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Canon EOS 30D review Gordon Laing, July 2006
   
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Canon EF-S 17-85 IS USM


Canon EF-S 17-55 IS USM



Canon EF 17-40 L
Canon kit lens upgrade video tour

Not sure which general-purpose lens to buy for your EOS 30D? Check out our video below which discusses four popular choices from the budget EF-S 18-55mm to the stabilised EF-S 17-85mm. The camera we used in the video was an EOS 400D, but all the lenses work on the EOS 30D and the comments equally apply. If you're interested in seeing results from each model along with a detailed discussion of their pros and cons, check out our full Canon kit lens group test.

There's no need to download any new software - just press the play button in the middle of the screen below and wait for the video to start; you may need to press the button twice. The quality and any delay before playing may vary depending on your internet connection.

 




Canon lens upgrade video - 17-85mm Canon lens upgrade video - 18-55mm Canon lens upgrade video - 17-40mm



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

Good points

Flexible 5x optical zoom ratio
Effective Image Stabilisation
Fast and quiet USM focussing motor
Polariser-friendly internal focussing

Bad points
Visible light fall-off and softening in corners
Relatively expensive for specification
Lens hood not included
Only compatible with EF-S bodies


Scores
(relative to 18-55mm kit lens)
 

Build quality:
Optical quality:
Specification:
Value:

Overall:

20 / 25
19 / 25
20 / 25
20 / 25

79%
 

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

Good points

Bright f2.8 aperture throughout zoom range
Effective Image Stabilisation
Fast and quiet USM focusing motor
Superb low-light performance

Bad points
Relatively expensive
Construction not 'L' standard despite price
Range shorter than cheaper EF-S 17-85mm
Lens hood not included


Scores
(relative to 18-55mm kit lens)
 

Build quality:
Optical quality:
Specification:
Value:

Overall:

20 / 25
20 / 25
22 / 25
15 / 25

77%
 

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

Good points

Canon 'L' build and optical quality
Fast and quiet USM focusing motor
Constant f4 aperture throughout range
Will also work on full-frame body

Bad points
Shorter zoom range than kit lens
No IS (although not particularly necessary)
Overkill if not considering full-frame in future


Scores
(relative to 18-55mm kit lens)
 

Build quality:
Optical quality:
Specification:
Value:

Overall:

22 / 25
21 / 25
18 / 25
16 / 25

77%
 

All words, images, videos and layout, copyright 2005-2008 Gordon Laing. May not be used without permission.

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