Canon 28-70mm f2.8 or Canon 17-40mm ?

[kwang0429]

if I can get a used 28-70mm for about $850 should I get that instead of the 17-40mm for about $650? doesn't 28-70 got replaced by 17-40? can someone educate me real quick here and tell me which lens is slightly better? thanks.

[gramps]

I would think you are comparing apples and oranges.

[johneo]

You don't say what you shoot or what other lenses you have or even which camera.

My own opinion ... if it's going to be your only lens or the first lens I wouldn't get the 17-40 as it is a lot more limited than the 28-70. The 17-40 is a great lens, don't get me wrong, but the 28-70 is more of a walking around lens because of it's better focal length.

Just to say what I did ... I bought the 28-135 and after a few weeks realized I needed (wanted?) a lens with a wider view and bought the 17-40 but I still use the 28-135 more than the 17-40.

[cactusclay]

The 28-70 was replaced by the 24-70, both 2.8. Both lenses are lunkers but very good optically, for zooms. The 17-40 is also very good optically for a zoom, but smaller and quite a bit lighter and only has f4 maximum aperature and goes 7-11mm wider, but is 30 mm shorter. The former would be more suited for the portrait range. Hope that helps.

[kwang0429]

I just got a 20d and don't know much about those lenses yet, I only have the lens that it came with and a 50mm 1.8, I am looking for a wideangle clear sharp walk around lens, and the 1st thing come to my mind is the 17-40, but than I saw a good deal on the 28-70, just $200 away from the 17-40, that's why I wanted to know if you were me, which one would you go for ? thanks.

[jimlp]

I just got a 20d and don't know much about those lenses yet, I only have the lens that it came with and a 50mm 1.8, I am looking for a wideangle clear sharp walk around lens, and the 1st thing come to my mind is the 17-40, but than I saw a good deal on the 28-70, just $200 away from the 17-40, that's why I wanted to know if you were me, which one would you go for ? thanks.

If you can live with a 44mm length on the short end get the 28-70 f2.8, the extra reach compensates for the loss of the wide end. You will have to decide which is more important to you.

[cactusclay]

If you're looking for a wide angle walk around, then the 28-70 at 44.8 mm is more like a standard lens (50 mm), so it sounds like a clear cut choice if you want a L wide angle zoom. 17-40, or the 16-35 or the 10-22 efs (non L). Multiply the mm x1.6 to get the true lens mm.

[DaveG]

I just got a 20d and don't know much about those lenses yet, I only have the lens that it came with and a 50mm 1.8, I am looking for a wideangle clear sharp walk around lens, and the 1st thing come to my mind is the 17-40, but than I saw a good deal on the 28-70, just $200 away from the 17-40, that's why I wanted to know if you were me, which one would you go for ? thanks.

I'm guessing that your got the kit lens - the 18-55 - and you have the 50 f1.8 already . I kind of think that both the 28-70 and the 17-40 are redundent to what you have now.

Are they better optically? Yeah probably. But you instantly have at least one lens that you aren't going to use much any more. I think that you might be happier looking outside of the box a bit. Perhaps a 100mm macro lens, or even the 10-22 super wide angle zoom.

[pcasciola]

If you're looking for a wide angle walk around, then the 28-70 at 44.8 mm is more like a standard lens (50 mm), so it sounds like a clear cut choice if you want a L wide angle zoom. 17-40, or the 16-35 or the 10-22. Multiply the mm x1.6 to get the true lens mm.I agree. On my 20D I don't find my 28-75mm to be wide at all.

And now I will go brace myself for the backlash of responses explaining to us how 44.8mm is not the "true" lens mm, but merely a crop. How dare you use the words "true lens mm"? :lol: :lol: :lol:

[cactusclay]

Jeeze, I'm sorry about that, I really meant to say the crop factor focal lenght.

[pcasciola]

Jeeze, I'm sorry about that, I really meant to say the crop factor focal lenght.No need to apologize. I'm on your side here. I just find it funny whenever we (me included) use the words adjusted focal length, magnification, etc., and get corrected by the people who prefer the word crop. I can feel it coming whenever some one uses the "wrong" word.