piece of junk 17-55 IS repair x 3 need replacement low light lens

any suggestions. today I went to place my lens on my second body and I hear some jingling around in the lens I take off the hood and covers and notice it is inside. I go to zoom in and out and now the lens is stuck there.
I have about had it with this lens. twice to factory for focus repair and now this.
I need a backup for lowlight. if this piece is going to keep breaking every 3 months.
any suggestions?
thnaks

I love my 24-70!!
You could always go prime...

Here's a few:

Tamron 17-50 f/2.8
Sigma 18-50 f/2.8
Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 (HSM version due out soon)
Canon 24-70 f/2.8
Canon 85 f/1.8
Canon/Sigma 50 f/1.4
Sigma 30 f/1.4

I have Sigma 24-70mm and 30mm f/1.4 lenses and they're excellent in low light, although the 24-70 can hunt a little. Hopefully the new HSM version will be an improvement.

Wow, your luck aint so good. I'd stay away from ladders and black cats if I were you

yeah I am just wondering what do you guys think.
do you think the 24-70 is to tight with a crop body. I was thinking the sigma or tam jsut need to do some research.
hey TADA how do you like the 11-16 thats one on my list

PuR HART wrote in post #6590943
yeah I am just wondering what do you guys think.
do you think the 24-70 is to tight with a crop body. I was thinking the sigma or tam jsut need to do some research.
hey TADA how do you like the 11-16 thats one on my list

Personally, I do not think that the 24-70 is nearly wide enough for a crop. I'd replace the 17-55 with something like the Tamron 17-50.

The 11-16 is an awesome lens, but it's currently somewhere over the US heading to Hawaii. I just traded it for a 17-40 that I can use on my 1D.

The 11-16 is great, I just never really used it. I do not tend to shoot ultra-wide all that often.

right on thanks.
any body have the 16-50 Tokina?

I use the 24-70 on my cropped bodies but then I have a 10-20 so I'm not worried about the lack of width that the 24-70 gives.

I've tried the 16-50 Tokina. It's a solid lens, but not quite as good optically as the Tamron 17-50 or the Sigma 18-50 macro. It's a shame, because I absolutely love Tokina's build quality, and my two Tokina's are among my favorite lenses.

PuR HART wrote in post #6590736
I need a backup for lowlight. if this piece is going to keep breaking every 3 months.
any suggestions?
thnaks

My suggestion is to get another copy.
Do you really think all us other owners are having the same problem as you?
I guess we should all be getting rid of our 18 month + copies as well now that you have made us aware of the three month problem.

Sorry but you sound very angry, and rightfully so, based on your experience but to suggest the lens only good for 3 months, based on i assume your one copy sounds a bit silly IMO.

Fair enough, get something else but i promise you the 17-55IS is a good lens, just ask 99% of the owners around here.

dave_bass5 wrote in post #6591536
My suggestion is to get another copy.

+1 It's a great lens.

no no maybe you have not read it right sorry about that.
I have had it for 1 1/2 yrs.
first issue was Focus was tripping out major vibration and IS no go. 1 month after warrany ended,
sent it to C they returned it with a nic on the front element and more dust then it had in the first place. returned it to NJ not VA this time they fixed it. I got the lens back 3 months ago from them replacing whatever they did.
I am thinking that the first time i sent it to them they might have dropped it in which the nic on the front came from but entails that might have loosened a screw inside which after some usage now dislodged the screw.
hope this makes more sense all in all I am saying you spend a grand on a lens have it for a year and the thing starts crapping out on you.

It really does sound like you have a bad copy. Did you get it used by any chance? While there are several people who have reported an IS failure, I believe you're the first one to report both focus failure AND IS failure. The IS mechanism is somewhat known to falter after a few years. Many owners who are aware of this baby their IS and turn it on only as needed. How long have you owned this lens?

If you're heart is set on getting a different model, I would suggest the Tamron 17-50. It's sharp wide open with great image quality, and it has a slightly warmer cast with pictures vs. the Canon 17-55IS. The negatives would be a "buzzy" AF motor (can't use in a whisper-quiet environment) and has some hunting issues with low light focus in low contrast situations.

Unfortunately, there's nothing else like the 17-55 for crop. It has the best spec and IQ. I agree the build quality is nothing to be proud of.

+2 to get another copy.

PuR HART wrote in post #6591718
no no maybe you have not read it right sorry about that.
I have had it for 1 1/2 yrs.
first issue was Focus was tripping out major vibration and IS no go. 1 month after warrany ended,
sent it to C they returned it with a nic on the front element and more dust then it had in the first place. returned it to NJ not VA this time they fixed it. I got the lens back 3 months ago from them replacing whatever they did.
I am thinking that the first time i sent it to them they might have dropped it in which the nic on the front came from but entails that might have loosened a screw inside which after some usage now dislodged the screw.
hope this makes more sense all in all I am saying you spend a grand on a lens have it for a year and the thing starts crapping out on you.

Ah right. I didnt know how old it was. Still, mine is almost two years old now and no issues with it at all.
I agree, i think something happened the first time it went in for repair.
I still think you should give another one a go but if not i see nothing wrong with the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 other than lack of IS and USM.
I had that at the time i got my 17-55IS and nearly put the 17-55IS up for sale after a a month or so s as i felt IQ was very close but the Canon is bigger and heavier and i cant use the OB flash with the hood on.
Glad i didnt though as my 17-55IS is my most used lens.

I can still understand you anger though but just rmember there are a lot of us owners out there that have no issues so im guessing you might just be unlucky with yours.