Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM is definitely NOT a kit lens.

It is a "crop only" lens (EF-S). But in many ways.... and price... it's a significant upgrade over any of Canon's crop only kit lenses.

In fact, if you are looking for a lens to use on any of the Canon APS-C DSLRs, this is one of the best "walk around" zooms you can buy.

For example, it's superior to the EF 17-40mm f/4"L". In comparison, the EF-S 17-55mm is a stop faster, has more focal length range, has IS, and at comparable focal lengths and apertures is as sharp or sharper. than the L. The EF-S 17-55mm has never been offered "in kit" with any camera and sells for $879 new (plus $50 for the separately sold EW-83J Canon lens hood... or $17 for the Vello EW-83J third party hood). The 17-40mm sells for a little less ($799), has the coveted "L"-series designation and a red stripe, and as such it comes with the matched lens hood. Of course, if buying for a full frame Canon DSLR, then the 17-55mm is not an option... while the EF 17-40L is. But for anyone wanting a lens for use on an APS-C Canon DSLR, the extra money for the EF-S 17-55mm will be very well spent.

Back when Canon developed the EF-S 17-55mm they were defining "L Series" lenses as...
- Lenses with cutting edge design
- Lenses with exotic optical elements
- And lenses compatible with all EOS cameras.

The only reason the 17-55mm isn't an L is the last of those items: It's only compatible with the APS-C DSLRs. In the other respects it would qualify to be designated an L-series (same with a few other EF-S lenses, including the EF-S 10-22mm, EF-S 15-85mm and EF-S 60mm Macro.

Canon has since dropped that last criteria. They now make L-series RF lenses that are only compatible with EOS R-series cameras.