Canon 17-55 2.8 IS USM vs Canon 50 1.8 side to side comparison

As I promised in the previous post, I'm going to post the comparison. As you can see 17-55 is sharper in most cases, especially when you take a look at the second set of comparison samples. There's a huge difference in the sharpness in the center. In the 1st set of samples 17-55 is a bit sharper in the third, where IS was turned on, 17-55 is sharper at f2.8 (center and border), but 50 1.8 is sharper at f5.6 (again center and border).

17-55 is always on the left side of the comparison photos. IS was turned off unless noticed otherwise.

Taken with 17-55 2.8, vignetting is visible

F2,8, 1/2000, 50 MM, ISO 100

F4, 1/1000, 50 MM, ISO 100

F5,6, 1/500, 50 MM, ISO 100

F8, 1/250, 50 MM, ISO 100




F2,8, 1/125, 50 MM, ISO 100


F4, 1/250, 50 MM, ISO 100


F5,6, 1/500, 50 MM, ISO 100


F8, 1/1000, 50 MM, ISO 100


IS turned on. I didn't have enough time to do a more detailed test on IS affect on sharpness (I had this lens for a week). But it seems it doesn't soften the image, if it does, the difference is minimal.



F2,8, 1/3200, 50 MM, ISO 100


F5,6, 1/800, 50 MM, ISO 100