Just got brand new 17-40 f/4 L

Mike Lane

Well I finally entered the world of the L glass. And can I just say :jawdrop

I took a series of shots planning on comparing the two lenses but I didn't get past the 100% crop of a shot done at f/4. Check this out:

The 17-85 EF-S IS at f/4 in the top right corner 100% crop:


The 17-40 f/4 L same position in the frame, 100% crop f/4:


Those are both striaght from the camera jpgs. Look at how much more detail there is in the 17-40:wow Plus notice how dramatically reduced the purple fringing is in the 17-40 shot.

So anyhow, I just wanted to share that. If you're looking for a fantastic lens at a very reasonable price get the 17-40. You can get it from b&h for $629 by searching psmar and you can get a $50 rebate from canon too. So for $579 you can get the 17-40L. The 17-85 is $509, you may as well spend the extra $70!

Jamoke

Mike Lane wrote:

Well I finally entered the world of the L glass. And can I just say :jawdrop

I took a series of shots planning on comparing the two lenses but I didn't get past the 100% crop of a shot done at f/4. Check this out:

Those are both striaght from the camera jpgs. Look at how much more detail there is in the 17-40:wow Plus notice how dramatically reduced the purple fringing is in the 17-40 shot.

So anyhow, I just wanted to share that. If you're looking for a fantastic lens at a very reasonable price get the 17-40. You can get it from b&h for $629 by searching psmar and you can get a $50 rebate from canon too. So for $579 you can get the 17-40L. The 17-85 is $509, you may as well spend the extra $70!

K - I'm gonna walk to the store now and pick one up for me.... Trick will be getting past the wife in the living room... Anybody have a sweet accessory for that?

Awesome clarity - I only have on 'L' and I was equally amazed on my first shoot.

gluwater

I just got one from B&H last week and did the same thing you did with the rebates. I've only used it a couple times so far but I am very pleased with it. I'm going to Starved Rock on Friday as long as it doesn't rain so hopefully I'm really get to use it there.

Now you do realize that since you have one L it will be lonely now so you have to keep buying more so it has friends . Congrats on the new glass!

Red Bull

You'll have a lot of fun with your new lens. I got mine about a month ago. Hasn't been off my camera since.

Jeffro

Mike Lane wrote:

Well I finally entered the world of the L glass. And can I just say :jawdrop!

I've had mine for awhile now, and I love it! The first time I shot outside, with blue skies, I thought I had a polarizer on it...fantastic! Enjoy.

Bob Bell

Congrats Mike. New lenses are so much fun. I don't know much about the 17-85 aside from seeing quite few in the field. I am not surprised at how much more detail there is since the 17-40 is very well talked about, I am surprised at how much CA in a new design lens and how much less it appears to resolve. the 17-40 must have better contrast as well to pick up those tiny branches.

TristanP

Remember that using the 17-40 (full frame lens) on a crop camera, of course it'll be better - you're only using the sweet spot. The 17-85 is an EF-S lens using the entire smaller imaging circle, so IQ will suffer. The 17-85 (minus the IS hardware of course) and giving away IQ to get about twice the zoom range makes sense that it's about half the price. All that being said, congrats - I want one too. One of each actually. The 17-40 I can't see as being quite as good for a travel solution.

marlof

Friend of mine debated the 17-85 and the 17-40 for a long time (reach against quality) and he's mighty glad he went with the 17-40 in the end. He uses it as his walk around lens, and is very pleased. He came from a 28-135 IS, so at first he wondered if the lack of range would be limiting him. But that was nothing a 4.0 70-200L couldn't cure. Together with a cheap 50 1.8 that makes an awesome set. I'm sure Red Bull would agree. Congrats, Mike, on your purchase.

In response to TristanP: I just believe that the 17-85 is nice as a kit lens, but that's about it. And don't blame the smaller image circle. Good image quality can be offered by small image circle lenses as well. Take a look at the Digital Zuiko range by Olympus. Then again, that system was built to deal with the specifics of digital imaging in mind. And it has other disadvantages.

devbobo

Mike,

It's a great lens, I love the starburst you get when it's stopped down.

David

Mike Lane

devbobo wrote:

Mike,

It's a great lens, I love the starburst you get when it's stopped down.

David

Whoa, yeah that is cool

wxwax

devbobo wrote:

Mike,

It's a great lens, I love the starburst you get when it's stopped down.

David

That's a pretty shot, David.