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

17-55mm
f/2.8
Zoom
Stabilized
645 g
Min focus 0.35 m

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Quick answer

A constant-aperture standard zoom for Canon APS-C cameras with stabilization and USM focusing. Often seen as the APS-C counterpart of a 24-70mm f/2.8.

Pros

Constant f/2.8
Image stabilization
USM autofocus
Sharp, with good contrast

Cons

Not weather-sealed
Large for an APS-C lens (645 g)
APS-C only

Verdict

The premium standard zoom for APS-C Canon bodies when low light matters.

About this lens

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM: an APS-C fast standard zoom lens with a 17-55mm focal length and a maximum aperture of f/2.8, made for Canon EF-S mount cameras, with Image Stabilizer and ultrasonic-motor autofocus. A high-end standard zoom for APS-C cameras with a constant f/2.8 aperture and image stabilization.

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

Brand: Canon
Mount: Canon EF-S
Focal length: 17-55mm
Maximum aperture: f/2.8
Lens type: Zoom
Format coverage: aps-c
Released: 2006
Optical construction: 19 elements in 12 groups
Aperture blades: 7
Image stabilization: Yes
Autofocus motor: USM
Minimum focus distance: 0.35 m
Maximum magnification: 0.17x
Filter thread: 77 mm
Weight: 645 g
Length: 110.6 mm
Diameter: 83.5 mm

Specification source: global.canon

What can you shoot with the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM?

Events and parties
Portraits
Low-light documentary work
General APS-C use

Its bright maximum aperture handles indoor and evening light reasonably well.

Full-frame equivalent and field of view

Calculated from the focal length and crop factor. Not measured.

Sensor	Crop	Equivalent	Horizontal FOV	Diagonal FOV
APS-C	1.6x	27–88mm	23.1–67°	27.6–77°

Try the field-of-view calculator

Frequently asked questions

Is the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM weather sealed?

No. Canon did not give it L-series sealing, so protect it in rain and dust.

Can the Canon EF-S 17-55mm be used on a full-frame camera?

Not on full-frame DSLRs. EF-S lenses are made for APS-C and the rear element would hit the mirror. On a full-frame EOS R body with the EF-RF adapter it works, but the camera crops the image to APS-C size.