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The EF 17-40mm f/4L USM is an ultra wide-angle zoom lens that offers excellent image quality and a constant maximum aperture. Its compact, lightweight body makes it an ideal travelling companion

Canon 17-40mm f4L USM EF Lens

Highlights

Lens is suitable for: Canon EOS APS-C (EF-S) & Full Frame (EF)
Fitting: Canon EF/EFs
ZOOM
Wide ZOOM
Filter Size: 77mm

Product code: 49006 (4960999189949)

4.3

(969 reviews)

Canon 17-40mm f4L USM EF Lens

£699.00

No used versions available

Product Details

Description

The EF 17-40mm f/4L USM is an ultra wide-angle zoom lens that offers excellent image quality and a constant maximum aperture. Its compact, lightweight body makes it an ideal travelling companion.

EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
Aperture Range: f/4 to f/22
One Super Ultra-Low Dispersion Element
Three Aspherical Element
Super Spectra Coating
Ring-Type Ultrasonic Motor AF System
Weather-Sealed Construction
Rounded 7-Blade Diaphragm

Ultra-wide or standard zoom

The EF 17-40mm f/4L USM acts as an ultra-wide angle zoom on film or full-frame digital EOS cameras. On DSLRs equipped with APS-C sized sensors it acts as a standard zoom, giving an angle of view equivalent to a 28-70mm lens on a full-frame camera.

Close focusing

Minimum focusing distance is just 28cm throughout the entire zoom range.

Superior optical performance

The EF17-40mm f/4L USM has 12 lens elements arranged in nine groups. Super Spectra coating ensures excellent colour balance and minimises ghosting and flare. To provide superb image quality over the complete 17-40mm zoom range the lens uses three aspheric elements. Super UD (Ultra-low Dispersion) glass prevents chromatic aberrations.

Ultrasonic focusing

A ring-type ultrasonic motor drives autofocus extremely quickly, and in near silence. Excellent holding torque ensures the point of focus is reached accurately, without overshooting. Furthermore, full-time manual override is available, making it possible to adjust focus without leaving AF mode.

Non-rotating front element

The front of the lens does not rotate, which makes using specialised filters, such as polarisers and graduates, easier. A drop-in gelatine-filter holder can be found at the back of the lens.

Smooth background blur

A virtually circular aperture diaphragm gives out of focus regions a softer, more uniform feel. Sharp foreground objects stand out against a smooth blurred background.

Weather resistant

Highly resistant to moisture and dust, the EF17-40mm f/4L USM is ideally suited for use in harsh environments. Environment friendly lead-free glass is used throughout its construction.

Reviews

Product Reviews

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(Experts)

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(Users)

Quality construction, Lightweight, Strong construction, Sharp focus, Consistent output

Expert Reviews (8)

Gary Wolstenholme takes a look at this popular lightweight ultra-wide angle zoom lens.

The Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM lens is an inexpensive alternative to the 16-35mm f/2.8, but its edges are muddy at its widest angle.

This lens is very sharp, or at least my copy is. Even wide open it is sharp. Other reviews say this lens isn't sharp but mine is very sharp so their might be some quality control issues. The build quality is typical of Canon L lenses. The zoom and focus rings are super smooth.

This is an exceptionally good lens and deserves it reputation, finding its place in most camera bags of professionals using Canon gear. The slightly warm colours produced by Canon L glass and the good contrast and control of other elements required for a nice lens are all there.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM is one of Canon's professional grade lenses, first released in May of 2003. It is one of only four ultra wide zoom lenses Canon manufactures at this time.

If you shoot wide angle, full frame photographs with Canon cameras stopped down at f/8 and beyond, the EF 17-40mm f/4L lens is an outstanding lens. Contrast and sharpness are greatest at the wide end (20 and 24mm) of the zoom range and approach or exceed those of quality prime lenses.

As indicated by the "ultra wide angle" designation, the 17-40mm focal length is ultra wide on a full-frame DSLR. Let's take a look at a focal length comparison.

Gary Wolstenholme takes a look at this popular lightweight ultra-wide angle zoom lens, which has a constant aperture of f/4, an Ultrasonic focusing motor and sealing against the elements.

User Reviews (961)

I got this lens to use with a full frame body and the results have been mixed. The 17mm wide angle is great for landscapes and the lens produces very good resolution too. However, the fringing (chromatic aberration) is far more noticeable than claimed by some of the typical reviews (which I did read...

I bought this lens as an update to the 18-55mm kit lens my camera was supplied with. It is well built pin sharp and weathered when a UV is screwed to the front. I have also got excellent results using it on an old EOS 35mm SLR with Fujichrime Velvia.

This is a fab lens, highly recommended, unless you really NEED something faster and much more expensive, but make no mistake - this is superb quality, and up right there with other Canon Pro lenses.

I had been using a superwide zoom from another manufacturer for around two years. It was optically excellent but very heavy. The biggest drawback was that flare was not well controlled and this limited the use of the lens.

I primarily bought this lens for use with my full frame camera while diving as my 24-105mm lens was too thick to fit through the housing port opening. It worked really well, although I would have loved to have just that little bit of extra reach at times to be able to photograph small stuff without...

This is my first 'L' lens and it has been brilliant. I am upgrading all my kit (as finances allow) and this is already a firm favourite. I have found it to be incredibly useful for college prospectus photos as well as general use. The landscapes I have taken are sharp.