17-55 just arrived from borrowlenses

I have the sigma so was curious to at least try it out. Build is crap. It has zoom creep and squeak, lol. IS mechanism is noisy. But man the optics and IQ are there. Why can't one manufacturer get it ALL right? I have it for a week and I'm going to vegas tomorrow so I should have further thoughts then. And will decide if it's worth another $600 for the canon.

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Sounds like an abused lens. Mine doesn't have creep, squeak and the motor is quiet. I'm sure that if you buy a new copy, build quality would not be a non-issue. What do your pics represent?

True that just came to mind. Top image is canon. Both shots at 1/50, f2.8. I took other shots too. Canon is slightly sharper SOOC.

I think that's always been the knock on the 17-55. L optics in a cheap consumer casing.

Mine also does not creep , squeak or have a noisy IS I love this lens although there has been a few dust spots appear over time but they don't affect the image.

My 17-55IS doesn't squeak and the IS is quiet. There is zoom creep, but that is something that I can live with. Build quality is fine and the optics are amazing. It is a great lens.

Mine doesn't make any noise that I can hear as it is in Irvine getting repaired after I fell while walking with the lens attached to my 40D. Before that, no noise and no problems. On my camera most of the time.

I love Captain Morgan!
You have an abused copy of the 17-55, My copy has no zoom creep & squeak, or IS noise. In fact the IS is not even audible.

Well, that makes two of us... I have a 17-55 from BL for a week also.

Mine doesn't squeak, but the front barrel rattles around quite a bit, and the zoom ring isn't very smooth... it tends to hang up around 24mm quite often.

I rented it as a "test drive" before buying. I have an 18-200 and I'm contemplating upgrading to a two-lens setup, with something in the 18-xx and a 70-200.

So I'm wondering about the build quality... can anybody out there that owns a 17-55 f2.8 comment about whether the front barrel rattles a bit? It is enough to see as well as feel, and it occurs at all zoom positions.

Thanks in advance.

-Tom in SoCal

My 17-55 feels allright in the build actually.. I'm surprised to see that so many complaints come up here.

It does not rattle, it does not zoomcreep and the zoom feels allright.

However, my one concern about this lens since day one is a sound from the IS.. It's not the "normal" IS sound, but a very scratchy one. When the IS turns on (half-press shutterbutton) it scratches and the moment it turns off it also scratches, in between it's dead silent. When I first got it I went to my local store and tested their demo out, but this was even worse so I didn't bother with it anymore..

Now after reading a bit it seems like everyone elses 17-55 IS is silent and mine's not. On one hand I don't feel like sending it in for a repair that can't be done, be without this lovely lens for 4-5 weeks and pay a $60 fee.. On the other hand, if they have a fix I could live without it for 4-5 weeks and then have silence forever after.

Mine is more of a clicky IS mechansism at start and finish, with a faint buzzing in between.

Mine is dead silent. I only hear something if i put my ears ON the lens.

Mine does creep a bit... But only if its past 17mm, and is hanging on my R-strap whilst walking.

here's my copy: http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=jWtPEoGR8Ko

so it is an abused copy then?

It clearly has the same scratch-sound witht the IS as mine.. But the zoom seems kind of funky on the one in the video, mine does not sound like that at all.

amazing how some of you dont hear the IS. ive never used a IS lens that i couldnt hear it kick in & out

i was disappointed with my 17-55. felt like a beefed up 55-250. size is too large to be so light and have such a weak build imo. i actually prefer the sigma build to canon. mine also had zoom creep as well as a gritty focus ring which i hear is not uncommon.