Canon 17-40 f4 or 17-35 f2.8?

Maybe the gurus here can help me out.

I don't have experience with either of these lenses but I am in the market for a lens in this focal range. The 2.8 of the 17-35 is obviously highly desirable, but it is an older model(10 years+) so I'm unsure of how reliable it would be if I got it, or if that's even such an issue? I also don't know which lens is sharper as I can't find any image samples or galleries of the 17-35 to compare to the 17-40. I've tried searching but nothing relating to the 17-35 comes up.

Anyways advice/suggestions/ins​ight is welcomed, thanks.

Canon won't service the 17-35 so dont pay much for one.

gonzogolf wrote in post #17747255
Canon won't service the 17-35 so dont pay much for one.

Oh I never knew that and failed to take that into account

GTR3451 wrote in post #17747258
Oh I never knew that and failed to take that into account

At some point canon no longer keeps parts for those old legacy lenses. The 17-40 is a very good lens, especially given the value.

gonzogolf wrote in post #17747261
The 17-40 is a very good lens, especially given the value.

Yes, the 17-40L is a very nice option if you are looking for a ultra wide angle zoom for full frame on a tight budget. If you can expand your budget some more, the newer 16-35 f/4 IS L improves sharpness (especially in the corners) and adds image stabilization for about double the cost.

Scott M wrote in post #17747767
Yes, the 17-40L is a very nice option if you are looking for a ultra wide angle zoom for full frame on a tight budget. If you can expand your budget some more, the newer 16-35 f/4 IS L improves sharpness (especially in the corners) and adds image stabilization for about double the cost.

Agreed but if then OP is looking at obsolete lenses then my guess is he's surfing the used market for lenses. A used 17-40 can be found in the $400 range.

I just started doing research about that 16-35 f4 IS lens, it sounds great. It'll just come down to how good of a deal I can get a 17-40L for. I'd pull the trigger for a good used in the 400's, but the 17-35 f4 IS is very intriguing.

gonzogolf wrote in post #17747789
Agreed but if then OP is looking at obsolete lenses then my guess is he's surfing the used market for lenses. A used 17-40 can be found in the $400 range.

It looks like the 16-35 f/4 IS L is selling used for between $900 and $1,000, so that's "about" twice the cost. I would image a used 16-35 is more difficult to find, though, as it's a newer lens. There are lots of 17-40L's on the used market, mainly because of the introduction of the 16-35.

Anyway, I just wanted to make the OP aware of an alternative. I used to own the 17-40L, and now own the 16-35. In their respective price ranges, they are both very good options for ultra wide on full frame.

I bought the 17 3.5 prime once, sharp, faster than f4, oop, on EBay, perfect condition and lightweight, now I have the 16-35 f4L IS, Tokina 16-35 is also great price!

I plan to get some wide lense as well. I have already teste how 17-40 acts mounted to 5D Classic but I love the f2.8 in the older model - 17-35/2.8. I can get one on eBay - I live in the Czech Republic - from a verified seller. They usually come from Japan and are refurbished. The price is usually the same as the f/4 model.

I really do want bokeh balls so I will go after f/2.8 version