Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS vs EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

differences

Reasons to consider the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Image stabilization

Canon IS

None

Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements

Wider aperture

f/3.5

f/4

At its widest, the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS captures marginally more light, 0.4 f-stops

More magnification

1:3 (0.3x)

1:4 (0.2x)

Take macro shots with subjects more than 30% larger in your photo

Slightly shorter

70 mm

97 mm

Around 30% shorter

Slightly lighter

200 g

0.5 kg

2.5x lighter

Slightly more zoom

3.1x

2.4x

Around 30% more zoom, giving you more flexibility for photos

Slightly cheaper

$199.00

$739.00

The best price we've seen is $540 cheaper (3.7x less)

Slightly smaller diameter

68 mm

84 mm

Around 20% smaller lens at the end

Slightly better telephoto

55 mm

40 mm

Around 40% more reach, less perspective distortion

Learn more about
the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Reasons to consider the Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

Has a consant aperture

Yes

Constant aperture lenses offer the same aperture at all focal lengths

Has a silent focus motor

Canon USM

None

Focuses quickly and silently

Learn more about
the Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

similarities

Compared to lenses

Common Strengths

Common Weaknesses

LensHero is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.

	Both are zoom lenses
	Typically not as sharp as prime lenses

Poor telephoto

EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS:	55 mm
EF 17-40mm f/4L USM:	40 mm

Compared to wide angle lenses

Common Strengths	Common Weaknesses
LensHero is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.	LensHero is not aware of any interesting weaknesses shared by these two products.

competitors

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

Low light lens

$92 - $110

Has a wider aperture

Is a fixed focal length prime lens

Compare the EF 50mm f/1.8 II vs the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Compare the EF 50mm f/1.8 II vs the EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Travel lens

$499 - $549

Has a slightly shorter telephoto lens

Has significantly large zoom range

Compare the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS vs the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Compare the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS vs the EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Canon-ef

Wide angle lens

$459

Has a wider aperture

Has a higher max f/stop

Compare the 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Canon-ef vs the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Compare the 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Canon-ef vs the EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

Wide angle lens

$1,179

Has a wider aperture

Compare the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM vs the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Compare the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM vs the EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

Wide angle lens

$1,059

Compare the 24-105mm f/4L IS USM vs the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Compare the 24-105mm f/4L IS USM vs the EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

Wide angle lens

$1,149

Compare the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM vs the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Compare the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM vs the EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 USM

Wide angle lens

$489

Has a wider aperture

Is a fixed focal length prime lens

Compare the EF 20mm f/2.8 USM vs the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Compare the EF 20mm f/2.8 USM vs the EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

Nikon Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX

Wide angle lens

$107 - $197

Has a silent focus motor

Compare the Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX vs the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Canon 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM

Wildlife lens

$169

Has a silent focus motor

Significantly better telephoto

No image stabilization

Longer

Compare the 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM vs the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

Travel lens

$489

Has a silent focus motor

Significantly narrower aperture

Less magnification

Narrower aperture

Compare the EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM vs the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM

Fisheye lens

$1,499

Fisheye lens

Wider aperture

More expensive

Slightly less magnification

Compare the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM vs the EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

Wide angle lens

$759

Narrower aperture

Wider aperture

Has a variable aperture

Less magnification

Compare the EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM vs the EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

Wide angle lens

$1,280

Wider aperture

Slightly better telephoto

Heavier

Slightly longer

Compare the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM vs the EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

discussion Which do you think is better?

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Canon
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
vs
Canon
EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

differences

Reasons to consider the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Reasons to consider the Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM