Canon EF-S 17-55

So, our local camera shop was having their big summer sale and I stopped by to check out what they had. I was tempted by a Canon 85mm f1.8 that was on sale for $232 but ended up getting a Canon 17-55 f2.8 for $519. I had been considering this lens for awhile but just had not pulled the trigger. I thought it was a great find at that price.

Anyway, got home after dark and wanted to check out the IS on the lens, so I snapped a picture of the pup on the couch. I thought it looks a little off in regards to color, but I am a big colorblind. I am sure it is probably camera setting, as I have not done much indoor, non-flash shots. Photo is attached.

The 17-55 is a fine lens. You will enjoy it and will most likely find it as your walk-around, go-to lens. It will be used more than the 85mm 1.8 would have been, though the 85mm is a good lens itself. The 17-55 is just more versatile for different shooting situations and still reasonably fast. Definitely a sharp lens and is often mention as the "L" lens of the EF-S lenses. I bought one several years ago for my T2i and for the life of me can't bring myself to sell the T2i just because of lens...it is a nice setup. With your 7D II it has to be a *really* nice setup. Good choice!

Yeah, the lighting in your image is off. Probably due to the type lighting and the preponderance of brownish-red in the image. You can take care of that in post or play around with white balance. I was trying to find the focus point in the image. I'm seeing the texture pattern on the cushion on the back of the couch but can't tell exactly where the focus point is on your pup. You might, if you like to tinker, check out the lens/camera combo to be sure it isn't back or front focusing. It is probably fine, though.

Enjoy the lens, it's a good'un!!!!!
Ed

Thanks for the information. I was trying for her eyes but she was moving a bit.

Will have to give it a more complete tryout this weekend.

At 1/20 second subject movement will definitely affect sharpness. Give the lens a good spin this weekend.

Got out this evening for a couple more shots

There ya go. Looking good.

I used a borrowed 17-55 as my short lens on a safari to Namibia last year and was pretty impressed with the results at that time on my older 7D. I expect the 7D2 to be even a bit better as I get more use from it.

Took some photo of the dog in the yard playing fetch and the AF seems to be pretty darn fast as well.

I'm a fan, having owned one some years ago.

One small thing with that image of the lovely dog. Is it me, or is there some weird distortion going on with the cupboard on the left?

I see what you mean. That shot was kind of on an angle and maybe some barrel distortion at the edge of the fame?

duckster wrote in post #18892916
Thanks for the information. I was trying for her eyes but she was moving a bit.

Will have to give it a more complete tryout this weekend.

At the plane of the eyes, the leather/stitching on the couch looks quite sharp so it looks to me that you got a good example of the lens.

The 17-55 would be an L lens had it not been an EFS.

Today's prices around $500 is a steal.

That is what I was thinking as well! I have been watching for sales or a used version for awhile now. I also had traded in a 18-135 STM because I had that and a 18-135 USM and really was not using the STM version very often. Got $100 for that lens so my out the door price was $419 plus tax.

Images from the lens may need to be a bit processed. Not sure how you feel about this edit, but any edit, even minor adjustments, will help you really get the best the lens can offer.

My take on the photo, used the light/dark filter in photoshop, rotated horizon .5%, some surface blur, etc. A different edit might be to make the balloon more silhouetted potentially too. Alot of cool things can be done with this image!

After/before...

Teamspeed - that is really great! I admittedly do very little post processing. A little cropping, sometimes some slight exposure adjustment. I probably need to get past my fear of working with photos in post.

You can't hurt the files.

Just keep your master copy around, and then make a new copy of one you want to play with and edit it. If you don't like, start over or delete the copy.

I am not up on all the different editing packages these days though, as I have a standalone photoshop. Photo Elements should have come with your camera if you have the CDs, I believe. That is a good starting point.