EFS 17-55 F2.8 has arrived


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is it worth getting a EFS? I dun really know the market value for the lens. If I get this 17-55, will its resale value be very lousy or as good as a 'L' lens?

I dun wanna get this at 1.9k then after sometime it drops a few hundreds....
 

LogicA said:
is it worth getting a EFS? I dun really know the market value for the lens. If I get this 17-55, will its resale value be very lousy or as good as a 'L' lens?

I dun wanna get this at 1.9k then after sometime it drops a few hundreds....

Only time will tell. Nobody can predict market trends. It's only apparent after the resale market matures.

If u want a guaranteed hit, go for the 17-40. I guarantee you'll find a seller if u decide to sell, esp. if the lens is new.

But from what I see this lens will never command a premium in the resale market. Its too expensive so the market is small. Less buyers = lower demand = lower prices.

Most people are comfortable with lenses around $1K, so these tend to sell better and hence command a better price.

AND.... after buying and using, the resale value of your lens will DEFINITELY drop by a few hundred quid. If you don't want to lower to a fair price (like some of the bodohs in BnS, old lens still asking for almost 95% of brand new price), you'll never sell. Simple as that. (Unless you can find another bodoh who has no idea how much the lens should cost, and is willing to pay silly prices)

There's no such thing as "I dun wanna get this at 1.9k then after sometime it drops a few hundreds"

It WILL drop by a few hundred. Price cuts by Canon, market demand, age, wear and tear will drive it down.

Buy a lens cos U want to use it, nothing else.
 

17-55f2.8IS USM is indeed a L lens with 2UD element and 3 aspherical element. It is not given a L designation because it is not meant for full frame and not weather sealed to reduce cost, body is polycarbonate instead of magnesium alloy.
The resolution is indeed slightly higher than even the current L lens. With improvement in technology Canon is able to improve upon the current L lens which is already a few years old. Chromatic aberration is also better except for vignetting due to the smaller lens frame.
Is this a good buy? Definitely, why? First it covers the range 17-55, better than the 17-40L and 16-35L (16 n 17 negligible), secondly it fills the gap between 55 to 70-200L so u only need one lens instead of 16-35 and 24-70 to bridge the gap to 70-200L. Lastly, it has IS which the 17-40, 16-35, 24-70 dont.
I think the only downside is it does not have the trade mark look of L. Black body with red ring. So it does not look so chioh. I still suggest getting this lens due to its amazing quality and get another L black body with red ring for show off when need to, but try to look for a good used one. 24-105L IS?
 

Don't keep saying good leh.. I bankrupt liao leh.. Still trying very hard to resist, better go continue meditating now :sweat:

tanwn said:
17-55f2.8IS USM is indeed a L lens with 2UD element and 3 aspherical element. It is not given a L designation because it is not meant for full frame and not weather sealed to reduce cost, body is polycarbonate instead of magnesium alloy.
The resolution is indeed slightly higher than even the current L lens. With improvement in technology Canon is able to improve upon the current L lens which is already a few years old. Chromatic aberration is also better except for vignetting due to the smaller lens frame.
Is this a good buy? Definitely, why? First it covers the range 17-55, better than the 17-40L and 16-35L (16 n 17 negligible), secondly it fills the gap between 55 to 70-200L so u only need one lens instead of 16-35 and 24-70 to bridge the gap to 70-200L. Lastly, it has IS which the 17-40, 16-35, 24-70 dont.
I think the only downside is it does not have the trade mark look of L. Black body with red ring. So it does not look so chioh. I still suggest getting this lens due to its amazing quality and get another L black body with red ring for show off when need to, but try to look for a good used one. 24-105L IS?
 

Need to show off lens one meh?



tanwn said:
...... I still suggest getting this lens due to its amazing quality and get another L black body with red ring for show off when need to, but try to look for a good used one. 24-105L IS?
 

I thought $1880 is a good price. The nikon version of 17-55 f2.8 is like >$2k without VR.... If it is optically very good, sure got people buy one. now wait for reviews.
 

thanks tanwn and solarii! very good analysis

I heard HK is selling $1600 plus dunno if getting a lens from overseas is good or not

can anyone comment on the sample pics from this lens posted? is it considered sharp, good etc??

thanks!
 

Those who are into the market for a lens of this focal length will be spoilt for choice. By Sep / Oct, the Tokina will join the fray with their 16-50f2.8. At least, you got 3rd party lenses like the older Sigma, the latest Tamron and the Tokina to choose from albeit at a cheaper price; which is about 50% of what u pay for a Canon. To me, I can't justify the price tag even though it comes with IS and USM. I am more inclined to the Tokina as I can be assured that it will be better built than the Canon. I own the Tokina 12-24 and a Canon L lenses and I find no discernable difference in focusing speed on both lenses.

http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/reviews/tokina_PIE2006.html
 

redstorm said:
I am more inclined to the Tokina as I can be assured that it will be better built than the Canon. I own the Tokina 12-24 and a Canon L lenses and I find no discernable difference in focusing speed on both lenses.

Better built? I'm doubtful. :think:

If you're comparing plastic vs. metal contruction, well it doesn't make that much of a diff for normal use. Plastic moulding has reached pretty high standards... in most cases there's no added advantage in using lens with a metal body.

If you shoot under demanding conditions, you'll want a weather sealed body as well to go with the metal construction of the lens, in which case u won't be looking at these lenses since the camera bodies will not be able to use these lenses.

So no, I don't agree with "better build". Comparable build quality would be a fair statement.
 

tanwn said:
17-55f2.8IS USM is indeed a L lens with 2UD element and 3 aspherical element. It is not given a L designation because it is not meant for full frame and not weather sealed to reduce cost, body is polycarbonate instead of magnesium alloy.

Haha say what u like, its still not an L Lens, even if u went so far as to paint in the red ring. Hidden L, disguised L, pseudo L, essentially L, L stuff under the hood, still not a real L.

Just like the Rav 4 is still not a Lexus even if you yank out the Toyota insignia and the side mirror and install the big L logo. :bsmilie:

And the fact that you suggested that one buy a real L lens to show-off shows that u realise this.
 

well well well ... maybe in some ways it should not even be compared to an L.

Since it is not weathered sealed, it wasnt meant to be built to last like an L. Thus it wasnt even built for the professionals who need to use their lenses in all rough weather and conditions in the first place.

Since it is not weather sealed, I assume it is not as well constructed and more prone to dust getting inside the lens more easily, and should thus command a lesser resale value compared to the L probably?

Hmmm.... $1800 ... and not even a full frame lens. What if I want to upgrade to higher series cameras with a different crop ratio later? What if full frame digital cams become the norm in 3 years time? What if I decide to shoot film (full frame) as well as digital later?
 

jeryltan said:
Don't keep saying good leh.. I bankrupt liao leh.. Still trying very hard to resist, better go continue meditating now :sweat:
Sell your 10-22mm to raise the fund ;)
 

I wouldn't know about wide angle zooms' weather sealing, but there was one time when I realized how important it was. I was once caught out in heavy rain at the reservoir where Orchid CC is located; I had totally no shelter for a good 300 meters or so. All the nooks and crannies I could imagine on my 1D were wet, but the internals were OK thanks to the sealing. I was soaked totally. You could check with Jeff, who was caught out in the rain, until we got to the same shelter, that was filled to the brim with dragonboaters during NUS MR500 2006.
 

Not a single camera that can accomodate an EF-S lens is weather sealed.
So what's with the gripe about weather sealing anyways people....

If want to play the buy/sell/resell game, play stocks and shares instead.

And while you are wondering and worrying about what the value of your camera equipment will be in 3 years time, I will be out shooting with mine right now, thank you very much.

Food for thought. :)
 

am tempted by the lens cos of specs.... but the cost is just a bit too high for my liking..
 

Noticed that many are affected the “L” perceived value – Canon has certainly done a good job in marketing. I guess one should not compare the 17-55mm with the “L” product since it has its own uniqueness. Think about it, the “L” glasses does not have this useful range and aperture with IS (which will make the “L” people envy like hell). Also, Canon is not likely make something similar is the “L” range (which will kill their existing “L” product range) that soon. Furthermore, not many will go into full frame unless the market changes direction drastically. So if need it, buy it and enjoy it!
 

:) But if I buy this, means 10-22mm also is confirm keep liao mah :)

LGuoirl said:
Sell your 10-22mm to raise the fund ;)
 

I confirm need it and I know I sure enjoy it.. But cannot afford it :bsmilie: Must sell my stuff to raise funds 1st before can get new toys :sweat:

kenrai said:
Noticed that many are affected the “L” perceived value – Canon has certainly done a good job in marketing. I guess one should not compare the 17-55mm with the “L” product since it has its own uniqueness. Think about it, the “L” glasses does not have this useful range and aperture with IS (which will make the “L” people envy like hell). Also, Canon is not likely make something similar is the “L” range (which will kill their existing “L” product range) that soon. Furthermore, not many will go into full frame unless the market changes direction drastically. So if need it, buy it and enjoy it!
 

Personally, I don't think it's worth the money. Given that price, I can get a 17-40L with another 85mm f/1.8. Even the 17-40L is not a 2.8, I'll go for the 16-35L if I were going for a 2.8. Unless one really needs a 2.8, the 4.0 is sufficient.
 

Think life's too short to keep thinking whether something is worth the $$ or not. So long as you want it and can afford it without selling yourself (or your wife) ;) , just get it.

If you cant live with the purchase, then sell it. Nowadays so many people play with DSLRs, so there will be no lack of buyers. Just gotta lose a bit lor...
 

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