The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM and the Canon 24-105mm F4L IS II 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 24-105mm F4L IS II is the longer of the two lenses at 118mm. The Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM with a length of 111mm, is 7mm shorter. On the other hand, there is no difference between the max diameters of these lenses, both coming at 84mm.
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. Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM weighs 645g, which means it is 150g (18%) lighter than the Canon 24-105mm F4L IS II which has a weight of 795g.
Filter Threads
Both the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM and the Canon 24-105mm F4L IS II have the same Filter thread size of 77mm.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
The Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM has the Canon EF-S lens mount whereas the Canon 24-105mm F4L IS II has the Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Canon T8i, Canon 90D and Canon SL3 for the Canon EF-S Mount and Blackmagic URSA 12K LF, Z CAM E2-F6 II 6K and Z CAM E2-S6 II 6K for the Canon EF Mount.
Focal Range
Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM has a focal range of 17-55mm and
3.2X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
27.2-88mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Canon 24-105mm F4L IS II has a focal range of 24-105mm and 4.4X 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 - 168mm.