Compare lenses

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM vs Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

The Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM and the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM if you want coverage of full frame, so it suits the larger-sensor bodies too and a fit on more cameras (22 against 14 in this guide). Pick the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM if you want optical stabilisation, which helps most on bodies without it; more reach (to 82mm equivalent); and a design for APS-C, which usually means smaller and lighter.

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM and the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
Spec	Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM	Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM
Maker	Canon	Canon
Focal length	24-70mm (zoom)	17-55mm (zoom)
Full-frame equivalent	24-70mm	26-82mm on APS-C
Maximum aperture	f/2.8	f/2.8
Made for	Full frame	APS-C
Mounts	Canon EF	Canon EF
Stabilised	no	yesstabilised
Autofocus	yes	yes
Zoom range	2.9×	3.2×
Cameras it fits	22 in this guidefits more cameras	14 in this guide

Focal range, in full-frame terms

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM: 24-70mm.

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM: 17-55mm on APS-C, like 26-82mm.

Aperture

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM: f/2.8 wide open.

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM: f/2.8 wide open.

Each opening drawn to scale against f/1.4: a smaller f-number lets in more light and blurs the background more.

Field of view

How wide each sees, at each end, on the sensor it was made for.

Cameras they fit

14 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body. In all, the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM fits 22 and the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM 14.