The Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens combines a very useful zoom range with image stabilization in a light and well-performing package . Keep in mind that the 17-85 IS is an "EF-S" lens and only works on EF-S compatible Canon EOS bodies such as the **D and Digital Rebel / ***D Series.

The Canon EF-S 17-85mm f4~5.6 IS USM was announced in August 2004 as general purpose zoom for Canon digital SLRs with EF-S lens mounts; compatible bodies include the EOS 300D / Rebel, EOS 350D / Rebel XT, EOS 400D / Rebel XTi, EOS 20D and EOS 30D.

Useful 5x optical zoom ratio; Effective Image Stabilisation; Fast USM focussing motor; Polariser-friendly internal focusing

Visible light fall-off at wide and tele; Relatively expensive for specification; Lens hood not included; Only compatible with EF-S bodies

I found this lens to be a great walk around lens. With the IS it provides lower light hand holdable shots otherwise not possible. Great overall lens for the 20d. Cons: A little vignetting at extreme f4 @ 17mm.

Another addition to Canon's slowly growing collection of EF-S lenses designed exclusively for the 300D, 350D 20D and now 30D cameras, this 17-85mm model is aimed at advanced amateur photographers as an extended standard zoom lens. We take a look at how it performs.

Excellent resolution holds up throughout the focal range; IS system helps a lot in low light; The lens makes a good replacement for kit lenses; The focal range ideal for a walkabout lens

Distortion is bad at the widest settings and a little CA creeps in; Front lip is prone to damage; Hood is an optional extra

Another addition to Canon's slowly growing collection of EF-S lenses designed exclusively for the 300D, 350D 20D and now 30D cameras, this 17-85mm model is aimed at advanced amateur photographers as an extended standard zoom lens. We take a look at how it performs.

Excellent resolution holds up throughout the focal range; IS system helps a lot in low light; The lens makes a good replacement for kit lenses; The focal range ideal for a walkabout lens

Distortion is bad at the widest settings and a little CA creeps in; Front lip is prone to damage; Hood is an optional extra

I got one of these as my first step up from the kit lens on my Rebel XTi, the 17-55 kit lens. It gave me about half of what I wanted but overall I was disappointed. It did not help that I came into this owning an S2 and an FZ5.

it's a nice range; plus with IS it's much more useful than the kit lens; and not too much more expensive

it's even slower than the kit lens focus isn't that great in low light

The Canon EF-S 17-85MM f4-5.6 IS USM is the lens that I bought to replace the Sigma 18-125mm F3.5-5.6 DC. It was Canon's first EF-S zoom lens with IS (image stabilizer). It was significantly more expensive than the Sigma it replaced.

I've been staring at this lens for quite some time. I've read a LOT of reviews of this lens, some lo

IS; stationery front element; good range for walk around lens

Many have bad things to say about it; slow max aperature; C sized sensors only

I purchased my first DSLR Canon 30D with this lens. I have been very happy with it. It is quite sharp and shows very good colors. There is noticeable vignetting; however, I have been able to cure that with cropping. The best feature of this lens is it has image stabilization.

Very sharp; Good colors; IS; Affordable; Very good everyday lens

Noticeable vignetting; Somewhat soft corners (not bad; though)

The pictures below illustrate the focal length range from wide to telephoto:

Decent build quality - much better than any of Canon's 18-55mm kit lenses; Very useful focal length range; almost ideal for a walkaround lens; Highly effective image stabilization; Excellent autofocus and manual override; Consistently high image quality across almost all of the range

Poor performance at wideangle; with marked barrel distortion; high levels of light falloff; and intense green/magenta chromatic aberration; Slow maximum aperture; Very average close-up performance