Review on 📷 Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 USM Lens by Rory Kelley

Canon EF-S 17-85 4.0-5.6 IS USM is the first generation EF-S model released in autumn 2004 with the EOS 20D. It was designed for APS-C cameras (EF-s mount) such as 60D, 70D, 80D and Digital Rebels. Full frame SLR cameras such as 5D MKIII and 6D are not compatible. The 5x zoom range from wide-angle to short-telephoto, equivalent to 28-135mm on a full-frame camera, makes it ideal for general use and travel. I've been using this lens for ten years now and it still works! Construction: It looks solid, with great fit and finish, durable plastic, metal brackets, and smooth moving parts. Although the lens is not small, it is quite light and compact considering the 5x zoom range. It balances well on the 60D, 70D or 80D and feels nimble and nimble in the hand. The front end is a little heavy on a small DSLR like the SL1, but should be well balanced on larger Rebels like the T5i and T6i. focus. Ring USM offers lightning-fast autofocus for AI Servo and single shots. Unfortunately, Ring USM doesn't work well with Movie Servo-capable cameras like the SL1 and 70D: video autofocus is jerky and picked up by the camera's built-in microphones. For videos, use pre-focus or manual focus. Manual focusing (MF) is possible without leaving AF mode: just grab and turn. The focus ring is narrow and not ideal for dragging. Unlike many new lens models, there is a distance scale here. The zoom ring is large, covered with corrugated rubber, well cushioned and does not slip. Two nested barrels expand when extended to 85mm. Optical Quality: My specimen has a sharp mid-frame (AFMA calibrated) at all focal lengths and improves only slightly when the aperture is turned down. The corners are a little softer than the middle, but that's not a problem on most shoots. The main disadvantage is the strong chromatic aberration (CA) on the wide side: magenta color fringes on high-contrast edges, such as B. Tree branches against a bright sky. Luckily, CA can be easily removed while editing in DPP or Lightroom. Some newer EOS, like the 80D, can be set to automatically remove lens aberrations. As with most zooms in this range, barrel distortion is also noticeable at 17mm. Sunsets usually have little glare, but a real eyeburner can cause halos. However, typical high-contrast night scenes with streetlights or indoor lights tend to be immune to glare. Image stabilization: For me, IS adds about two stops below my usual wide-end manual shutter speed. I can squeeze out three stops at the telephoto end if I'm careful. Lens Hood: The Canon EW-73B is a bayonet type lens hood designed to protect this lens from stray light. It is not included and available for 20-25 shekels. The fit and finish is decent: high-quality plastic, matte black body, and viscose flocking. The hood folds down for compact storage. To attach, align the Canon logo with the 9 o'clock mark, push into the groove and turn clockwise 1/4 turn until it clicks into place. Who is this lens for? So why buy 17-85 IS USM when newer designs like EF-s 18-135 3.5-5.6 IS USM, EF-s 15-85 3.5-5.6 IS USM and EF-s 17-55 2.8 IS USM are available. ? Price. Nearing the end of its useful life, the EF-s 17-85 4.0-5.6 IS USM is heavily reduced - about half its original MAP. Plus, it's still one hell of a look! When comparing EF-s 17-85 4.0-5.6 IS USM, optical quality is slightly worse than EF-s 15-85 3.5-5.6 IS USM and EF-s 17-55 2.8. IS USM and similar to the latest EF-s 18-55 3.5-5.6 IS STM (very good). The first two lenses are significantly more expensive and heavier. However, the 17-85 offers a larger zoom range and better build quality than the EF-s 18-55 3.5-5.6 IS STM at a slightly higher price. has been extremely reliable for ten years and delivers razor-sharp images in almost every situation. I love the small size, zoom range, autofocus speed/silence, and sharpness of this lens. Paired with a Rebel or XXD series DSLR, it's a versatile, nimble and lightweight travel combo.