibilities

No hood, requires corrective post-processing, only EF-S.

I got this lens as part of a deal which included it and the Rebel XT. If you can buy it as part of this kind of package, then it is a really GREAT deal. This lens is extremely convenient, specially for travel and those situations (quite common) in which you just can’t take too many lenses with you. Its versatility means it will be the only lens many will need. Some criticize its image quality and its distortions. The distortions can be fixed in very affordable programs such as PTLENS, and the image quality, specially above 35mm is extremely good. It is a great lens to have as a low-light alternative for situations such as those in museums where no tripod/flash is allowed. Besides, if you check out resolution figures which compare the famous “85 1.8” at 1.8 and this lens at 85 f/5.6 (+ 3 stops with IS which would be more or less equivalent to 1.8), you will see that the figures are almost identical (see, www.photozone.de). This lens also allows for nice bokeh.


All in all, a convenient lens for those who are ready to sacrifice some image quality for the chance to take photos which otherwise might never be taken.

Customer Service

Excellent

Similar Products Used:

Tamron 17-50 2.8

Image stabilisation.

Soft, soft, soft.

Not good. Have had two brand new off the shelf samples of this lens from 2 very different suppliers niether sample was what I would classify as suitable for commercial use. Unsharp is the key word here. Even when stopped right down F11 and beyond the results are soft images. Sent one back the other is going on sale.

Five times zoom range equivalent to 28 - 135 mm on a full frame camera, fast accurate auto focussing ( more accurate when zoomed out to the long end ) Internal stabilisation that really works, reasonably priced, compact, no mechanical or functional problems thus far, after several thousand exposures. Excellent image definition at all focal lengths, except in the extreme corners, which is no big deal.

The most troublesome problem with this lens is strong chromatic aberration which presents as colour fringing in high contrast parts of photos especially at the wide end of the focal length range, and towards the edge of the frame. This can be reduced but not always eliminated in Photoshop. There is strong barrel distortion at the wide end, easily corrected in Photoshop, and darkening in the corners at the wide end, also easily corrected in Photoshop if desired. Some image softness right in the corners at all focal lengths wide open.

I have used this lens on an EOD 20D for over a year. The 17 - 85 mm is an excellent all purpose lens, ideal for travelling when you want only one lens on the camera. Unlike some other posts on this site I have had no problems with image sharpness at any focal length or aperture. I have in fact been able to enlarge photos made with this lens up to A2 size, using bicubic in Photoshop while retaining excellent detail and definition. It was the excellent results I obtained with this lens which allowed me to realise I do not need a full frame digicam to achieve high quality photos.

Customer Service

Not required for this lens but usually excellent from Canon Australia

Similar Products Used:

EF 28 - 135 mm Zoom for film cameras.
EFS 17 - 55 mm f2.8

Zoom range, IS

Unsharp, purple fringing (CA), barrel distortion, poor colors and contrast, expensive.

Although very promessing specs the lens has major flaws: barrel distortion, purple fringing in the corners in high contrast pictures. Dark in the corners and overall poor contrast and very bad colors. I tested the lens just one day and returned it to the shop. The lens even doesn't tand a comparisson to the standard kit EFS 17-55 lens. Read carefuly all critics on this lens and don't believe the "just perfect" comments. Very disappointing from Canon. Save your money for something else.