Canon EF-S 17-85mm f4~5.6 IS USM lens review
Gordon Laing, December 2005
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Canon EF-S 17-85mm design and build quality
The Canon EF-S 17-85mm is pictured below along-side the Canon 17-40mm L and the Canon EF-S 18-55mm
lenses in their shortest positions. Here the three lenses from left
to right measure 78x92mm, 83.5x96.8mm and 68.5x66mm (diameter x length)
respectively. Clearly while the 17-40mm is the biggest of the three, the
17-85mm is not far behind it and both lenses dwarf the budget 18-55mm.
When zoomed-in to their longest focal lengths, the 17-85mm and 18-55mm lenses
extend by 26 and 9mm respectively, while the 17-40mm adjusts its optics
internally and doesn't extend at all. The difference between the three lenses
when zoomed-in can be seen below.
The two larger lenses are considerably heavier than the budget model. They
both weigh-in at 475g (1lb), compared to the almost imperceptible weight
of the 18-55mm at just 190g (6.7oz). The filter threads from left to right
measure 67, 77 and 58mm respectively.
In terms of build quality the 17-85mm is definitely superior to the 18-55mm,
although not quite up to the standard of the 17-40mm L; the latter is also
the only one of the three to boast dust and drip-proof construction, although
this level of environmental sealing was not offered by any EF-S compatible
body at the time of writing.
Both the 17-85mm and 17-40mm feature USM motors for fast and quiet focusing.
The 18-55mm is louder and slower in comparison. The 17-85mm and 17-40mm
also employ internal focusing, making both lenses polariser-friendly. The
18-55mm lens employs a rotating front element, which makes the use of polarisers
frustrating.
A lens hood is optionally available for the EF-S 17-85mm lens. Canon only supplies lens hoods as standard with its L-series lenses. To see how the EF-S 17-85mm measures-up alongside the EF-S 17-55mm, see our Canon EOS 400D / Rebel XTi lens group test.
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