The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 24-70mm f2.8L II USM and the Nikon 17-55mm f2.8G ED-IF for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Canon 24-70mm f2.8L II USM is the longer of the two lenses at 113mm. The Nikon 17-55mm f2.8G ED-IF with a length of 111mm, is 2mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon 24-70mm f2.8L II USM also has a larger diameter of 89mm compared to the Nikon 17-55mm f2.8G ED-IF's 86mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Nikon 17-55mm f2.8G ED-IF weighs 755g, 6% (50g) lighter than the Canon 24-70mm f2.8L II USM's weight of 805g.
Filter Threads
The Canon 24-70mm f2.8L II USM has a filter size of 82mm whereas the Nikon 17-55mm f2.8G ED-IF has a 77mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 82mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon 24-70mm f2.8L II USM:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 17-55mm f2.8G ED-IF:
Lens Mounts
The Canon 24-70mm f2.8L II USM has the Canon EF lens mount whereas the Nikon 17-55mm f2.8G ED-IF has the Nikon F (DX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Blackmagic URSA 12K LF, Z CAM E2-F6 II 6K and Z CAM E2-S6 II 6K for the Canon EF Mount and Nikon D3500, Nikon D7500 and Nikon D5600 for the Nikon F (DX) Mount.
Focal Range
Canon 24-70mm f2.8L II USM has a focal range of 24-70mm and
2.9X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
38.4 - 112mm.
On the other hand, the Nikon 17-55mm f2.8G ED-IF has a focal range of 17-55mm and 3.2X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 25.5-82.5mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
