Canon EF-S 17-85mm F/4-5.6 IS USM

DESCRIPTION

EF-S Lenses

By reducing the distance from the rear of the lens to the focal plane and reducing the size of the image circle to match the size of the APS-C imaging sensor used in digital SLRs such as the EOS 20D camera and Digital Rebel camera,Canon's EF-S lenses reduce the size, weight and cost of wide-angle lenses for these cameras while at the same time producing high image quality with superb resolution and contrast at all focal lengths.

EF-S 17-85 F4 IS USM

This new EF-S lens brings true wide-angle to telephoto coverage to EOS 20D camera and Digital Rebel camera photographers. It features Canon's Image Stabilization system, allowing safe hand-held photography at shutter speeds up to three steps slower than otherwise possible. And of course, it's optically optimized for digital SLRs. A ring-type USM delivers fast and silent auto focus, as well as full-time manual focus when in the AF mode.

The EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens provides a 5x zoom ratio and an angle of view equivalent to a 27-136mm lens on a 35mm camera. The new lens also uses a glass-molded aspherical lens element with aspherical surfaces on both sides for superb image quality throughout the entire zoom range and it features a closest focusing distance of 12 inches at all focal lengths. The EF-S 17-85mm IS lens is 5% shorter and 12% lighter than the EF 28-135mm IS lens and accepts 67mm filters.

FEATURES

• EF-S lens mount, exclusively for EOS 20D and Digital Rebel bodies
• Excellent optical quality: Aspheric element with two Aspherical surfaces utilized
• Close-focusing to 1.15 feet -- at 135mm, fills the frame with subject 3 x 4.4 inches
• Ring-type Ultrasonic motor for superior AF performance; allows full-time MF
• Image Stabilization extends the lens's usefulness in low-light levels
• Circular aperture design -- natural highlights, even stopped down two stops
• Non-rotating front element; lens length does not change during zooming
• Compact, lightweight design with a 5x zoom ratio, 28 to 135mm equivalent

SPECIFICATIONS

Construction, 17 elements in 12 groups

Angle of view, Diagonal Angle of View: 78° 30' - 18° 25'

Closest Focusing Distance, 0.35m - 1.15 ft.

Filter Size, 67mm

Dimensions (Length x Diameter), 3.6" x 3.1" / 92mm x 78.5mm

Weight, 16.8 oz. / 475g

Conclusion - Pros

• Decent build quality - much better than any of Canon's 18-55mm kit lenses
• Very useful focal length range, almost ideal for a walkaround lens
• Highly effective image stabilization
• Excellent autofocus and manual override
• Consistently high image quality across almost all of the range

Conclusion - Cons

• Poor performance at wideangle, with marked barrel distortion, high levels of light falloff, and intense green/magenta chromatic aberration
• Slow maximum aperture
• Very average close-up performance