Canon 17-40L + Full Frame = Disappointing Results

Yeah someone pointed that out (me) and D.P. agreed after further reading so your point in bringing up something that already been discussed to the same conclusion is what?

I simply posted before I'd seen that someone else had already said the same, excuuuse me!
 
You haven't got time to post, you should be completing your ****in lines :D

.. that starred out word = fec... not the other one ;)
 
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I use a 17-40mm on a 5Dc and find it superb. I have none of the issues you've been having.

It's possible that you have a bad lens, may have been dropped or a Friday afternoon job.
 
I use a 17-40mm on a 5Dc and find it superb. I have none of the issues you've been having.

It's possible that you have a bad lens, may have been dropped or a Friday afternoon job.

I also had this combo a few years ago, image quality was always great
 
Sorry but rubbish. "L" series lenses are as much about optical quality as they are build quality and is far from "just a marketing" exercise. Not only are they built like tanks but, in the vast majority of cases, the image quality of the L lenses is significantly better than that of any similar non-L.

In many cases Non-L lenses are sharper than L lenses.

Most L lenses afford good optical quality but that isn't why they are L lenses. They are L lenses because they have been designed to survive the use of professional photographers like journalists.

If the L designation was about optical quality then lenses like the 17-55mm /f2.8 IS would be an L lens.
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The L designation is a just a shortened form of the 'AL' designation used on earlier FD mount lenses that used aspherical elements which were expensive back then. apsherical elements are now much cheaper so even kit lenses can use them. The AL designation was then changed with the EF mount to market the preium lenses with superior build quality. L glass is normally good optically because it is aimed at pros, and the previous AL designation indicated the potentially superior optical quality with apsherical elements but tat requirement was dropped for the L series. There are plenty of L lenses without ASPH elements. Lenses like the 17-40, 28-300, 50mm f/1.2, 24mm TS are all renowned for not being the best optically but are L lenses. Lenses like 17-55, 10-22mm, 85mm f/1.8, 105mm f/2.8 MACRO (non-L), 65mm MP-E would easily be L glass in terms of optical quality but aren't marketed as such. The TS are really a great example - the 24mm TS is an L lens but has the worst optical quality of all canon TS, the 45mm and 90mm are much better optically but are not L lenses. The 70-300mm L is another good example, it is an L lens due the build quality (focus is also likely a factor here)
 
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The 17-40mm definitely has issues in the corners, but all in all it is a capable little performer.

I've taken some nice shots with it. It's difficult to judge your lens from the one shot you've posted.

Post some raw files so that we can take a look in Lightroom etc.

If you're seeing issues like you're describing then I think you've got a bit of a lemon on your hands. If the lens is new I would be taking it back and asking to compare it to another copy.

As for the Canon L series lenses, even the 16-35 f/2.8 MKII isn't known for optical quality in the corners, despite its price.

The new 16-35 f/4.0 however seems to be a different kettle of fish and is getting some really nice reviews. Hopefully the price will come down a bit more in the next 12 months.
 
I've spent a little editing the file and i'm happy with the results from the lens. Note to self - don't view unedited images at 100%.

This is the full photo - re-sized to 25% of the original. ** Yes I know the horizon is titled :p

14443789218_c07fe7ef3f_o.jpg
 
Does that make a difference to edge/corner sharpness? Thought it was a purely DR and ISO noise thing.

When viewed at 100% it will be easier to get a sharp image although a higher resolution sensor will always capture more detail but might not look as sharp at 100% unless the lens is good enough.
 
I had one a while ago, it wasn't very good at all but acceptable once processed and you didn't look at it @ 100% for too long, I used mine on a full frame (1ds mkIII)

In your shot, looks like it's suffering from diffraction at F11 - did you see any improvement at F8?
 
In many cases Non-L lenses are sharper than L lenses.

Most L lenses afford good optical quality but that isn't why they are L lenses. They are L lenses because they have been designed to survive the use of professional photographers like journalists.

If the L designation was about optical quality then lenses like the 17-55mm /f2.8 IS would be an L lens.
EDIT:
The L designation is a just a shortened form of the 'AL' designation used on earlier FD mount lenses that used aspherical elements which were expensive back then. apsherical elements are now much cheaper so even kit lenses can use them. The AL designation was then changed with the EF mount to market the preium lenses with superior build quality. L glass is normally good optically because it is aimed at pros, and the previous AL designation indicated the potentially superior optical quality with apsherical elements but tat requirement was dropped for the L series. There are plenty of L lenses without ASPH elements. Lenses like the 17-40, 28-300, 50mm f/1.2, 24mm TS are all renowned for not being the best optically but are L lenses. Lenses like 17-55, 10-22mm, 85mm f/1.8, 105mm f/2.8 MACRO (non-L), 65mm MP-E would easily be L glass in terms of optical quality but aren't marketed as such. The TS are really a great example - the 24mm TS is an L lens but has the worst optical quality of all canon TS, the 45mm and 90mm are much better optically but are not L lenses. The 70-300mm L is another good example, it is an L lens due the build quality (focus is also likely a factor here)

i recently bought the newer 55-250 STM IS and have to say it seems to produce nice sharp photos and it was cheaper than the II version
 
In many cases Non-L lenses are sharper than L lenses.

No, in a very few cases maybe.

Most L lenses afford good optical quality but that isn't why they are L lenses. They are L lenses because they have been designed to survive the use of professional photographers like journalists.

Nope, it's about optical quality too.

If the L designation was about optical quality then lenses like the 17-55mm /f2.8 IS would be an L lens.

No, this lens is not an "L" because Canon won't ever designate an EF-S as an "L", regardless of its quality

L glass is normally good optically because it is aimed at pros

So you agree that L lenses are "good optically" :confused:

There are plenty of L lenses without ASPH elements. Lenses like the 17-40, 28-300, 50mm f/1.2, 24mm TS are all renowned for not being the best optically but are L lenses.

They're still better optically than their closest non-L equivalents.

Lenses like 17-55, 10-22mm, 85mm f/1.8, 105mm f/2.8 MACRO (non-L), 65mm MP-E would easily be L glass in terms of optical quality but aren't marketed as such.

See above regarding EF-S. The others lack the necessary build quality or are "odd-balls" like the MP-E.

The TS are really a great example - the 24mm TS is an L lens but has the worst optical quality of all canon TS, the 45mm and 90mm are much better optically but are not L lenses.

Wow, one example!

The 70-300mm L is another good example, it is an L lens due the build quality (focus is also likely a factor here)

Good example of what? The 70-300L has stunning image quality, way beyond any non-L telephoto zoom of similar range.

This page says it all better than I ever could: http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Canon-Lenses/Canon-L-Lens-Series.aspx

As it quotes on there from Canon themselves:

these lenses use special optical technologies [such as] Ultra-low Dispersion UD glass, Super Low Dispersion glass, Fluorite elements, and Aspherical elements to truly push the optical envelope.
 
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Whhyyy is every thread in P&V reduced to a massive argument over lenses?

You're right, there does seem to be a lot of antagonism and beligerance in here of late.

I'm bowing out of this one anyway as it's such an utterly stupid argument and I really can't be bothered any more.
 
Whhyyy is every thread in P&V reduced to a massive argument over lenses?

Dunno.
A guy ask some advice regarding his set-up and it descends into an utterly pointless debate about who's manhood is bigger.

A guy posts a thread regarding a new rumoured Canon body and it descends into an utterly pointless debate about who's manhood is bigger.

A guy posts a thread asking about 2 full frame cameras and it descends into an utterly pointless debate about who's manhood is bigger.

It's pretty much why I go elsewhere these days as this place is like stuck record of late and besides everyone knows I've got the biggest manhood so the debate is doubly pointless
 
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