EF 17-40 f/4 L

[chemicalbro]

I am currently on the lookout for a good wide angle lens......
does anybody have experience with the 17-40mm f/4 L USM....

i want it mostly for landscape type pictures.....

theres a crazy money listing for a brand new one on ebay
currently its sitting at only £72 with 3 days left (so i guess it will go for a couple of hundred)

now i don't know much about the L series lenses but i do know that this would be a bargain......
is this man mad?
why no reserve?
whats wrong with it?

answers to these questions in the next episode :)

[condyk]

No reserve auction for good items attract lots of interest and lots of bids. If you think you'll get it for a few hundred then I'm afraid you will disappointed. Should reach £400 or so. Most bids come in the last few minutes.

[chemicalbro]

even at 400 its still a good price no?

thats still not out of my price range.....

[condyk]

Sorry ... forgot it was new. £400 SH is a decent price. I have seen them go for higher prices even SH and a few have gone lower. I'd expect a new one to go for £470 or more : there are a couple of new ones on there now available in the Uk for around that price, so no VAT/Duty problems and fast postage.

I checked a few hours ago as am looking for a Sigma 18-50mm 2.8 or a similar wide-ish like the Canon. I didn't see the one you refer to!! Keep an eye on it tho', but don't get your hopes up.

It's an excellent lens if you don't need super-wide. Good walkaround.

[chemicalbro]

cool thanks for the info heres a link to the auction on the 17-40
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7530614470&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

[blue_max]

cool thanks for the info heres a link to the auction on the 17-40
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7530614470&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

If you are willing to spend £400, then put a bid in. You never know. If you are prepared to pay more, then put your bid more.

Market forces will give you your answer.

Don't make the mistake of thinking it is just you and no-one else will have noticed. Most of the time, Ebay sells things for OVER the odds.

Graham

[WepWaWep]

Still three days out, they're just getting warmed up.

I have the 17-40 L and love it.

[DxHatchback]

i want to get this lens, but $$ is an issue

[Danny Boy]

I have it and it is a good lens for landscape. No complaints from me.

[GyRob]

i have one and yes it is a nice lens and very well made.
Rob.

[digitalfailure]

The 17-40 is a cracking lense.

I'd prefer to buy it from a shop though, my first copy of this lens had a focus issue.
It wouldn't stop autofocusing when in manual mode.
and when it thought that it was in focus it was really soft.

the dealer swapped it straight away for me.

[Citizensmith]

Great lens, very nice to use, and generally top notch results.

As others have said though, never rely on anything in ebay. The winning bid normally comes in the last few seconds from someone sitting waiting for a last moment steal. I've sold stuff that has sat at $20 or $30 for 6 days and then jumped to $200 in the last day and finally sold for $300 in the last few minutes. This seems very typical of ebay sales. I don't bid too much but generally I'll figure what I'd be willing to spend and put my bid in straight away at that amount rather than messing around. If I make it (very rarely I do) cool, if not, fine, I didn't want to spend that amount anyway.

[SidW]

Thanks to the comments on this site, I went ahead and bought mine.
I love this lens. It is well built and works perfectly for me.

I'm sure you'll be happy with it too, especially if you get it for that price.

Sid

[sixshot]

I am buying one at the weekend.....Hey thats tomorrow....... I will get a 20D to go with it!!

Ohhhh, I cannot wait!!

[condyk]

Ben

Are you buying in Guangzhou or London? What's the pricing in China like?

[xuxu1]

Go for that lens. You´ll love it!
(But if i were you, i´d go for a new one.)

ED

[ed2day]

Great lens, very nice to use, and generally top notch results.

As others have said though, never rely on anything in ebay. The winning bid normally comes in the last few seconds from someone sitting waiting for a last moment steal. I've sold stuff that has sat at $20 or $30 for 6 days and then jumped to $200 in the last day and finally sold for $300 in the last few minutes. This seems very typical of ebay sales. I don't bid too much but generally I'll figure what I'd be willing to spend and put my bid in straight away at that amount rather than messing around. If I make it (very rarely I do) cool, if not, fine, I didn't want to spend that amount anyway.

Bidding in the last few seconds is the only rational way to bid on Ebay. But I don't see how it gets you a "steal". The people that complain about last second bidders because their low-ball bid got blown away are the ones looking for the steal.

[Citizensmith]

Bidding in the last few seconds is the only rational way to bid on Ebay. But I don't see how it gets you a "steal". The people that complain about last second bidders because their low-ball bid got blown away are the ones looking for the steal.

I think you took my post to be a little more negative than I intended. I'm perfectly fine with the last minute bidding, just trying to describe it to someone who didn't seem as familiar with the goings on of ebay. Secondly, I wasn't complaining about losing a bid. To be honest if I bid $200 for something and somebody beats me I don't care if there was 3 days or 3 seconds of bidding left I'm no longer interested. If I can't knock at least 25% of the new price when I'm buying somebody else can have it. As for saying a succesful low bid is stealing? Things sell for what they sell for, its an auction, there is not set price. Just because you hoped something would sell for $100 and it only sold for $10 doesn't mean anything was stolen from you.

[OceanView]

Does this lens extend and retract in the front when zooming like the 24-70mm L ?
Or does it do this inside the unit?

I never seen one in person so I had to ask.

[ed2day]

CitSmith:

I really wasn't trying to read too much into your post--just passing on what I think is the best way to bid. And preemptively heading off those who think a last second bid is somehow unethical.

OceanView:

The 17-40 does not extend or move at all. Really a well built, nice-looking lens. Except for the hood!

[Sean-Mcr]

I'd personally pay the extra if you're going to pay £400 SH and get a new one from http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_4_409_40910&products_id=98401 I even know people that have had the cash back (rebate) even though it's in Jersey (off the uk mainland)

[chemicalbro]

thanks for the link sean..excellent prices throughout on that site

[Sean-Mcr]

No worries pal,

I do know a good few people that have used them with no trouble. Their CS is said not to be that great but i do know quite a few people that have used them with no problem, and as i said even had the rebate back. If you manage that you'll be looking about £429

[MegaTron]

Could someone tell me if this is a good lens for portraits, if so, what would be a good flash that would go with this lens?

Any other portrait lenses that you guys could recommend?

[bikerider]

Could someone tell me if this is a good lens for portraits, if so, what would be a good flash that would go with this lens?

Any other portrait lenses that you guys could recommend?

Not the ideal portrait lens, a 135mm prime is ideal for a full frame sensor camera. I have the 17-40L and love it for an all round lens doing bike and car shoots with people in them. For portraits I am currently using a 50mm 1.4. I also have a 70-200 f4L in the post, that will do fine for people, but on a tripod I think. For flash, get yourself a 550 or 580 EX. Hope this helps!
Roger.

[OceanView]

CitSmith:

I really wasn't trying to read too much into your post--just passing on what I think is the best way to bid. And preemptively heading off those who think a last second bid is somehow unethical.

OceanView:

The 17-40 does not extend or move at all. Really a well built, nice-looking lens. Except for the hood!


Thanks for the info.
I am really thinking of this lens for a walkaround lens.

[Brian05]

Excellent lens, highly recommend it. I use an EW-83DII hood instead of the huge one that comes with it.

[Croasdail]

I have this lens and loved on my film cameras... on digital 1.6x factor bodies... I have fallen out of love - it is just not wide enough. Now looking for a wider lens for digital - for what it worth.

[xuxu1]

I have this lens and loved on my film cameras... on digital 1.6x factor bodies... I have fallen out of love - it is just not wide enough. Now looking for a wider lens for digital - for what it worth.
Why not go for a FF body? Then you can enjoy both the FF and 1.6x crop world and you´ll still love your lens. :cool:

ED

[Sean-Mcr]

Why not go for a FF body? Then you can enjoy both the FF and 1.6x crop world and you´ll still love your lens. :cool:

ED


I'm sure we'd all like a ff but the cost is what's stopping many of us.



One day:rolleyes:

[xuxu1]

I'm sure we'd all like a ff but the cost is what's stopping many of us.



One day:rolleyes:
So you are in the same boat as i am. *SIGH* :cry:

ED

[malla1962]

got miy 17-40 of ebay brand new a few months back for £388 plus shipping.:D

[xuxu1]

got miy 17-40 of ebay brand new a few months back for £388 plus shipping.:D
How many € (EURO) is that? Then i´m able to tell you if that was a good deal. :lol:

ED

[condyk]

How many € (EURO) is that? Then i´m able to tell you if that was a good deal. :lol:


It's a great deal for the UK ... they normally sell on ebay SH for around £400-450 plus P&P, but you can get a new UK one for £479 there too.

If you must do a conversion, try here www.xe.com

[xuxu1]

It's a great deal for the UK ... they normally sell on ebay SH for around £400-450 plus P&P, but you can get a new UK one for £479 there too.

If you must do a conversion, try here www.xe.com
Thank you very much for the info and the link! I was just a bit curious. Am very happy with my 17-40L. :D

Kind Regards
ED

[malla1962]

How many € (EURO) is that? Then i´m able to tell you if that was a good deal. :lol:

EDnot sure in euro but it was a good deal £560 in uk.:D