New EFS 17-55 2.8 Very Soft

Hi,

After weeks of back and forth decision about buying this lens over the (now returned) 24-105L, I thought someone else might benefit from my plight.

I'm very new to photography, but even my untrained eye was very unimpressed by the pictures this lens was producing (soft at every setting & very slow to focus). So after having it for 3 weeks, I decided to take it in to Canon.

I took the lens to the Irvine California Canon facility. They were extremely helpful, fast, and easy to work with. The lens was overnighted back to me (after 10 days) at no cost and now it appears to work wonderfully (although still very slow to focus compared to my 10-22 and 70-200L)!

This is what was wrong:

I still like having a 2.8 and in this range over the 24-105l I previously purchased and returned. but I thought someone else who may be on the fence may want to factor in the quality control of this lens.

man, that is a shame!!!!!!!

I just received my 17-55, and it is fast to focus, and tack sharp....i am loving it! im sorry your having such a bad experience with yours.....just not right when you pay good money for something to have it messed up from the start. Im sure its to late now to return it for a new copy

Canon's strong position on the market is marred by lenses that do not perform to the standard they should...this is reflected among L lenses and non-L lenses alike! I will have to state, nevertheless, that none of the multiple Canon lenses I have had have ever been suboptimal right out of the box (knock on wood!)

PrOxY wrote in post #3075864
now it appears to work wonderfully (although still very slow to focus compared to my 10-22 and 70-200L)

It's not working wonderfully then if the AF is slow because the 1755IS has extremely quick AF.

LightRules wrote in post #3077384
It's not working wonderfully then if the AF is slow because the 1755IS has extremely quick AF.

Agreed! I love mine.

LightRules wrote in post #3077384
It's not working wonderfully then if the AF is slow because the 1755IS has extremely quick AF.

totally. AF moves noticably quicker than my old 24-70. I was surprised.

PrOxY:

I also have the 24/105 (which you returned) in addition to the 17/55.

They are both fast and deadly on AF.

Something is not quite right. How about your 400D?

LightRules wrote in post #3077384
It's not working wonderfully then if the AF is slow because the 1755IS has extremely quick AF.

i agree. focus should be lightning quick.

ed rader

Hi,

Well it seems slower (and louder) than any of my other lenses (10-22,100-400L,70-200 2.8L), so its in need of a good day of testing by me and perhaps a return trip to Irvine

I will say the actual focus (sharpness) is fixed (every shot was hopelessly blurry before) , but the speed and volume of its AF seems funky. I'm stuck with this guy now so if need be he can commute to and from Irvine as many times as needed!!!!!

Just spent a day shooting kite surfing in Seal Beach on the 100-400L. Super fast and VERY sharp. That lens really surprised me, even with its old design it makes my 17-55 seem clunky. As for the 70-200L, its a miracle worker. I took a test picture the day I got it of a rock in a field of weeds and the bokeh and sharpness made it seem like I knew what I was doing! So I think the new 400D body is not at issue, which is a relief.....lol.

I'm sure somethings still wrong but I need to spend some testing time with it. Ill post the results and any future tech work if need be. I'm pleased with Canon's customer service, and glad they are local, but I hope I don't need to visit them too often

Just an update,

After Canon made some adjustments and said its in specs, I sold it (still under 8 months of warranty) and went with a new 24-70 L. Oh my, I definitely got a good one of these! Brilliant colors and sharp as a tack! It would have probably the better choice for me to begin with because I shoot lots of mountain biking (while mountain biking) so the dust seals will really help. Anyway, thats the final word on my old lens