Last update: Review & Sample Photos @ CameraLabs (added on 17.04.07)

Canon EF-s 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM features Compact and lightweight standard zoom lens specifically for digital SLR’s that accept EF-S lenses, 5x zoom ratio, mage Stabilizer gives the equivalent effect of a shutter speed three stops faster, Inner focusing, ring USM and new AF algorithms for fast and quiet autofocusing, Double-sided, aspherical lens element (GMo) for high image quality at all focal lengths, Optimized lens coating minimising flare and ghosting prone occurring with digital cameras, Minimum focusing distance of 0.35m at all focal lengths, and Circular aperture for beautiful out-of-focus images.

Canon EF-s 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Latest Price

>> REVIEWS (last updated: 17.04.07)

CameraLabs reviews the Canon EF-S 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM lens (rating: 74%) and writes:
“Ultimately if you can accept its optical issues and the fact it will only ever work on EF-S compatible bodies, there’s a lot going for the Canon 17-85mm. It’s far from perfect and arguably over-priced, but none-the-less remains one of the best general purpose lenses for owners of Canon EF-S compatible bodies; as such it misses out on our top rating, but still comes Recommended.”

Photozone reviews the Canon EF-S 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM lens and writes:
“The EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 USM IS is a lens that promises many things. It is certainly a very versatile standard zoom with a long zoom range and an image stabilizer that can save the day in many situations. However, the build quality is somewhat disappointing and optically it is also something of a mixed bag. The lens is very sharp in the image center throughout the range but at the wide-end the extreme corners leave something to be desired. The 17mm setting also suffers from rather extreme distortions and rather hefty vignetting @ f/4. Finally chromatic aberrations aren’t really something to rave about either….While this may sound a little sceptical I should note that I preferred the lens compared to other higher quality options during testing - it is simply a darn convenient lens and despite the flaws it can produce very decent images as you can see from the samples - at least with a little tool support. “

Photodo reviews the Canon EF-S 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM lens and writes:
“I can’t help feeling that Canon have pushed the focal range a tad too far at the wide end of this optic because from the 20mm mark through to the 85mm end it is a cracking walkabout lens. It is only the widest few millimetres that let it down a touch. Having said that, with a little judicious work post processing images at that end, they are still very usable. The Image Stabilisation system is a boon in low lighting conditions and made pictures in those situations quite viable. For owners of the cameras that the lens will fit, it is a good addition to the camera bag. “

DigitalMediaThougths reviews the Canon EF-S 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM lens and writes:
“Although expensive, the 17-85mm EF-S lens offers a lot to the photographer who is looking for a good all-rounder. The use of image stabilisation will help in lowish light conditions when you don’t have a tripod, or the time to set one up. Auto-focussing on the lens is fast and quiet. There is a lot of competition out there but this lens offers a 5x zoom range that is hard to beat.”

Luminous-Landscape reviews the Canon EF-S 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM lens and writes:
“I have been cynical about Canon’s (as well as other maker’s) reduced frame lenses. This lens will only work on the Canon 20D and 300D Rebel (and likely future 1.6X factor DSLRs). It seemed to me that a lens that couldn’t also be used with a film body, or a full-frame or 1.3X factor DSLR like Canon’s 1 Series cameras, was a poor investment. But after testing and using this particular lens for several weeks I changed my mind. It fits on the 20D like it was made for it (it was). It is small and light, and when combine with its IS capability and you have a lens that at the equivalent of 28-135mm, is about as close to an ideal walk-around lens as one could want. Oh yes, did I say that the image quality was high?”

The-digital-picture reviews the Canon EF-S 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM lens and writes;
“The Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens is a significantly better lens than the significantly less expensive Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens, but it is not optically the equivalent of the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L USM Lens, Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L USM Lens or the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM Lens… the Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens is going to be the right lens for a lot of people. With its wide 5x zoom range, the 17-85 makes a great walk-around lens. There is a huge range of subject matter that fits nicely in this focal length range. And in addition to being relatively small and light, the 17-85’s image quality is quite good. The Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens is a lens I would recommend for many situations. “

VirtualTraveller reviews the Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens and writes:
“I imagine the Canon 16-35 f2.8L lens would produce sharper wall shots. But it lacks IS, is big and heavy and costs more than twice as much as the 17-85. I suspect in my hands it wouldn’t produce better real world shots. The Canon 17-40 f4L would also probably do sharper walls for a similar price to the 17-85 IS. But again, no IS and the shorter zoom range make it a much less flexible lens. For a reasonably sized, reasonably lightweight all purpose compromise, the EOS 20D with Canon 17-85IS is a great combination.”

Aravind.ca compares Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens to Canon EF 17-40mm F/4L and writes;
“My basic recommendation is this. If you shoot for a living, get the 17-40L, it is optically superior. Going down one stop, you will have tack sharp images from edge to edge with controlled CA. However, if you are looking for a fantastic walkaround/vacation lens with excellent reach, usable low light (through IS) and very good optics but can live with some softness at the corners/edges and some CA, then the 17-85 is it. Remember, you can account for much of the CA and distortion with Photoshop and the 17-85 is excessively soft only in the extreme corners of the image. “

>> SAMPLE PHOTOS (last updated: 17.04.07)

- Canon EF-s 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Sample Photos @ CameraLabs
- Sample 1
- Sample 2
- Sample 3
- Sample 4
- Sample 5
- 100% Center crops @ 85mm f/6.3 - f/22
- 100% Corner crops @ 85mm f/6.3 - f/22
- 100% Center crops @ 17mm f/6.3 - f/22
- 100% Corner crops @ 17mm f/6.3 - f/22

>> FEATURES & SPECIFICATONS

Focal Length & Max. Aperture:
17-85mm 1:4.0-5.6

Filter Diameter:
67mm; P=0.75mm/1 filter

Magnification with Extension Tube EF12 II:
0.43x - 0.14x (only at tele end)

Magnification with Extension Tube EF25 II:
0.72x - 0.33x (only at tele end)

Diagonal Angle of View:
78° 30′ - 18° 25′ (27.3mm)

Horizontal Angle of View:
68° 40′ - 15° 25′ (22.7mm)

Lens construction:
17 elements in 12 groups

Minimum aperture:
f/22-32 (f/22-32 for cameras featuring 1/3-stop increments also)

No. of aperture blades:
6 (circular aperture)

Closest focusing distance (m):
0.35m

Focus drive:
Ring USM

Dimensions:
78.5mm dia. x 92mm (max. length 118.5mm)

Weight:
475g

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