I really think that you might be better off basing your decision on some of the pragmatic factors you seem to wish to eschew in your question. For my part, I have used the 17-40L on my XTi as my primary lens for quite a while. I also have a 50mm1.8, 85mm1.8, 70-300is; and I have often used my friends 24-105L and another friends 24-70L. I have to say, the 17-40L is everything you could want in a lens (except maybe IS), and even given the crop factor, I love it as a landscape lens. It is sharp (over a pretty lage DOF too), contrasty, and rugged. I definitely think it's as good as any other zoom lens I've used.
Color rendition and Wow-factor: 17-40L vs EF-s 17-55
in Canon EOS Mount
Posted
I really think that you might be better off basing your decision on some of the pragmatic factors you seem to wish to eschew in your question. For my part, I have used the 17-40L on my XTi as my primary lens for quite a while. I also have a 50mm1.8, 85mm1.8, 70-300is; and I have often used my friends 24-105L and another friends 24-70L. I have to say, the 17-40L is everything you could want in a lens (except maybe IS), and even given the crop factor, I love it as a landscape lens. It is sharp (over a pretty lage DOF too), contrasty, and rugged. I definitely think it's as good as any other zoom lens I've used.
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