Because it is a very high quality but moderately-priced ultra wide angle zoom lens, the Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Lens is one of Canon's best selling lenses. The 17-40 f/4L fills out the bottom focal length range of Canon's f/4L zoom lens series .

The EF 17-40mm f/4L USM lens is a member of a suite of Canon zoom lenses that retain a constant f4 maximum aperture throughout the zoom range. Designed for use on 35mm SLR cameras, this ultra-wide zoom is ideal for capturing dramatic landscape shots and taking portraits of large groups of people.

This is a good quality product that offers good value for money in the very short term. Although as with most products of this type, the value will deteriorate over time and should be able to get a cheaper version next year. It's a great device with plenty of features that I would highly recommend.

Good Value Product

Not many

Canon makes two high-quality wide-angle zoom lenses for full-frame cameras, the 17-40/4L reviewed here and the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM , ( compare prices ). In the digital era, the 17-40 has been overlooked to some extent.

The Canon EF 17-40mm may deliver spectacular ultra-wide angle coverage when fitted to a full-frame body like the EOS 5D, but offers a more normal, general-purpose range when mounted on cropped bodies like the EOS 30D or 400D / XTi.

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

Shorter zoom range than kit lens; No IS (although not particularly necessary; Overkill if not considering full-frame in future; Canon EF-S 17-85mm more flexible for most

Originally posted 2006-08-04 on Optyczne.pl The Canon EF 17-40 mm f/4L USM was introduced in May 2003 as an ultra wide-angle lens designed for digital and analog cameras with a 35 mm frame detector.

USM motor autofocus could make less mistakes; We expect better resolution from the L-grade lens

Have had lens for a few years now. At one time also had the 16-35 F/2.8, but honestly ended up using this lens more because it is so much more portable (smaller, lighter). While the new 16-35 v2 is sharper in the corners, it is double the price.

This article reviews the full frame performance of the Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L lens. My intented use of the lens is for landscape photography with a Canon EOS-1Ds camera. The EF 17-40mm f/4L lens (left panel) is a very sharp, high contrast zoom lens with performance characteristics that often match...

Are these two lens samples representative? I can't say for sure. I've been using my 16-35mm f/2.8L for many months and have been happy with the images it produces. Is it as sharp as primes in this focal length range? No, of course not.

It's not exactly easy to design a flawless full format lens and the Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 USM L shows its part of the struggles here. The lens is not overly fast but it has a comparatively broad range for a lens in this class and it seems as if Canon has overstretched things a little with respect to...