The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L and the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS 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 RF 24-70mm F2.8L is the longer of the two lenses at 126mm. The Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM with a length of 111mm, is 15mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L also has a larger diameter of 89mm compared to the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM's 84mm 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 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM weighs 645g, 28% (255g) lighter than the Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L's weight of 900g.
Filter Threads
The Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L has a filter size of 82mm whereas the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM 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 RF 24-70mm F2.8L:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM:
Lens Mounts
The Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L has the Canon RF lens mount whereas the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM has the Canon EF-S lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Canon R6 V, Canon R6 III and Canon C50 for the Canon RF Mount and Canon T8i, Canon 90D and Canon SL3 for the Canon EF-S Mount.
Focal Range
Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L 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 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.
