Largely a waste of money

quadrox wrote:

I have owned this lens since around 2010. I read so much good about it I just had to get it over the 18-55 kit lens.

I used it on a 7D, and after getting this lens I took it out on a test shoot several times together with my brother 18-55 kit lens. I was not able to see any appreciable advantage on this lens in any way whatsoever.

AF performance was near identical, image quality too. True, at the long end and wide open you can get a bit of background separation for portraits and the like, but the effect is still quite minimal and not worth a lot on its own. Other than that, I found absolutely nothing that made me feel I had gotten my moneys worth compared to the kit lens. And then there is the dust issue too. My first copy even came pre-dusted, there was a lot of dust inside the lens - of course I returned it for a clean copy.

Compared to my 24-105* on my 5D2 the 17-55 seemed neither worse nor better, but the 5D II was full-frame with more resolution, so I ended up using it a lot more. I haven't used the 17-55 in ages.

So I cannot recommend this lens to anyone unless you really really need the f 2.8.

*Incidentally, the 24-105 was another purchase made in error, I should have gone straight for the 24-70 2.8, which I have now (the mark 2 that is).

Sorry I have to disagree.

I started off with the kit lens and aps-c cameras before I went to full frame.

The 17-55 f2.8 is an amazing lens, my most favourite lens when I had it. The difference in image quality, focusing speed and bokeh was like having a new camera.

If you can't see the difference I would question your technique or equipment.

Apologies if my comment above sounds abit harsh, but I thought the lens was amazing with my 350D, 40D and 7D.