Facebook MySpace Twitter Digg Google Bookmarks 

Shopping Cart

Show Cart
Your Cart is currently empty.

Directories

Reviews
Home Lenses Canon Canon EF 17-40mm f4L USM review
PDF Print E-mail

Canon EF 17-40mm f4L USM review Hot

 
Camera Gear Rentals
Editor rating
 
1.0 User rating
 
4.4 (221)

Overview

The EF17-40mm f/4L USM was developed as high-end version of the highly acclaimed EF20-35mm f/3.5-4.5 USM lens released in March 1993. Designed for use by professional and amateur users alike, this lens realizes the outstanding image resolution that distinguishes an L-series lens while retaining high cost performance. Featuring a new optical system design, the new lens delivers an expanded zoom range of 17-40mm, with the wide-angle-end 17mm focal length making it ideally suited to digital photography.

The EF17-40mm f/4L USM utilizes a combination of one high-precision molded glass aspherical lens and two replica aspherical lenses to achieve the extended zoom range, while also correcting for a variety of aberrations that arise during zooming. Moreover, a Super UD (ultra-low dispersion) glass element minimizes the chromatic aberration of magnification that tends to occur with wide-angle lenses, eliminating color bleed along the edges of the subject and realizing high image contrast and resolution.

The 17 mm focal length achieved by the EF17-40mm f/4L USM lens also extends wide-angle shooting potential when paired with digital AF SLR cameras, such as the high-end amateur-model EOS 10D , which have smaller imaging areas than 35 mm film. Taking into account the smaller angles of view that result, the new lens realizes a focal range equivalent to 27-64mm in the 35mm format (or 1.6 times) when paired with EOS 10D.

Moreover, the power of the focusing lens group has been increased to allow a minimum focusing distance of just 0.28 meters throughout the entire zoom range. The EF17-40mm f/4L USM also features a circular diaphragm for improved background blur, and utilizes only lead-free glass optics in consideration of the environment.The new lens features a hardy water- and dust-resistant construction,ensuring professional users unfailing performance under even the most grueling of conditions.

Depth-of-Field Data for EF17-40mm f/4L USM
Wide:17mm [unit:m]
D F4 5.6 8 11 16 22
ND FD ND FD ND FD ND FD ND FD ND FD
Inf. 2.29 Inf. 1.65 Inf. 1.2 Inf. 0.88 Inf. 0.65 Inf. 0.49 Inf.
1 0.75 1.59 0.68 2.15 0.6 4.48 0.53 Inf. 0.45 Inf. 0.38 Inf.
0.5 0.44 0.58 0.42 0.62 0.4 0.7 0.37 0.86 0.34 1.33 0.31 9.29
0.28 0.27 0.29 0.26 0.3 0.26 0.31 0.25 0.32 0.24 0.35 0.23 0.39
* D = Focusing Distance ND = Near Distance FD = Far Distance Inf. = Infinity
Tele:40mm [unit:m]
D F4 5.6 8 11 16 22
ND FD ND FD ND FD ND FD ND FD ND FD
Inf. 10.88 Inf. 7.72 Inf. 5.49 Inf. 3.91 Inf. 2.79 Inf. 2 Inf.
1 0.93 1.08 0.91 1.12 0.88 1.17 0.83 1.26 0.78 1.43 0.72 1.75
0.5 0.49 0.51 0.48 0.52 0.47 0.53 0.46 0.54 0.45 0.56 0.44 0.6
0.28 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.29 0.27 0.29 0.27 0.29 0.27 0.29
* D = Focusing Distance ND = Near Distance FD = Far Distance Inf. = Infinity

 

 

 

 

Lens Specifications

Generic Lens Specifications

Lens Type Zoom
IS / VR / OS None
Canon L Class Yes
Min Focal Length (mm) 17
Max Focal Length (mm) 40
Number of Elements 12
Element Groups 9
Max Aperture 2.8
Minimum Aperture 22
Diaphragm Blades 7
Closest Focus Distance (m) 0.28
Maximum Magnification 0.24
Filter Type Screw In
Filter Diameter (mm) 77
Diameter at widest (mm) 83
Lens Length (mm) 97
Weight (g) 475
Release Date March 2003

Field of View of this lens

Visualise the Field of View of this lens

Help and Feedback on the FOV tool here
Lens Measurement Data

Editor review

Canon EF 17-40mm f4L USM

Overall rating: 
 
1.0
Sharpness:
 
1.0
Build Quality:
 
1.0
AF Speed:
 
1.0
Value for Money:
 
1.0
Reviewed by lee
December 19, 2007
View all my reviews
 
Editor lens review will be updated shortly.

Conclusions at a glance

Would you recommend this Item Undecided
 
 


User reviews

View all user reviews

Average user rating from: 221 user(s)

Overall rating: 
 
4.4
Sharpness:
 
4.4   (221)
Build Quality:
 
4.3   (221)
AF Speed:
 
4.4   (221)
Value for Money:
 
4.3   (221)
 
Ratings (the higher the better)
  Sharpness*
  Build Quality*
  AF Speed*
  Value for Money*
Conclusions at a glance
 Yes
 No
 Undecided
Comments*
    Please enter the security code.
 
 

Stressed before buying, but now I'm OK.

Overall rating: 
 
4.3
Sharpness:
 
4.0
Build Quality:
 
5.0
AF Speed:
 
4.0
Value for Money:
 
4.0
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes No
Reviewed on: May 04, 2012
View all my reviews
Report this review
 
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

this is my firsst L lens so i have basis of comparison. however im no stranger to crisp imagery, and this lens seems to deliver just that... cant wait to get a 24-105 and 40-70 L on next week. i would recommend this to anyone just because it is in the L family. cant go wrong with L glass

 

L glass is the best.

Overall rating: 
 
4.8
Sharpness:
 
4.0
Build Quality:
 
5.0
AF Speed:
 
5.0
Value for Money:
 
5.0
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes No
Reviewed on: April 25, 2012
View all my reviews
Report this review
 
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

It came in quicker than expected and it amazing. "Like new" condition was not a lie! I am simple in love with this lens. I only use ultrasonic lens' and was worried about it being such a "wide angle" but I am simply in love. Its not too dark or too light, I don't need to adjust too much on my settings at all, it just fits so well! The seller was great and I WILL look for him for future purchases!

 

Very nice.

Overall rating: 
 
4.8
Sharpness:
 
5.0
Build Quality:
 
5.0
AF Speed:
 
5.0
Value for Money:
 
4.0
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes No
Reviewed on: April 09, 2012
View all my reviews
Report this review
 
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

I own a Canon 7D and bought this lens while making a transition of selling current lenses to some that I would use for Landscape and Video. I saw some beautiful photographs with this lens used by Flickr members for Landscape and Seascape shots. So I sold two of my zoom lenses and bought this one along with two others. My first shot with this lens I noticed big differences in sharpness compared to my previous zoom lenses (Canon 15-85mm, and Tokina 11-16mm). It is a nice build and produces great shots for me. I also have a prime lens (Samyang 14mm f2.8) for Landscape that is definitely sharper than this lens, but I wanted the adjustable 17-40mm for when I can't move in closer and need to crop a shot a little, so I own both. You can see some of my shots using this lens on Flickr username 1and0hound, especially my shot of a Bonzai tree Boulder in Lake Tahoe Nevada. This lens did not let me down at that moment I took the picture. If I had on my Samyang 14mm at that moment I would not have gotten the shot. I almost gave it a four star because of how much sharper my Samyang is, but you can't compare a zoom to a prime period!

 

Amazing!

Overall rating: 
 
5.0
Sharpness:
 
5.0
Build Quality:
 
5.0
AF Speed:
 
5.0
Value for Money:
 
5.0
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes No
Reviewed on: April 09, 2012
View all my reviews
Report this review
 
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

Awesome lens for the price. Build quality is very good and pictures come out great. I have this on a crop sensor body, making it 27-64mm. This is my preferred "walk around" lens, especially for street photography.

 

Great Landscape Lens

Overall rating: 
 
4.3
Sharpness:
 
4.0
Build Quality:
 
4.0
AF Speed:
 
4.0
Value for Money:
 
5.0
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes No
Reviewed on: March 30, 2012
View all my reviews
Report this review
 
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

If you're thinking about purchasing this lens, chances are it's because one of two reasons. The first reason being that you're looking for a landscape lens that's weather proof. The second reason being that you want to replace your kit lens with something that -- optically -- takes better pictures. Both are very valid and excellent reasons to buy this lens. This lens is one of Canon's cheapest 'L' series lenses -- I think it comes second to the Canon 70-200 f/4. While the price is surely an enticing aspect of the lens, it shouldn't be the sole reason why you're buying this lens; remember, this lens is a 17-40mm f/4 lens. The zoom range isn't as broad as the standard kit lens, and your widest aperture is actually worse too. If you need a wider aperture, go for the Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 -- keeping in mind the price doubles. If you're okay with the slightly limited zoom range and aperture, then this lens is perfect. The lens construction is very sturdy -- and as I said before, weather sealed. The optics in this lens are fantastic. The pictures come out sharp with very little vignetting and chromatic aberration. The lens does suffer from distortion, which is more apparent on full frame cameras, but nothing impossible to fix in photoshop. So, why would you want this lens? It's a perfect all around lens, that would make a great replacement for the standard kit lens. It's weather-sealed, durable, and the optics are excellent. The price is only a nice bonus. Why wouldn't you want this lens? Most people are enticed by the low price, as well as the red ring around the lens. My only caution would be to consider the limited aperture and zoom range. I myself found it very frustrating trying to take low-light photographs with this lens. The f/4 aperture is a little too limiting. While night-time photography wasn't my reason for buying this lens, it was still frustrating trying to use it at night regardless. Best Uses: Landscape Photography -- without a doubt. I know it has distortion, but that's always easily fixed.

 
 
View all user reviews
 

Powered by Webscale.co.uk. Valid XHTML and CSS.