Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens

I got this lens after some hesitation, partly because of its supposed "softness" and partly because of the lens working only on the aps-sized sensor cameras. I have been very glad that I decided to get it. The list price _is_ probably too high, but this is eBay, right? While I am amazed that some people will bid lenses and other things higher than mail-order retail prices, I was able to get this lens new from the eBay retail operation of one of the big New York stores for very much less than retail-- so much for its cost. As for softness-well, it produces images on a 20D that are sharper than the 35mm Kodachrome images from my best Nikkors, as digitized at 4000 dpi. It's not a copy lens, but the image stabilization is even better than that on the older IS lenses, and combined with the Canon high ISO abilities, this lens is a treat. By comparison with the little kit lens (18-55mm), it weighs a ton, but the total lens and camera package is well balanced and comfortable to use. Finally, the new 30D Canon shows that Canon is committed to the smaller sensor size for a little while longer, for sure.

LATER - hey, I did get a 5D and a 24-105mm IS L lens, but I still use the 17-85mm IS as my main shooting lens on my two APS-C cameras. I still don't regret buying it -- for one thing, I've had the use of it for a couple of years.

Still later - This lens has been replaced by a new EF-S 15-85mm IS. Many of us who love this lens had hoped for a fantastically improved new one, but it seems to be only somewhat better, and costs almost half again as much. Makes the old one still very attractive used.

Pros:
5x zoom
Super-fast Ultrasonic Motor
Image Stabilization
Full-time manual focus ability
Circular aperture
Non-rotating front element
Excellent optical quality

Cons:
Size
Weight
Cost
Macro performance

The added telephoto range (5x zoom ratio, 28-135mm equivalent), super-fast Ultrasonic Motor and Image Stabilization were well worth the cost for me. I am constantly shooting in low light conditions, so Image Stabilization has been a lifesaver.

An important note on Image Stabilization: It will significantly improve your hand-held slow shutter shots (i.e. low light) ONLY if the subject is not moving. It lens can't keep your baby from flailing it's arms, but it can keep the image on the image sensor a little more stable and counteract the hand-shake that even the best photographers have.

The lens is large and heavy compared to the standard 18-55mm kit lens, but I prefer its more substantial feel (most of the time) but it will make you camera bag noticeably more snug. If your Camrea is a tight fit with the stock lens, it will probably not fit your bag with this lens - something worth planning for.

The components are all high quality (metal mount, aspheric elements etc.). This is simply a great general purpose with a broad range of abilities.

The one area in which I miss the stock lens is in macro photography, the stock 18-55mm has a very good close-focusing ability of just .9 feet whereas the 17-85mm is at 1.2 feet, with the higher telephoto focal length of 85mm the framing is virtually the same, but I prefer the 18-55mm for macros, it's just good - especially for the price.

The cost is considerable, especially if you are upgrading for the first time, but there are a few things to consider:
1] For $400 (or less), you can extend your camera body’s usefulness considerably. If you have a $1200 30D, that’s a sound investment.
2] If you are replacing a kit lens, they fetch $70-$100 on eBay.
3] If you think you want something that’s full frame compatible (meaning an EF and not a EF-S) for that “some day”, consider that Canon is still producing APS-C (EF-S) sized cameras by the millions, literally. MEANING the resale market will be quite strong for decades to come.

If you're looking for a good Pro-sumer choice, this is it; if you're looking for a professional Lens with awe-inspiring optics, look at spending a grand (or two) more (USD).

This lens is a great carry around lens for Canon EOS 20D, 30D, Rebel XT and the other cameras to come that supports EF-S type lens. EF-S type lens only works with the cameras that have 1.6x crop sensor(with EF-S lens support), and the lens won't work with Canon's 5D, 1D series because they got either full frame or 1.3x crop sensor.

There has been other reviews that the lens is somewhat soft, and I agree that it is soft a bit - comparing it to "L" lens or non-zoom lens such as 50mm. But if you need versatility and light weight is what makes this lens so popular among 20D, 30D users. Plus it's got an amazing IS system on board. IS - Image Stabilization WORKS like a charm! If you haven't used one of these IS lens, you should check it out and if you have shaky hands and constantly getting blurred images due to your hand movement, this will definetely give you sharper image.

Many EF-S supporting cameras comes with 18-55mm lens as a kit. 17-85mm seems to focus better and faster. Also, USM (Ultra Sonic Motor) is virtually silent operation when autofocusing.

With 1.6x crop sensor, the lens will perform as 27.2mm-136mm. The image quality, sharpness, colors are very similar to Canon EF 28-135mm lens.

I love this lens!!! I have NEVER used or owned any type of camera that had the capablility to accept different lenses. I have always used the instamatics or point and shoot digitals. I love photography and the feel of print pictures. So this review is coming from a COMPLETE amature in every sense of the word. I purchased this particular lens after my husband gave me the Canon Rebel XT for my 40th birthday a few weeks ago. He also booked a trip to China for me and he knows how much I love taking pictures. This lens was the ONLY one that I used for all 1600 photos of my trip and they ALL came out great! During the Peking Opera and Acrabactic shows in a very dark theater I did not use my flash or a tripod ever and every single picture came out crystal clear. I can't say enough about this lens for one thing, I don't know all of the proper photograpic jargon to use. However, this is a nice lens and very light weight. I also like the Macro feature too. I am still playing with it and if a complete novice found pleasure with this little lens I'm sure a more experienced user could really make use of all the bells and whistles featured with this lens. Oh...I almost forgot to mention, I used a polarized UV filter on this lens and the lens cap fits right over it. I read somewhere that you could not use a lens cap and filter together but it worked fine for me. This lens is worth the money and can easily be the ONLY lens that one would use during average photo situations like vacations and family snaps.

Happy IS USM Lens Owner
Barbie

With the newest Nikon D80 reportedly having surpassed the latest Rebel XTi in the ongoing battle of the prosumer DSLR, I decided to save a large sum of money (relatively speaking) and bought last year's highly acclaimed Rebel XT with the 18-55 lens kit. Sadly, once out of the box I wasn't overly impressed with the image quality, except for a few functional advantages over my much-used Canon A620.

After a fair amount of on-line reading and a trip to a local photography store to consult their photo guru I bought this lens, and what a marked difference. Replacing the bundled 18-55 USM lens with this 17-85 IS USM has really made the camera for me. Now the resulting images have the striking high quality I had been eagerly anticipating.

While the 17-85 IS USM lens is significantly (but not obscenely) larger in size, weight and definitely cost relative to the bundled lens, more importantly it fulfilled the goal of the whole undertaking: creative, strikingly high quality images taken easily.

This lens does have some nice features. The Image Stabilization is great. It does have some shortcomings as well. It's rather soft around the corners unless you stop down substantially. For the price, it should be sharp at all f-stops. Once it's stopped down, it performs well but when using the lens in any program mode other than Aperture Priority, the EOS digital cameras have a tendency to go for the fastest shutter speed and the widest aperture. Even on a tripod with the IS engaged, it is soft around the edges when wide open. Add to that the fact that it is only functional on the smaller chip cameras and not full size sensors and it is disappointing at it's current price.

I think this lens is very sharp and a great carry around lens.
I have upgraded from the Digital Rebel with the standard Kit lens to the 20D
with this lens and, while the rebel w/kit lens is an great combo, There is no comparison to the expanded color and resolution that I get now. I am very satisfied with the macro capabilities of the lens as well, though I do shoot at the highest resolution and crop as necessary. Images look just incredible.
I haven't noticed the softness that everyone has been mentioning, but it is probably because I shoot mostly in the 35mm to 85mm range of the lens and close ups mainly. If you can find this lens around $550 or less go for it, you won't be sorry.
Pros: One lens versatility- All you need to go on vacation. Very good sharpness and color. The lens stabilizer works great.
Cons: Lens Weight (I actually love the longer lens barrel- it allows for more left hand support- My wife feels the weight and can use it just for a short time without a tripod). Price- but if you can find a bargain...

I bought this lens a few months ago and used it with a rebel xt and a 20d and was more than happy with the results... to all the people out tthere who call this lens soft i'll have to say that i never found that to be true. Granted you don't get quite the quality of an L series lens but that to be expected for the price. I can honestly say that this lens is the perfect match for any digital rebel camera...i've used it from portraits to landscapes...you will not be disappointed.

I used this lens for a few months; I took more than 5000 pictures with it and am quite happy with it. Some people say that this lens is soft; this is type of people that use lenses for "tests" not for taking pictures. It is easy to criticize a product but in this range for this money it is not possible to find anything better.

I love the overall performance of this lens. I think all lenses should have image stabilization. I am able to hand hold at 1/15th of a second and get great results. The color you get with this lens is over the top.

I guess you could say I have re-discovered photography with this lens. The fun is back and boy is it so much fun

I use a Canon EOS 20D and with the kit lens your pictures are jus passable.
Canon should package a camera of this price with a much better lens and get reviews more favorable to the camera lens combination. That is another story. One that I think Canon has heard, but not listening to. They should realize that loyalty only goes so far.

That being said, Canon quality can,t be beat. I'll stay with Canon for the near future.

Got the kit EF-S 18-55mm lens? That will only last a few month..... before you can't resist buying a better lens, that is. If you haven't buy the camera, ditch the 18-55mm lens and just buy the body only and use the $ to get this lens instead. Great lens, Image Stabilizer is a photo-saver in tons of occasion. The Ultrasonic Focus Motor provide incredible focus speed with minimum noise. I used it for my Rebel XTi and proves to be a great starter lens compare to the 18-55mm. Now I have to get rid of the stock lens somehow... eBay time..

I am well pleased with this lens. I was using a Canon 28-135 on a 20D and needed a wider angle. The 17-85 filled that need perfectly. This lens serves all my needs for a small lens, from portrait to landscape, and even some close ups like flowers and insects, although not a macro.
The stabilizer is great.
The only negative I can find is the noticeable distortion on the edges. I mention this because it is a negative, but not a problem. Just take your photo normally, centering the subject, than crop off the edges and you have a perfect photo. It is not even noticeable on scenery shots.

I didn't realize there would be such an amazing difference between the 18-55mm kit lens and the 17-85mm IS USM lens. It's absolutely amazing!!! Now I understand what all the fuss is about with IS lenses! This lens has a macro setting and is equivalent to a 28-135mm range in 35mm world. I can't wait to really take it out on shoots. Great glass!

This lens came highly recommended from a group of friends who are photography enthusiasts, and this lens did not disappoint me at all. Since my hands are not the steadiest on the face of the planet, I needed the IS (image stabilization). The IS is great! Other than the stock lens that came with my camera, this is currently the only lens I own. I can get some good macro shots with this lens as long as the object is six or seven inches away from the lens. For me, the telophoto side of it leaves a bit to be desired. I rated it "Good" because of the telophoto aspect of it. It is a great lens for walking about and taking pics of things moving (has a very fast focal time) or standing still. Would I buy this lens again? Yes, the macro lens for Canon does not offer IS (for me, a tripod is needed), and the larger telophoto lenses that come with IS are pretty expensive. It is a great middle of the road lens.

This is a good lens with good glass. Not an L quality but plenty good.
Positives: USM, IS, Moderate Zoom
Negatives: ? long term build quality, Variable aperature zoom. Not a great lens in lower light situations. The IS will allow slower shutter speeds however.
I have found a reasonable solution for indoor flash. Buy a device that attaches to most external flashes called the Ultimate Light Box. This will help this lens get the light it needs for indoor photography without blowing out the highlights.

This is now my favorite walk around lens. It is sharp and clear as well as relatively light weight and very powerful. I love the flexibility and versatility it offers me while working in all conditions. An extremely good value for the money. Especially for what I found it for on ebay.

In general, this lens is good for everyday carry and shooting. While not as sharp as 'L' glass, it's more than adequate and has the advantage of longer tele reach. Build quality is reasonable, and the IS function as well as optical quality is a great advantage over the normal kit lens supplied with the Rebel XTi. However, the lens does suffer from tele creep when carried nose down. Slightly agrivating, but not a show stopper.

I bought this lens for everyday, general use purposes. The wide angle to mid tele zoom is perfect for those situations.
The build quality is solid. The weight is much heavier than the 18-55 kit lens that came with my Rebel XT. The USM motor is very quiet and fast at focusing.
In good light or used with a flash it produces sharp pictures. But I found that in low light conditions without a flash it was too slow. At f/4 was just not fast enough to capture moving objects even with IS switched on and with high ISO. As a result I had to go out and buy an additonal lens. (In my case, the 50mm 1.8)
Overall, I think it is a little expensive, especially since it does not come with a lens hood. But I am happy. The USM, with IS and full time manual focus are great features.

I bought this lens because it is versatile, and lightweight. I will take it backpacking. The image stabilization is excellent, with sharp images at 1/4 sec (I admit that was on the 17mm end of the lens). On the downside, f5.6 at 85mm is pretty slow, and for portraits I prefer to use a prime 85mm lens instead.

The zoom capabilities is excellent for regular use, wheter you want to take a picture of scenery, or you want to zoom in slightly to take a picture of somehting far away. Good lens for its price

I tried several aftermarket lenses, on my Canon digital rebel XT with varying success. I could not get a consistent shot with any of them. Now with the Canon lense, almost all my shots come out sharp and crisp. It's worth the money. I gess that because the camera is digital it needs to be calibrated to the lens to get a good shot, and ofcourse it's calibrated to other Canon lenses.

We used this lens at a wedding last weekend. Great addition to our canon family. Very fast & clear .Love this lens

Great midrange zoom lens with image stabilization and autofocus. Allows hand held photography down to 1/30 sec! Image clarity and sharpness is superb.