New 17-55 coming soon?

[dtravels]

I'm getting ready to buy a EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM in the next 6 months.

It was first released 2006, making it ~6 years old.

Will this lens be retired any time soon?

It should an equivalent lens I should be buying instead?

[Mt Spokane Photography]

In another 15 years or so, we might see a successor.  6 years old is still a new model as lenses go.

[Videoshooter]

Lenses, unlike camera bodies, are made to last. They have much longer production cycles and also retain their value better if you want to sell them.

6 years is not old for a lens. Many of Canon's lenses are up to 20 years old and still popular today (eg 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.8, 35mm f2, 70-200 f/2.. Of course the cheaper EF-S lenses do get updated more frequently (probably partly because of the consumer mindset that you have to have the latest and greatest!) but the 17-55 is almost on par with Canon's L lenses and as such I think it will be around for a lot longer.

Even if it does get replaced tomorrow, this lens will still be a fantastic performer so there should be nothing stopping you from buying this lens now if it's what you're looking for.

edit: Does anybody know why f/2.8 is appearing with a smiley in it? I tried to remove it but it's still there...

[Dylan777]

I'm getting ready to buy a EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM in the next 6 months.

It was first released 2006, making it ~6 years old.

Will this lens be retired any time soon?

It should an equivalent lens I should be buying instead?

What wrong with current 17-55? If I ever go back to crop, this will be the 1st lens I buy.

[Axilrod]

I'm getting ready to buy a EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM in the next 6 months.

It was first released 2006, making it ~6 years old.

Will this lens be retired any time soon?

It should an equivalent lens I should be buying instead?

What wrong with current 17-55? If I ever go back to crop, this will be the 1st lens I buy.

It's an awesome lens in terms of IQ, but the focus ring feels pretty crummy and I've heard lots of people with dust problems. 

[Dylan777]

I'm getting ready to buy a EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM in the next 6 months.

It was first released 2006, making it ~6 years old.

Will this lens be retired any time soon?

It should an equivalent lens I should be buying instead?

What wrong with current 17-55? If I ever go back to crop, this will be the 1st lens I buy.

It's an awesome lens in terms of IQ, but the focus ring feels pretty crummy and I've heard lots of people with dust problems.

Some early production has dust issue - still has no effect in IQ.

[J]

If anything, the lens feels like it should have an update since the 15-85 got introduced. I would like the range to start at 15 also.

[KyleSTL]

If anything, the lens feels like it should have an update since the 15-85 got introduced. I would like the range to start at 15 also.

I think the 15mm wide end would be a good reason to update this, it was rumored back in Feb 2011 (CR1) that a 15-60mm f/2.8 IS USM was in the works:

http://www.canonrumors.com/2011/02/ef-s-15-60-f2-8-is-cr1/

If this lens was to materialize, I would expect MSRP in the $1500+ range (based on Canon's pricing strategies lately).

[kennephoto]

17-55 is awesome, mine has dust but so does everything else that exists. Dust cant be avoided ever, but my 17-55 still makes great images with zero visible dust! Oh and no lens creep like my 17-85! Buy a 17-55 if you have crop I dont regret mine.

[ScottyP]

Mine has zero dust after several thousand clicks.  I bought it based on the nearly universal rave reviews, whichrally make it stand out for attention to anyone shopping the net for lenses.  It is not made of metal, but it is about as solid as one could make a plastic lens.  Not even remotely similar to EF-S kit lenses.  I have nothing but high praise for it. 

It is a little expensive, but it holds value very well.  The used ones sell for only about $100.00 to at most $150.00 less than I got it new, so I think it will be hard to lose on the deal.

[Act444]

I was in the same boat...I was relatively new to CR when I saw the article a year ago about a possible 15-60mm 2.8 coming out and I was totally sucked in...time came by and no announcement- decided I couldn't wait and just bought the current model. Glad I did. A clear step up from the Tamron I was using before.

[dtravels]

Thanks all -- looks like I'll definitely be buying the 17-55 then.  With a new baby on the way, it'll be a fun new toy for me to play with

[AdamJ]

Lenses, unlike camera bodies, are made to last. They have much longer production cycles and also retain their value better if you want to sell them.

6 years is not old for a lens. Many of Canon's lenses are up to 20 years old and still popular today (eg 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.8, 35mm f2, 70-200 f/2.. Of course the cheaper EF-S lenses do get updated more frequently (probably partly because of the consumer mindset that you have to have the latest and greatest!) but the 17-55 is almost on par with Canon's L lenses and as such I think it will be around for a lot longer.

Even if it does get replaced tomorrow, this lens will still be a fantastic performer so there should be nothing stopping you from buying this lens now if it's what you're looking for.

edit: Does anybody know why f/2.8 is appearing with a smiley in it? I tried to remove it but it's still there...

The code for that smiley is an "8" and a ")" typed consecutively. Put a space between them to avoid it.

[Videoshooter]

Thanks Adam!

[wickidwombat]

i wonder if they will do a 17-55 f2.8IS for the M-mount
and i wonder how much they could shave the size down due to the reduced flange distance
might be interesting and make the new mirrorless beast a bit more of a weapon