17-55 dust?

Ok, coffee mug is cool, but I came here because I'm going to buy a 17-77 2.8 IS, and I keep reading that it sucks dust.
Where is the vacuum? Does it go onto the lens? Will a filter fix it, or is it going into the mechanical area?
Is it easy to clean? I hope this doesn't spoil my desire for this lens.
Thanks

I bought a 17-55 a year or so ago which had a couple of specs of dust on the front element. I've used a filter ever since I've had the lens and it's not picked up another single spec since. The dust does not show up on my photos whatsoever.

There are some instructions on the web as to how to go about clean the dust away from the inside of the lens - it seems like a pretty simple DIY procedure assuming you're happy to take the front of your £700 investment apart!

There's these two little holes on the front close to the filter threads. I believe that's where a lot of the dust gets into the lens. Buying a filter should solve the issue or you can take it apart. Whichever you fancy

I keep a filter on all my lenses and store them with the front element down.

spamster wrote in post #9735502
There's these two little holes on the front close to the filter threads. I believe that's where a lot of the dust gets into the lens. Buying a filter should solve the issue or you can take it apart. Whichever you fancy

It is the entire front of the lens. There is that canon ringed sticker there on the front of the lens, but when you pull it off, you will see that there a few vents into the area behind the front element, and zooming the lens back and forth will eventually deposit dust there. A good UV filter will help keep the dust out and not degrade your IQ, but if you like to go filterless, just expect that in a year or so, you will need about 15 minutes and a jeweler's screwdriver to clean the dust out.

I recently sold mine because I went to a 1.3 crop. Dust was never an issue with my lens and it was one of my favorite lenses.

Put a filter on front and no dust will ever enter.

Use a fitler for this lens. Mine has been good for 3+ years. It got a little dust inside, but I thought it came with it when I bought it tho. It is overall NOT worst than any non-L I have own, ie, 85/f1.8 and 28f/1.8

This will help. Nothing like a few pics to explain the problem.
http://www.pbase.com/r​cicala/1755_is_surgery
As mentioned, the plastic ring on the front of the lens is just a sticker. It is not sealed and dust can sneak in. A filter seals up the front of the lens eliminating this route. On the positive side, if you do get dust. It is very simple to clean. Remove the label, three small Philips screws releases the front element and clean away.

It's a normal characteristic of a zoom lens that it's going to get dust in it. Any time you have a lens with moving internal elements there has to be a way for the air displaced to move in and out of the lens. This air will invariably carry dust with it. Even the addition of a filter sin't going to prevent all the dust from getting in. It will lessen the amount but won't prevent all of it. If a lens were completely sealed against dust, there would be no way you could zoom it.

I must live a very backwards life, my 17-55 is dust free, my 50mm prime and 85 f/1.8 got filled with the stuff!

I have had a filter on since day one and never noticed any dust in mine, bought in June 2007

The only filter this lens should be fitted with is a HEPA one

They should really weather seal that lens... Put a filter on it, it'll reduce the dust intake.

JWright wrote in post #9736370
It's a normal characteristic of a zoom lens that it's going to get dust in it. Any time you have a lens with moving internal elements there has to be a way for the air displaced to move in and out of the lens. This air will invariably carry dust with it.

Actually, dust generally gets into just about any lens. My 85L had a few specs in it (and it does telescope slightly with focussing) and my 85/1.8 has some dust in it and it does not change size at all.

Dust happens. I've had several lenses with a few specs and I cannot recal ever seeing an impact in the images.