Bargain Price, focal range, Frame linearity for sharpness, consistency across focal range, build, Weather sealing, contrast, colour, AF speed, really close focussing distance, far better lens than the dissapointing 16-35L and the even worse older 17-35L F2.8 models

Canon`s QC - like a lot of L-series lenses, it`s hit and miss whether you`ll get a good one or a lemon - get your act together Canon !!!

I had the 16-35L but it was never right and ended up with a refund in the end and got the 17-40.. I have seen the output from a good 16-35 and the 17-40 beats it for sharpness across the frame at F4 17mm by a large margin, the 16-35 is very soft cornered, also the 17-40 is a vast improvement for flare and better for chromatic aberration too. contrast, colour are just as good and the 5mm on the long end are worth the sacrifice of 1mm at the wide end. My copy is as sharp at 40mm as it is at 17 which is superb. my summary is that nowadays with All Current Canon Digital SLRs having sensitive AF and usable High ISO ratings, there really is no need for the expensive heavily compromised 16-35L now the 17-40 has come along and £600 cheaper as well!, it really is a better lens and on the EOS1D becomes effective 22-52mm which gives you great wide angle up to standard focal length - Excellent, nice one Canon!

Customer Service

Canon`s repair centre are Helpful and they CARE but not too impressed with the achievements with repairing lenses

Similar Products Used:

EF17-35L F2.8, EF20-35 F2.8L, EF16-35 F2.8L, Tokina 20-35 ATX-Pro, Sigma 20-40EX DF F2.8

Rugged build quality Well-damped zoom and MF rings Fast and accurate AF Sharp enough wide open (using 1.6X CMOS) Good focal range IMHO for a 10D (27.2-64mm) vs (25.6-56mm) with a 16-35L. Great value for money!

Barrel distortion at widest end (typical of such zooms) f/4.0 - DOF not shallow enough for certain applications. In fact, even f/2.8 won't make much difference on a wide-angle anyway.

Initially I was skeptical about this lens, Canon's purported inconsistent QC for its older brother the 16-35L made me think twice about wanting to take the gamble. My fears were allayed the moment I took pics with it and my new 10D. It feels every bit of what an L lens should be, fast and precise focus even in low light, well-damped zoom and MF rings, nice weather sealing at the EF-mount. The finish on the lens barrel is the same as that on the new 24-70L, which makes it look more rugged and less likely to get worn down by constant use. Pic quality is on par with my other 2 lenses (28-70L and 70-200L) so no worries there. I'd recommend anyone contemplating this lens to just go ahead and get it. It'll probably go down in history as one of the best wide angle zooms Canon ever made. Too bad though that it ain't 2.8!

Customer Service

As mentioned in all my other reviews Canon Malaysia does very well in the customer service dept. Quick turnaround plus courteous service puts them among the best in this country. Even though in Malaysia they're probably on top but they don't let it get to their heads. Kudos.

Similar Products Used:

EF 28-70L EF 70-200L EF 50 1.8II

Beautifully built, smooth zoom and quick, silent USM focus. Handles well even though it's kinda big. I appreciate the 77mm filter thread; pretty standard for a lot of lenses I own (line the 100-400 IS). Optics are excellent -- except for the distortion problem.

It's pretty large. The major issue for architectural photographers, and for nature photographers who want flat horizons, is some noticeable barrel distortion especially at the wide end.

A very, very nice lens in nearly all respects. Optically superb, does not vignette with a polarizer even wide open at 17 mm (on a film camera). Fairly easy to handle even though the lens hood is HUGE! Note the very visible barrel distortion at the wide end of the zoom range; can be a problem if you want nice flat horizons. This can be annoying even for nature/landscape photographers -- it's surprising how often a landscape has a fairly level horizon that will appear distorted with this lens (unless it's dead-center in the frame). Not cheap but from my brief but extensive use it appears to be good value for money. Because of the distortion I give it 4 stars for value.

Customer Service

Not used

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 18-35, Sigma 15-30

One great feature not often touted with this lens is it's extremely close focusing capability. I have not measured it, but anything up to as close as around 4-5 inches from the front of the lens can be focussed- amazing. No need for closeup lenses or tubes. I did several round tables at a wedding receiption with 10 people and in many cases could only back up around 3-4 feet from the table and this lens did a GREAT job covering the whole area with great sharpness & very well controlled distortion at the edge of the frame. The build-quality is terrific. If you've only used Canon's lower consumer line of lenses you cannot appreciate how well made their L-series of lenses are, and this one is no exception. Very smooth focusing and zooming action, and absolutely first-rate optical quality. With all it's quality construction is it extremely easy to carry around due to it's minimal weight for such a lens. I was truly suprised as to how light it was the first time I held it.

None I can see at all. A true jack of all trades kinda lens for the superwide to nornal range of focal lengths.

I've had a chance now to shoot several test rolls (I am film only at this time) and even used this lens extensively in a wedding shoot. The one I have is tack sharp at EVERY focal length and F-stop. For people who consider a 35mm focal length "normal" as I do, this is a great superwide to normal zoom. Coupled with the 70-200 f4L you have a great, sharp, lightweight outfit capable of almost any type photography.

Customer Service

Not needed

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 20-35/2.8. True- it was faster, but much heavier so less handy to carry around.

Crystal clear optics, light, fast, and very reasonably priced.

None

What can I say about this lens that hasn't been said by others--it is just superb, and an ideal primary lens for the 10D.

Similar Products Used:

Nothing else compares!

Razor sharp (even wide open, and all the way from 17-40) , good color reproduction, contrasty, smooth zoom-ring.

None so far!

All in all a superb product. I have used the lens for three weeks, and it's a best buy for $799. I didn't have the chance to test it, before i bought it, but i saw the reviews on this site, and i must say, that i'm convinced. I've tried many of the Nikon lenses and some of the Canon lenses, and i must say, that this is one of the best lenses, that i've tried! If the rest of the Canon L-series is as good as this lens, then i'm sure that i will go for some of the other L-series lenses as well.

Similar Products Used:

Many of the Nikon lensen. About 8-10 of the Canon lenses.

Sharpness Weight Build Price

None

This lens is just so sharp on my 10D! I was so impressed with it I went out and got rid of most of my 'normal' lenses and traded them for a couple more 'L' lenses. The 10D responded really well to this lens. It is light by 'L' standards, well made and focuses quickly without fuss. I have no complaints about softness anywhere on the images I have taken so far. My best lens in terms of overall image quality.

Customer Service

Not needed

Similar Products Used:

28-135IS, 24-70L

price. it's sharpness, a L water/dust proof lens.

not found yet.

It would be a perfect lens that balance it's peformance and price. The image is sharp at full zoom range, although the corners is a little bit blur at 17mm wide open. it's still understandable for a wide zoom lens (which doesn't actually?)

Customer Service

not used yet.

Similar Products Used:

EF24-85 3.5-4.5 USM, EF 20-35 2.5/4.5 USM, 70-200 f/4 and f/2.8 L USM, etc....

very sharp and responsive.

"O"

one word..."Fantastic" and incredible to say the least. for us 1/6x multiplier camera users, this lens is a dream come true. not only is it better than the 16-35L, but it even feels better built. great color and contrast.

Similar Products Used:

24-70L.......70-200L.........85 f/1.2L

Quality, sharpness, contrast, color rendition, flare control, handling, weight, price

none found yet

This is exactly the piece glass I was looking for to complement my 35-350 in order to go light within a range of 17-350. This very well build marvel of a lens is tack sharp throughout the range (even wide open), contrast and color rendition are incredible, flare is perfectly under control and distortion is only very little. This lens is just wonderful. For me there is absolutely no reason at all to even think about the 16-35L, since one f-stop more wouldn't really help very much for more background blur anyway and to spend almost twice as much for a heavier lens for little or no reason doesn't make sense to me.

Similar Products Used:

Canon 35-350L Sigma 18-35 (a really bad, bad lens)