The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM and the Canon 24-70mm f2.8L II USM 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 Canon 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM with a length of 92mm, is 21mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon 24-70mm f2.8L II USM also has a larger diameter of 89mm compared to the Canon 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM's 79mm 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. Canon 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM weighs 475g, which means it is 330g (40%) lighter than the Canon 24-70mm f2.8L II USM which has a weight of 805g.
Filter Threads
The Canon 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Canon 24-70mm f2.8L II USM has a 82mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM:
And these are the 82mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 24-70mm f2.8L II USM:
Lens Mounts
The Canon 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM has the Canon EF-S lens mount whereas the Canon 24-70mm f2.8L II USM 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 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM has a focal range of 17-85mm and
5.0X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
27.2-136mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the 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.
