Best walkaround zoom for a Canon 7D: EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS or EF 24-70mm f/2.8L?
Asked 4/21/2012
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2 answers
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I shoot with a Canon 7D and currently have these lenses:
- EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5
- EF 50mm f/1.4
- EF 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro
I’m looking for a general walkaround zoom for travel. I often use the 10-22mm, but it’s too short to serve as my main all-purpose lens. I’d likely carry the 10-22mm plus the new zoom on trips.
I mainly shoot scenery, including narrow old-town streets, cityscapes, and wider landscapes. Travel plans include places like Dubai, Hong Kong, and the Philippines.
How do the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS and EF 24-70mm f/2.8L compare on a crop-body 7D for image quality, usefulness, size, and handling? Is the 17-55mm’s IS more useful for travel, or is the 24-70mm’s build and longer reach the better choice? Are alternatives like the 24-105mm f/4L worth considering?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
6
The 17-55 is a great lens, the biggest downside is that you can only use it on crop sensor cameras. Other than that I find that the picture is very sharp and the autofocus among the fastest I have used so far (Faster than the one in your 50mm 1.4 or 100mm Macro for sure, I also own these two).
On the other hand if you're doing landscapes I don't really see the point of the IS in the first place and the added weather sealing on the 24-70 might be a good plus.
Finally you should be aware that the 17-55 loves dust. And it will not only go behind the front lens but also deeper into the construction. This doesn't show in the frames you take with it (in my case at least) but should be considered if it could make you feel uneasy.
About the new 24-70 I cannot comment, since I haven't used it yet. It seems great but at that price point I personally wouldn't got for it.
Originally by user9475. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user9475
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
On a Canon 7D, the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS is generally the better walkaround choice.
Why:
- 17mm is much more useful than 24mm on APS-C for travel, city streets, and landscapes.
- The 17-55 is widely regarded as very sharp, with fast autofocus and near “L-like” image quality.
- IS is valuable for travel, especially indoors, at dusk, or in low light when you can’t always use faster shutter speeds.
Reasons to prefer the 24-70mm f/2.8L:
- Better build/weather resistance.
- More telephoto reach and no overlap with your 10-22.
But on a crop body, 24mm often isn’t wide enough for a true general-purpose travel zoom, so you may end up changing lenses more often. Also, the 24-70 is relatively large and heavy for walking around cities.
Caveats on the 17-55:
- It’s EF-S only, so it won’t work on full-frame bodies.
- It’s known to attract dust internally, though that typically doesn’t affect photos.
Alternative worth considering: the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS if you value lighter weight, IS, and extra range over f/2.8.
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