MikeMck Loc: Southern Maryland on the Bay

I am considering the purchase of the above lens. I can't afford the "L" version. My goal is to use this 2.8 lens to shoot my grandson's (Age 8), performances this summer when he is enrolled in theater camp. Does anyone out there have any experience with this lens in a low light situation without flash? Thanks in advance.

jeryh Loc: Oxfordshire UK

I have this lens; it is very fast, quiet, and accurate. I don't think you will have a problem with it.

Retired fat guy with a camera Loc: Colorado

Why not buy a used 24-70 mm L

Retired fat guy with a camera Loc: Colorado

Sorry my computer froze, why not buy the 24-70, a used one one ebay is about the same. Boost your ISO and you still have a L lens

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

I have no experience with that lens.
If you can control where you sit or where you shoot from you might also consider one of the fast primes in the 50 or 85. The primes are more than a stop faster which would eithe more that double your speed, drop your ISO in half or a combination of the two.
Anyway it's another option and you might already own one.
SS

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

It is my main lens.
Have taken a zillion shots with it (I have no idea the real number is).
It works very well in low light.
I have not used other similar lens so I have nothing to compare it to.
If this one were to break, I'd just get another one as quick as I could.
The filter threads are 77mm. Big lens.
I've heard (not on the internet) the internal lens are L quality. Housing is not.
Good luck!
Pat

Something to think about before your purchase.
Are you taking shots at practice? If so, you should be free to move about to frame your shots.
If you are waiting for a show performance when the lights could be less except for a spot light (or poorly lit stage), that can be a whole different situation.
And more challenging. You won't know till you get there unless you can be there for dress rehearsal.

DGStinner Loc: New Jersey

I have this lens and it's one of my favorites. When it's in stock, the refurbished version of the lens is less expensive than the normal retail version.
https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/ef-s-17-55-f-28-is-usm-refurbished

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

The only problem with that on a crop body is that 24mm on the wide end is just not very wide.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

The only potential downside of this otherwise terrific lens is a number of reports of dust getting in behind the front element, which doesn't seem to effect every copy.

https://www.google.com/search?q=canon+ef-s+17-55mm+f%2F2.8+dust+problem&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS697US697&oq=Canon+efs+17-55mm+dust&aqs=chrome.3.69i57j0l5.25007j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Obviously not anywhere near as wide.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Pretty short for shooting from a distance, other than that it was always considered by some to be Canon's only L lens in the ef-s line, I would argue that the 10-22 is just as good and the 15-85 was also very good.

Tracy B. Loc: Indiana

I had this lens. It was on my 70d almost 90% of the time. The pictures were "L" quality. I went full frame or I would have never parted with it. I never had dust issues, or for that matter any issues. I recommend this lens for the crop body camera over any lens. I've read that the 17-55 performs better on the crop body than "L" glass on the crop body. From my experience I believe this is true.

elliott937 Loc: St. Louis

I "second" the suggestion of looking into a used "L" series lens.

First, not until I did an A/B test with a good friend of mine. We went to the St. Louis Zoo with identical camera bodies, but she had an "L" series lens and I had an identical (same focal length and speed) non-L lens. Afterwards I opened both memory cards on my iMac 28" screen, putting shots side-by-side. I then asked a good friend, an MFA Art major, to look at the two images and tell me what he saw. Instantly, he sited a sharper image "on the left side of the screen". That was the "L" lens side. That was his conclusion on every image. That was enough, I saved my money and bought three "L" series lens over a two year period.

I should also add, two of the three L lenses that I bought were used lenses. More importantly, I bought them from a local camera shop. They came, of course, with a 30 day "no questions asked" refund guarantee. Trust me, over those 30 days I shot pictures every single day.

I'm a very strong believer of the advantages of Amazon Prime, and enjoy my membership. But there are some things that are better bought from the local brick-and-mortar store. All of my camera equipment come from our local camera store.

(I want to mention, too, that if I didn't have my three L lenses before joining UHH, I would have considered buying used lenses from a UHH member. I think this is a very trustworthy group!!!!)

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

I agree with the L lens story. I noticed that my L photos are better. But boy do we have you fooled.

Novots Loc: Grand Forks, ND

PM me if interested, as I'm thinking of selling mine as I down size. Novots