Replaced, retired, overtaken, surpassed... life is hard for a kit lens.

Today I did something I hadn’t planned to do before August, I replaced my kit lens, and I’m so happy for it! Playing ping-pong between the 17-40L and the EFS 17-55 in my head for months, I finally decided on the 17-40L.

But instead of giving POTN grief for driving me towards more expensive optics, and especially Ls, I would like to thank you all for giving great advice, sharing wonderful photos and making a fun hobby even more amusing.

I can’t wait to take this baby out this weekend, and I promise to post a duck shot in this thread during the weekend.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/chaos2/46413686​9/

Nice product shot. Really sends a message!

Thanks

That lens will not disappoint - congrats, and happy shooting.

I know it's in the background, but the kit lens is so dwarfed not by just the L but the hood.

I thought the same thing on that pic as CDI did. Nice opening shot!

NICE!!!!!!!! I ping-ponged between the same 2 lenses! LOL I chose the 17-55.....but that L is lookin purty!!! Congrats!

Thanks First impressions: the build and feel is superb, it balances very nicely on the camera, and the AF is completely silent and super fast!

Marydoright, if I wasn't dreaming of going FF in a few years, the 17-55 would have been very hard to say no to. I have already ordered the 17-55 hood (EW-83J) though I hear it works great on a crop camera with the 17-40L

fi20100 wrote in post #3063280
Thanks First impressions: the build and feel is superb, it balances very nicely on the camera, and the AF is completely silent and super fast!

Marydoright, if I wasn't dreaming of going FF in a few years, the 17-55 would have been very hard to say no to. I have already ordered the 17-55 hood (EW-83J) though I hear it works great on a crop camera with the 17-40L

Good thinking. Some people don't realize though that it's not just full frame dreams that can shy someone away from crop lenses. Even 1.3x bodies aren't compatible...

So whether you plan to go full frame, or just with a 1D it's worth thinking twice. NOT to say some of that EF-S, DC, and Di II glass isn't superb!

fi20100 wrote in post #3063280
Thanks First impressions: the build and feel is superb, it balances very nicely on the camera, and the AF is completely silent and super fast!

Marydoright, if I wasn't dreaming of going FF in a few years, the 17-55 would have been very hard to say no to. I have already ordered the 17-55 hood (EW-83J) though I hear it works great on a crop camera with the 17-40L

Congratulations, good luck, and I know you will enjoy it. It is a great piece of glass. You will have to sneak up on the duck to get close though.

Congratulations on the purchase of a superb lens . . .
My 17-40 was attached to my 350D 99.9% of the time - they are an awesome combination.

Fantastic combo, ditto to steve's comment.

a little off-topic, but what are the benefits of these L Glass lenses.
Also, is USM for beneficial for auto shooting.

- Pebble - wrote in post #3064112
a little off-topic, but what are the benefits of these L Glass lenses.
Also, is USM for beneficial for auto shooting.

Your best bet, really, is to search on "What makes an L an L?" type topics. There are numerous (often long) threads on just this. One recent example is this one.

USM is a type of AF motor - there are actually several that qualify as USM. There are also older types such as AFD (Arc Form Drive), found in such classics as the 50mm f/1.8 and 35mm f/2.0. You can tell these from a distance by the "buzz" these lenses make when focusing. They all get the job done - it's a matter of how fast it is, and how quiet it is. L lenses generally use the very latest, best form of USM known as the "ring type."

- Pebble - wrote in post #3064112
a little off-topic, but what are the benefits of these L Glass lenses.
Also, is USM for beneficial for auto shooting.

There's two ways to answer this question

1) L lenses give you a very fashionable red ring and complimentary hood and lens pouch.

2) L lenses have both excellent build and image quality. They are highly dust and moisture resistant. L optics also usually includes super spectra coating for great color balance and to help reduce problem with flare and ghosting.

The AF is most of the time both very fast and accurate and you have the ability to manual override the AF without changing to MF.

And, I don't work for Canon!

Nice lens! Enjoy it! I've got one coming in used. Can't wait to try it out!