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17-40mm f/4L vs 16-35mm f/2.8L

Started Dec 26, 2012 | Questions thread
Dave Throgmartin
Dave Throgmartin Contributing Member • Posts: 878
Re: 17-40mm f/4L vs 16-35mm f/2.8L

ak1999 wrote:

gdanmitchell wrote:

However, I once used it on cropped sensor cameras and was not so impressed. Its center sharpness was quite good, but at f/4 there were corner softness issues, and they even affected some f/8 photographs. The problem here is that due to the different way that diffraction blur shows up in cropped sensor images, you don't want to stop down beyond this much, at it is at f/11 and f/16 where this lens truly comes into its own.

I've used 24-70 and 24-105 on my 60D before and I noticed that images were softer than ones from kit lens 18-55mm.

I also tested 17-40 lens against 18-55mm kit lens on another APS-C body and had similar result.

I believe that these older full frame lenses are not up to resolution of modern cropped sensors.

The newer 24-70II (and maybe 24-70F4) may work better with cropped sensor cameras and higher resolution full-frame sensor camera which I expect Canon to offer one next year.

Most people suggest you use EF-S lenses on APS-C cameras, but I've been using 17-40 on a crop body (60D) and honestly it's been a revelation for me.  Images are sharper and have more pop than 18-135 IMO.  I've got a bunch of them at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/68255851@N05/tags/1740/

I'm sure 15-85 and 17-55 are both good lenses although I haven't used them.

This guy likes the 17-40 too. He did a direct comparison versus 15-85.

http://www.parkcamper.com/17-40-versus-15-85IS/Canon-15-85-versus-17-40L-comparison.htm

My comments are the minority so take them with a grain of salt.

Dave

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