Canon 17-40mm f/4 L (77mm filters, 16.7 oz. /474 g, about $850). .

July 2017

Alternatives

Canon 16-35mm f/4 L IS (2014-today)

Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 L III(2016-today)

Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 L II (2007-2016)

Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 L (2001-2007)

Canon 17-35mm f/2.8 L (1995-2001)

Canon 20-35mm f/2.8 L 1989-1995)

Tokina 17-35mm f/4 (2011-today)

In this review I explain why I sold mine and purchased the Canon 16-35mm f/4 L IS.

Pros:

1.) Excellent optics.

2.) Consistent results

3.) Inexpensive

4.) Light weight.

5.) Well made.

6.) The largest zoom ratio of any ultrawide: 2.4 : 1 (40/17 = 2.4).

Cons:

1.) Unsharp corners

2.) Complex distortion 

Why I sold mine

This is an excellent performing lens but its aging design could not keep up for the challenging sensor of my Canon 5DS R. 50 megapixels is a lot for most lenses so it's hard to fault the 17-40 however, there are now newer additions to canon's line up of ultra-wide zooms, hence why I sold mine and upgraded to the 16-35 f/4. It has better sharpness in the center and especially in the corners when compared to the 17-40. If you are using a lower resolution camera than the 17-40 is a lens worth considering. 

Specs

  

      USM: Ultra-Sonic Motor: It focuses silently.

Maximum Aperture

f/4 at all focal lengths.

Optics

12 elements in 9 groups, including three aspherics and one of UD glass. UD glass is the same as Nikon's ED glass, which helps reduce color fringing.

Diaphragm

7 blades stopping down to f/22.

Filter Size

77mm, the pro standard. Plastic filter threads. There's also a gel holder on the rear.

Close Focus

11" (0.28m) from the image plane

Hood

EW-83E

Size

3.288" diameter x 3.801" extension from flange (83.5 x 96.56mm), measured.

Weight

16.705 oz. (473.6 g), measured, naked. 

Introduced

May 2003.

PERFORMANCE   

OVERALL

It's a great lens. For less money than many other lenses, it offers better performance.

FOCUSING

Fast USM, can't go wrong here

Autofocus Accuracy

Very accurate, few inconsistencies

Manual Focus

Not well damped, sorry videographers

BOKEH   

It's an f/4 wide angle zoom, so not much bokeh however it is smooth with 7 blades.

CONSTRUCTION QUALITY

back to Performance or back to Introduction.

It has a rubber gasket on the lens mount to keep crud out of your camera.

Exterior

Plastic.

Filter Threads

Plastic.

Switches

Plastic.

Mount

Metal.

Internals

Metal.

Made in

Japan.