Question about the Canon EF 17-40mm?


I was considering the EF 17-40mm lens for my Canon Rebel XS. I know that EF-S are more suitable for the Canon DSLRs with cropped sensors. Someone told me that the 'wideness' of this lens wouldn't be noticeable on my DSLR with a cropped sensor. Is this true?

Best Answer

It will be wide, but not as wide. If you have the kit 18-55 lens, you're looking at /almost/ the same width. On a full frame camera you'll be flirting with "ultrawide", and on a cropped sensor it is still wide, but starting to border on "wide-normal" length. With 17 vs 18mm, you're getting about 2mm wider on the 17-40.

However, the 17-40 has much better build quality, is L glass, but you're losing the 40-55mm range. (For that I'd recommend getting the excellent 50mm f/1.8 II prime lens, so you can also do very effective low-light photography). For an idea of the focal length differences, see the link below.

Answer by Hithrael on 07 Jan 2010 07:49:46

The 17-40 is a very fine lens. It is wider than your kit lens, so yes, it will still be a wide angle lens on your crop body.

Focal length is focal length, the lens is a 17-40 on your camera or an EOS film body. Your camera just doesn't use the entire image. It uses the best part of the image.

Answer by Caoedhen on 07 Jan 2010 08:24:55

I have the 17-40 and use it on my full frame EOS 3 and on my APS-C sensor XTi.

The EF lenses have this benefit: they will work on any EOS body. If you buy an EFs lens and change your body to a full frame in the future, or fancy a go with a cheap film EOS, then you are stuck.

The 17-40 has the angle of view similar to a 28-70mm lens on a full frame body. That makes it a good walkabout lens as it covers decent wide angle, and just starts to creep into portrait focal lengths.

Using it on the XS will also make the most of the sweet spot, so you can pretty much use the lens wide open.

This lens meets the far more expensive 16-35 f2.8L in every aspect apart from max aperture, be it distortion, fringing resolution etc. If you don't need the extra stop then you are getting a great lens for a very good price.

One of the great things with some L lenses, and this one is included, is the weather sealing. With a UV filter on the front the lens is weather sealed.

Answer by Paul R on 08 Jan 2010 02:09:11

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