17-55 a dust magnet?

I've used my Canon 17-55 2.8 for mostly indoor shots, but was planning on taking it to New York and the U.K. later this year. I've read a couple of threads where 17-55 owners have remarked about how much dust the lens seems to suck in. Has this been a problem for most? Should I take my 24-105 instead?

Ive had it for about 6 months
I got Hoya filter and put it the day I got it as I read these dust comments
Nothing so far here

I've had mine for a year and a half with over 60K shots on it. I do not have a dust problem. But, I also wipe down the lens barren when I put it away after a shoot.

<sigh> Dust inside your front element will not impact IQ so it's a mute point. If you need the focal length and speed, use it.

I had one and I'm positive that the dust gets in from the zoom and not the front element. I had a filter on mine and a tiny speck still managed to get in there. Dust does not matter for images its just annoying to look at.

I have had my 17-55MM f/2.8 EF-S IS since mid-2005. No dust issues whatsoever. I put a B+W MRC UV filter on it on day one.

I read somewhere that the 17-55/2.8is will automatically explode into a thousand pieces when it comes in contact with outside air. So one should never take it out of its original box.

But seriously, for those who suffer from dust issues, most of the time it's because they did not want to or refused to place a UV filter so the dust gets sucked in that way. Yes, it's a design flaw, but easily remedied. No lens is perfect. If you're concerned, slap a UV filter in the front and take it with you and enjoy using it.

braidkid wrote in post #7704626
<sigh> Dust inside your front element will not impact IQ so it's a mute point. If you need the focal length and speed, use it.

Moot point.

mikekelley wrote in post #7704878
Moot point.

lol, thanks...

What year did Canon first make this lens?

Eventually dust in the front element has to affect the image when enough gets in there. So preventing it is advisable I'd say if your copy is particularly susceptable to it.

Mine is so I stuck a uv filter on which has reduced intake by about 95% I guess. I did a fair amount of tests and didn't notice any difference between shots with and without the filter (in case anyone tells you it will reduce the quality of the 17-55 down to the old 18-55 kit lens).

I've had one since Dec 2007 with a filter since day 1. No dust.

had mine for almost 3 months with a UV filter on since day one... no dust!

I cleaned my 17-55 before when I had a 40D using this method:

http://www.pbase.com/r​cicala/1755_is_surgery

Pretty easy to do.

James P wrote in post #7703865
I've used my Canon 17-55 2.8 for mostly indoor shots, but was planning on taking it to New York and the U.K. later this year. I've read a couple of threads where 17-55 owners have remarked about how much dust the lens seems to suck in. Has this been a problem for most? Should I take my 24-105 instead?

If you plan on taking most of your pics during the daytime when there will be plenty of sunlight, then take your 24-105. The extra range will come in handy.