Verdict

Overall this is a very good lens. It is well specified and the combination of a 17mm minimum focal length a maximum aperture of f/2.8 is especially impressive. The zoom is fully compatible with Canon E-TTL II flashguns in respect of transferring distance information to help ensure optimal exposures. Build quality and handling both inspire confidence and an on-the-street price tag of under £800 makes this a very affordable lens. The only real down-sides are wide-aperture sharpness at 55mm and the appearance of colour fringes under some conditions. Even so this is still a very capable lens that deserves close attention from users of Canon APS-C bodies.