Here we go. The ongoing debate for Canon wedding shooters...

Both are close enough in price that its one or the other. Everyone knows that my favorite lens is the 24-70. Perfect focal length for what I do on the cropped body. However... The 17-55 has definitely peaked my interest, since its fast, has IS!!! and gives me wide if needed. Low light conditions and versatility are very handy. Combined with the 70-200 its a win/win combo.

UPDATE!

The 17-55 f2.8 IS was delivered today. Ill do a comparison and review on it soon. Make this thread a bit more useful than it has been.

FF w/ 24-70mm L = 1.6 with 17-55 f/2.8 IS "L"

You like the 24-70mm on a 1.6 though, so I don't see you loving the 17-55mm. If it were me, I'd go with a 1.6 with a 10-22, 17-55, and 70-200...

Im mainly interested in the 17-55 for Leah, since its lighter than "the brick" and will be more balanced on the XTi. Plus its fast and has IS. BUT, I dont want a glorified kit lens in terms of IQ for that kind of $$. Thats not worth it to me, especially for weddings.

^ oh and I did search on PoTN, but no real comparisons... more just opinions that recirculated the original facts about the two.

IMHO it's every bit as nice as the L, it's just built slightly less tankish and not weather sealed. But you get IS in trade, so that's good. It's IQ is outstanding from what I've seen read. My only concern for you is that it's not the right FL, but for leah, and as a kit lens upgrade, it's one hell of a lens.

Canon has just (intentionally IMHO) built the EF-Ss slightly under L quality so there is an upgrade path. If you're suckered into the upgrade path you'll end up with a 5D, 16-35m 24-70, 70-200... If you're not, the 40D, 10-22, 17-55, 70-200 is every bit as good, and quite a bit less expensive. Nothing against either kit/setup, but the 40D has me thinking at times...

The biggest thing that keeps me in the 5D is that the TS-Es don't feel so good to me on a 1.6... 45mm is barely wide enough on FF. I mean hell, there are 10mm FEs now, so that's not even a good argument for FF anymore.

Thanks Ben, Ill check one out at BH in a few weeks. its starting to get close so I need to have my gear list in line and locked.

no problem

Seems PotN rehashing the same old **** all the time. Something we really need to try to avoid as we grown. Bump/merge old threads to keep everyone in one thread.

I just spent some time on potn checking out the 17-55IS archive thread. There doesn't seem to be a soft shot in the bunch, really impressive.

With all the great lenses coming out for crop bodies I'm really not sure that I'll need to upgrade to FF at all. The new fishys, this lens, the UWA's, its all great!

So I have a fairly wide selection of bodies and glass this sunday, including the 17-55 IS. So Im hoping Ill have time / remember to do some field testing at the seminar. Heck I may even try a D3.

Just borrowing from the other photogs or what?

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

Just borrowing from the other photogs or what?

He's going to "borrow" a D3 for me, I know that much. Hey Matt, try to score me either a 14-24 or 24-70 also, k?

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

Just borrowing from the other photogs or what?

Yup Ill try to get some shots of as much gear as possible


Ill be sure to play some more with a 5D if I can, but I think primary goal is to get more adjusted to CF4 and test the glass and flashes.

Originally Posted by subimatt

Yup Ill try to get as much gear as possible


I think primary goal is to get a D3 and some sweet lenses for Markitos.

^

Originally Posted by subimatt

but I think primary goal is to get more adjusted to CF4 .

See how the other guys shoot too.

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

See how the other guys shoot too.

I will, only the Canon guys since the Nikon guys made the wrong decision to start...


Hi Mark!

Nikon can also AF from the back you fan boi.

Originally Posted by subimatt

I will, only the Canon guys since the Nikon guys made the wrong decision to start...


Hi Mark!

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

Nikon can also AF from the back you fan boi.

i know, Ive actually head that Nikons AF is better.

So does anybody have the 17-55 yet on here?

I do!............................................... .. for Nikon....

Originally Posted by thechickencow

So does anybody have the 17-55 yet on here?

I would if it were in stock! I did get to use it last sunday for a bit of time and its great! Alot lighter than the 24-70, I didnt really notice the IS part but I wasnt concentrated on it. I was more concerned with the IQ and I was impressed. Heres are some of the shots with it wide open.

We'll pull you over to the wide side yet, Matt...

Originally Posted by Markitos

We'll pull you over to the wide side yet, Matt...

Oh im convinced on the 15mm FE. I may keep it on the crop body tho... baby steps...

Funny thing is, I've been shooting longer lately (with the 50mm and the tele).... Go figure.

Originally Posted by Markitos

Funny thing is, I've been shooting longer lately (with the 50mm and the tele).... Go figure.

strange right? Bens doing the same thing... I think we all have just been too happy in our little world of preferred FL that its hard to try the other end sometimes. Ill admit, I was 90% 70-200 on Sunday.

I'm just thinking I'd rather have 17mm on teh wide end than the 24mm. I've been using my 28-135 and its a bit too long at the wide end, maybe 24 would be OK, I'm not sure.

Originally Posted by thechickencow

I'm just thinking I'd rather have 17mm on teh wide end than the 24mm. I've been using my 28-135 and its a bit too long at the wide end, maybe 24 would be OK, I'm not sure.

For me 24 is wide enough, but I like shooting longer ranges. Ill have both as soon as BH gets it back, but in terms of IQ they are close, I think the L is a bit sharper and produces stronger colors, but you get wide and IS on the 17-55.

The other tradeoff is the weight. I think I'd appreciate the lighter lens if I took it on a backpacking trip, and at 17mm I may not feel the need to bring the 10-20 with me where I'd feel lost without it with the 24mm wide end on the L.

Oh, definitely the weight difference is noticeable. Try both see which one you would use more. The differences really comes down to wide and IS vs Better IQ and zoom. Which is more important to you. and we are talking reasonabley small differences in each category.

17-55 was just delivered... if only work would go faster..

Review and comparisons to come!!

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very nice!
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^ thats what Ive noticed as well Sam, thanks for chiming in, and welcome finally..