Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Lens Review with Sample Photos in Japan!

October 1, 2024

WHY DID I BUY THE CANON EF 17-40MM F/4L USM LENS?

You might know that the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L II lens is my absolute favorite Canon lens, but when I started doing occasional real estate photography for AirBnb and local businesses, I needed a lens that was a little bit wider. I didn’t want to make a huge investment into yet another super expensive lens, especially because I knew that I could use my 24-70mm lens for most situations when it came to real estate photos. I really just needed something I could use for tight and cramped spaces like small bathrooms, bedrooms, and kitchens. The Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Lens seemed like the best price for what I was looking for. It’s an L series lens, which is Canon’s pro level lens series, but at a fairly reasonable price of $600 (especially compared to the price tag of $1899 for the 24-70mm lens). Though, I actually bought mine gently used so I got an even better deal (you can find them used on KEH Camera or eBay). At this point in my life, I rarely ever steer away from the L series lenses, except in the case of the Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens that has a special place in my heart. I have yet to try the RF lenses yet, though it’s on my wish list for next year. :)

WHY DID I BRING THE CANON 17-40MM F/4 L LENS TO JAPAN OVER THE CANON 24-70MM F/2.8 L II LENS?

When I was debating which cameras and lenses to bring with me to Japan, I was torn between bringing my beloved Canon 24-70mm lens and my newer Canon 17-40mm lens. I like to bring a digital camera with me on my trips, along with a handful of film cameras. I mostly use the digital camera as a backup to my film cameras, many of which can be unreliable. It’s mostly just for peace of mind because I actually rarely end up using my digital cameras on my trips! Knowing this, I decided to leave my heavy and large Canon 24-70mm lens behind for the first time on a major trip. The 17-40mm lens is 0.67 pounds lighter, which doesn’t sound like much, but makes a huge difference when I’m lugging a giant camera backpack around a foreign country. Not to mention, it took up less space in my camera bag, allowing me to bring an extra film camera… Yes. I realize that filling that space with another camera probably doesn’t help with my dilemma of a heavy backpack…

THOUGHTS ON THE QUALITY OF THE IMAGES

While the 17-40mm lens doesn’t quite have that professional and super sharp quality to the images that I’m used to with the 24-70mm lens (I think I’ve been spoiled!), it got the job done. And even going through the photos now for this blog post, I’m pleasantly surprised by how beautiful these images turned out. You can really only notice a difference when you zoom in on the images in Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom and compare the overall sharpness and the noise in the shadows and corners. It really was a great backup to my film cameras and worked in all lighting conditions, even dark city streets and low-light rooms. And because of it’s ability to capture super wide shots, I easily managed to photograph the stunning architecture of Japan. I always love a wide lens for traveling. I prefer to use the 17-40mm lens with my Canon 5D Mark IV or Canon 6D over my Canon EOS R because I find that the additional lens adapter that I have to use with the EOS R tends to add additional distortion to the edges of the photos when shooting wide. One of the main differences I noticed between the 17-40mm f/4 lens and the 24-70mm f/2.8 lens is the fact that the 24-70mm lens handles edge distortion much better. Portraits look more natural and the added aperture value of the 24-70mm makes for better images overall. However, when I’m traveling, I’m mostly capturing landmarks and buildings, so it worked out just fine! If you’re going more for portraits or detail photos, the 24-70mm would definitely be a better option.

Did I miss my Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 lens?

Yes. I always do, mostly just because the 24-70 is my heart and soul in a lens. But looking at my images now, I think the 17-40mm lens fulfilled my needs as a backup camera on my trip. I never really end up doing much with my digital images after my trips. I tend to lean towards my film images for sharing on social media and blog posts. Though, if for some reason, my film didn’t turn out from my trip, it’s nice to know that I’d have these images to remember our trip by.

Make sure to scroll to the bottom of the post to see more of my favorite images I took in Japan with the Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Lens. I hope these help you to decide if this lens is for you! If you’re on a budget looking for an affordable but professional lens, the 17-40 mm lens would be a great option to start with. Plus, you can always upgrade later! You could also check out my blog post about the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Lens for comparison. I also posted a video on my YouTube channel about all of the cameras I ended up taking with me on my trip to Japan. You can watch it here!

WHERE TO BUY THE CANON EF 17-40MM F/4 L USM ZOOM LENS

WHERE TO BUY THE CANON EF 24-70MM F/2.8L II USM ZOOM LENS

Amazon

B&H Photo Video

KEH Camera (used)

eBay (used)

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If you found this post helpful or inspiring, I’d love it if you considered signing up for my Patreon! For as little as $1 a month, you’ll get early access to all of my YouTube videos, plus tons of photos that I don’t post anywhere else. Depending on which tier you choose, you could also receive seasonal prints and/or discounts! I always use all of the proceeds towards cameras, film & processing. Find out more here!

If you have any questions, I’m always happy to help! You can contact me here, or leave a comment below! Thanks so much for stopping by! You can also check out my Amazon storefront for more camera/film recommendations. :) Have a magical day!

<3 Myles Katherine

(click to enlarge images)

The Best Websites to Buy Vintage Film Cameras and Used Photography Gear - The Most Reputable Camera Resale Sites

September 1, 2024

Buying a used camera can be a terrifying concept, especially if it’s an expensive camera. But if you’re on the hunt for a specific vintage film camera, you don’t really have a choice but to find one online. Sure, you can hunt through thrift stores or wait around for one on facebook marketplace, but that can be time-consuming. Over the years, I’ve learned the best websites to find used gear without overpaying or ending up with a camera that just doesn’t work. Here are my favorite choices for buying used or vintage gear and a few reasons for why I like each one!

KEH CAMERA

(By using the links and/or codes below it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)

The first site I’ll always recommend is KEH Camera. They have a rigorous grading system so you can decide how much you’re willing to pay versus the condition of the camera/lens. If you want gear that is in “excellent”, “excellent+”, or “like new” condition, you’re obviously going to pay more than one that’s in “good” or “fair” condition. They test their cameras before selling them and they have a great return policy. Any time I’ve had an issue with a camera, they’re always willing to work with me to figure out what’s going on. And if you’re going to get into the business of buying vintage cameras, it’s part of the game that sometimes you’ll run into weird, intermittent problems. They are super knowledgeable at KEH though and they have a huge collection of gear. If the specific camera you’re looking for isn’t in stock when you first take a look, I recommend waiting a week or two and checking back. They are always adding more listings and updating their inventory. Plus, they sell both film and digital cameras so even if you’re looking for an expensive digital Canon, Nikon, or Sony camera, you can save quite a lot of money by buying a gently used one. I hardly ever buy my gear new, so I’m used to taking the risk!

You can also sell or trade your own used gear to KEH camera! They make it super easy and they have a fool-proof process since they do it every single day. Can you tell I love KEH Camera? :)

Free Shipping on Orders $75+. Shop Now!

ETSY

Sometimes, for some reason, I forget that Etsy is an incredible place to search for vintage cameras. It’s kind of like walking into one of those giant antique stores filled with vendors and random collectibles. You can pretty much find just about any vintage camera you could possibly think of on Etsy. Not to mention, you are supporting small businesses and creators. It’s one of the biggest artist marketplaces you can find online and is reliable, easy to navigate, and an overall cute website to shop through. If you want to support small artists, this is the best place to find those rare vintage cameras on your list without having to scour through your local vintage stores. Not to mention, the prices are typically competitive because of the amount of shops on the site! Shop vintage cameras on Etsy here!

AMAZON

Amazon isn’t a website that you’d think would be a great option for vintage cameras, but it’s actually surprising how often I’ll find a rare used camera on there! Amazon has a great return policy and is typically super helpful if something is wrong with the product that you’ve purchased. Usually, if you find a used camera on Amazon it’s being sold by a small retailer, so just make sure to read their reviews! It’s also so nice to buy everything you need in one place. Amazon carries pretty much any battery, lens filter, camera bag or film you’d ever need so it’s kind of amazing. I’m often on the hunt for a strange battery for a vintage camera that none of my local stores carry, and I almost always can find it on Amazon. I actually just recently created my own Amazon storefront, so you can check out all of my personal camera and film recommendations here!

EBAY

A lot of people are intimidated by eBay, especially for more expensive gear. But I’ve bought some incredible cameras and lenses off of it over the years. The prices are extremely competitive because you’re usually just bidding against what other people are willing to pay for the same gear. So typically you won’t end up overpaying, which is always nice! However, if you’re buying a camera that is super trendy at the moment, you might be better off scouring thrift stores or trying KEH Camera for more consistent prices. I actually bought my Canon 5D Mark IV on eBay a few years ago though, which is my main camera and one of my more expensive cameras that I own! It was in nearly mint condition and has been working perfectly for years! The main thing with eBay is to make sure you’re buying from a reputable seller that has made lots of sales and has high ratings. Read the reviews and make sure you really analyze the photographs and description of the item you’re buying. I like to look at the other listings that the seller has, just to see if I get any weird vibes. In many cases, I’ll even send the seller a message and see how their communication is. You can usually tell right away if someone or something is scammy. Overall, eBay is pretty great with protecting both buyers and sellers, which is why I use it so often. I don’t even hesitate to buy cheaper cameras on eBay, because oftentimes, it’s the only website I can find certain rare vintage cameras on. I also sell gear on eBay and I’ve been using it for over a decade. It’s not for the faint of heart though, because there are often a LOT of options to choose from and it can be hard to weed out the good from the bad. But if you’re looking for something incredibly rare and vintage, eBay probably has it!

ADORAMA

Adorama is sort of a blend of KEH Camera and Amazon. It sells both new and used gear at competitive prices, but also has lots of other products such as computers, electronics, and musical instruments. I find it to be a little more limited than KEH Camera when it comes to vintage cameras, but if KEH is out of stock with a certain product, every once in a while I’ll have some luck at Adorama. They are a fairly large company, so once again, they have a decent return policy and are helpful with returns. I like how easy their website is to navigate and I feel a little better purchasing things from them than from a big box retailer.

A FEW OTHER SITES TO CONSIDER

Of course, there are a ton of other sites that you can find new and used photography gear, these are just my personal favorites! I’ve also had luck buying gear on B&H, Poshmark, Mercari, and Polaroid.com (if you’re looking for specifically Polaroid cameras).

If you found this post helpful, I’d love it if you considered signing up for my Patreon! For as little as $1 a month, you’ll get early access to all of my YouTube videos, plus tons of photos that I don’t post anywhere else. Depending on which tier you choose, you could also receive seasonal prints and/or discounts! I always use all of the proceeds towards cameras, film & processing. Find out more here!

If you have any questions, I’m always happy to help! You can contact me here, or leave a comment below! Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a magical day!

<3 Myles Katherine