Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Ultra Wide Angle Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

Comment

I looked into buying this lens mainly because of my focus on outside landscape photography, but also as a successor to the 18-55mm lens that came with my rebel xsi. So far Ive been using it both outside while walking around Seattle and indoor areas with the speedlite 430ex II. Because I already invested in 77mm filters for my 10-20mm Sigma lens I was able to use the polarizer for either of them depending if I wanted a wide angle or regular picture. Just remember that having this lens on a camera with a cropped sensor does cut down on the lenss wide angle ability. Since I plan on upgrading to a full frame camera this wasnt really a drawback for me. The lens does a awesome job capturing images in all kinds of lighting and varying compositions without any flare or vignetting along the edges, which is to be expected of something as a L lens. When focusing its very quick and quite, also a nice perk is its ability to zoom without having to extend out of the tube. This ensures there isnt going to be any sand or dirt getting caught up on part exposed during extensions, there are a few occasions where I spent cleaning out the particles from my Sigma lens because of this. Strong Points: -Ultra sonic motors are super quite and quick in focusing. -Glass elements do a great job cutting back any potential flaring or vignetting. -Lens Housing is self contained helping to prevent any dirt or sand from getting to the lenss sensitive insides. Weak Points: -Be aware that f/4 is going to make you either use a higher ISO or longer shutter speeds while in low light conditions. This isnt even a concern for me since the speedlite 430ex II does a great job helping this lens maintain proper exposure in indoor activities. -If using on a cropped sensor such as Canons Rebel family this lens may not be wide angle lens you are looking for. I already knew what was going on long before buying this lens, this is still a great L lens what will be with me when I do get around to purchasing a full frame camera. I found myself using this lens for taking everyday pictures and scenes that doesnt require ultra wide view to capture.

Show more

Comment

I own a Canon 7D and bought this lens while making a transition of selling current lenses to some that I would use for Landscape and Video. I saw some beautiful photographs with this lens used by Flickr members for Landscape and Seascape shots. So I sold two of my zoom lenses and bought this one along with two others. My first shot with this lens I noticed big differences in sharpness compared to my previous zoom lenses (Canon 15-85mm, and Tokina 11-16mm). It is a nice build and produces great shots for me. I also have a prime lens (Samyang 14mm f2.8) for Landscape that is definitely sharper than this lens, but I wanted the adjustable 17-40mm for when I cant move in closer and need to crop a shot a little, so I own both. You can see some of my shots using this lens on Flickr username 1and0hound, especially my shot of a Bonzai tree Boulder in Lake Tahoe Nevada. This lens did not let me down at that moment I took the picture. If I had on my Samyang 14mm at that moment I would not have gotten the shot. I almost gave it a four star because of how much sharper my Samyang is, but you cant compare a zoom to a prime period!

Show more

Comment

When I purchased this lens for my Canon Rebel xsi, I knew it would give me a cropped image equivalent to 27-64mm. I already have a 28-70 lens, that becomes about 44-115 on my Rebel. I wanted to get back the 28mm (semi-wide) view but did not want a lens that would not work on a full-frame camera as I expect to upgrade at some point. So I opted for this lens. What I didnt realize, or had forgotten, was that this lens has a close focus of 11 inches. Which means that even though on the wide end it is equivalent to 28mm, it still is capable of producing an image with a much wider perspective than a standard 28mm on a full-frame. The distortion of angles at the 17mm setting with objects up close is still significant enough to get some really unique shots. F/4 doesnt cause me any problems because when Im indoors I just set ISO to automatic and it really doesnt impact my shooting at all. Outdoors, who needs f/2.8 with a wide angle anyway. I havent seen any reviews that have mentioned how the close focus ability impacts the perception of wide angle. Anyway, Im very pleased with the purchase. Only thing that could be better would be an all-metal body on the lens. It feels a bit less luxurious due to the plastic barrel. Just my 2 cents. **Also** Sounds crazy...but true...somehow my copy of this lens is close-focusing at 5 or 6 inches rather than 11. Not sure if this is normal on an APS-C camera or not, but Im a little mystified as to how this is happening!

Show more

Comment

To use a sports metaphor, every camera generally needs a single lens to run the show for most of your shots, the "walk around" lens if you will. Obviously you have your other lenses that help with the truly specialized shots, but you need a quarterback, and this lens is it. After weeks of reading and research, I purchased this lens and boy was I happy. A very high quality lens that wont break the bank. Ive already used it to shoot still pictures and digital video. I havent noticed the softness around the edges the way some of the other reviews have. It works well enough in low light that the F4 isnt a worry and the extra bucks for the 2.8 isnt really worth it unless you have a lot of cash to throw around. I CAN NOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH, if youre looking for a great overall lens for your DSLR, this one is the one to get, considering its price, its a steal, a great well built piece of glass that will last. All I can say really. Also, ordered it on a Tuesday and chose standard shipping, and it arrived on Thursday, cant beat that!!! Update: For those of you who are wondering if this lens is wide enough for filmmaking. ABSOLUTELY!!! I can understand how someone shooting landscapes may not get quite enough wide from this lens, but its more than enough for cinema. Still loving this lens!!!

Show more

Comment

Ok so I hope my other lenses do not get jealous, but I really love the wide angle of this lens. I also just bought a Canon 5D Mark II. So it really shows me a lot. I was thinking of getting the 2.8L but I was talking to a couple of people and they gave me the idea of maybe trying the 4L. So I did and I am happy I did. The higher quality of the L line is obvious. It is heavier than my other lenses, but I do not mind. This was my 2nd or 3rd L lens. I think it was the 2nd. In any case. It is a very nice lens. Yes it is a little pricey, but you are paying for the quality. I am a semi pro photographer and do plenty of events. I normally use flash so I will not miss the 2.8L. I will probably get a 2.8L wide angle later, but this suits my needs for now. Spending more on the L series is worth it. Maybe not if you are just a shutterbug or hobbyist, but if you make money with you art then make the investment. Remember to put a good piece of glass (UV Filter) on the end of this thing. Dont go too cheap, but you do not have to spend $100 for a UV filter. Match the quality of lens with the quality of filter and your pictures will be that much better.

Show more

Comment

I was debating between getting this lens and the twice as expensive 16-35 f/2.8 lens. F/4 is really all I need, and this is a great lens. I am using it with a Canon 6D (full frame good-ness!), and it is really wide. When I slap this on my older 450D (crop sensor), I get a field of view as if this lens were a 27-64 f/4, so it is not nearly as wide, but still good for group shots and some landscape work. Focusing is super fast and tack sharp. All in all, I love this lens and would recommend it if you are looking for a wide angle and dont want to spend too much (or if f/4 is good enough).

Show more

Comment

This lens was purchased for landscape photography and when I shoot landscape, I use a tripod, a remote and mirror lock up. Im probably missing something, but for the most part, I do everything possible to get the sharpest image. Whelp, as Ive grown with my photography and PS skills, I look at images closer these days and I noticed that the focus was just ever so slightly off. After doing some research, its known that every lens and camera combination can be slightly different, which makes sense because no two copies are identical. This being said, with most of the new DSLRs such as the Canon 7D and greater, you can fine tune the focus for each lens, using the in camera fine tune adjustment feature. This means you can fine tune each lens and when you put that lens on the camera, the camera recognizes the lens (reading the metadata) and makes the necessary adjustment that you have pre determined. By doing this you can get even sharper shots! But it took me some serious time to get it all dialed in correctly. Aka, lots of trial and error. Yes, you can do this at home on your own, or... if you want someone to do it for you, you can send your camera and lens into Advance Camera Repair and theyll fine tune your lens to your specific camera for $28. I highly recommend this lens and feel that its the best option, assuming you dont need that extra 1 stop of light the 16-35mm provides (@ 2x the price!).

Show more

Comment

For months I had been reading review after review and comparing this lens with other lenses in its class at the store. Had finally boiled it down to between this lens and a Tamron Lens which was about $200 less. Both lens received very good reviews. But a couple of months ago I made my choice to get this lens on what a reviewer had said about canon "L" lenses, this one in particular. (Paraphrasing)"You could get the cheaper lens and most likely be happy with it, but what if?" So not wanting to be wondering what "if", I purchased the Canon EF 17-40 f/4L and havent had any regrets letting go of $600. Some reviewers had said that with the max of f4, the lens wouldnt get good shots in low to dim light. Yet this lens had no problem focusing or getting good shots in those conditions with my 430EX flash what so ever. And not only will you get some great wide shots (even with a Rebel Xti, as I do) but you can get some good close ups of objects as well. Youll have to be careful with close-ups of people because you can distort their facial features(nose,ears,forehead;the lens was not intended for portraits) but, its useful for group shots. Ive uploaded some pictures of some trees and some geese in a pond along with a close up of a pot holder. Photos with this lens are very good concerning sharpness, color and contrast and there is a minimum of barrel distortion as well. So if you are wondering "what if?", I would go ahead and spring the money for this lens, it would be a great addition to your collection and a very useful one at that. Update August 8, 2008. I have used this lens a lot since Ive gotten it and havent any regrets. I have been on a trip to Puerto Rico USA visiting my parents and this lens gave me the opportunity to snap some great shots. I have uploaded some shots that will show just how good this lens really is.

Show more

Comment

For an L-series lens, Im surprised that this lens isnt sharper, but its also one of the least expensive L-series lenses. Construction quality is on a par with other L lenses Ive owned/used. Its a very capable landscape lens on my 6D, but it isnt quite as crisp as a 24-105mm L that I used to have, even in the F/7.1 - f/9 "sweet spot." If youre not pixel-peeping on-screen at the computer, you may or may not notice it, and a little sharpening before printing yields very good prints. At this price, this lens is worth having if you need this range, but dont be afraid to consider other options if the image quality is the same at a lower price. And if you have money to burn, definitely look at the more expensive L lenses.

Show more

Comment

A fine full frame or APS C lens for those who like f/4 constant aperture. I do like it. Very reliable and predictable with great clarity. Slow for indoor shots, but I find I can still use it effectively in soft (not dark) lighting. Sharpness and color saturation with my Canon 60d are excellent and even the JPEGs lend themselves to moderate touch ups in my photo editor (be careful with the sharpening - easy to over-sharpen these already sharp images). A good buy for "L" series lens. Oh, and a nice weight for such a stoutly built lens makes it a great walkaround lens. With this lens along with the 75-300 zoom and the 15-85mm zoon, Ive got about all I need in DSLR arsenal (for me). Im too lazy to carry around anything bigger than the 75-300. By the way, I cant help but put in a plug for the 15-85. Wow, a fantastic lens that gives the L series a run for their money in terms of great images - with IS to boot and a REALLY handy telephoto range for both indoor and outdoor!

Show more