Convenient zoom range for all-purpose travel lens. Optics seem very good in some situations, erratic in others. Will hopefully improve with familiarity.

1. It's SLOW. Widest aperture is 3.5, and definitely not suitable for indoor sports unless you ramp up the ISO toward the max. And as I come from the film era, I'm hesitant to do that. Also, minimum aperture is, apparently, only 5.6, so not sure about clarity at extreme telephotos. So far my distance photos aren't impressive.

2. Lack of a distance scale. Unless I'm missing something, this makes it very difficult to pre-focus, especially in dim light or lack-of-contrast situations. The zoom for my old Elan7, and several other lenses, had scales and I used them a lot.

I think this lens is OK as a general purpose travel lens, and, granted, I'm still going through the learning curve with it and my new Canon 60D. Optics seem OK when exposure is correct (thank God for auto-exposure bracketing). Two major annoyances will be discussed in pros/cons.

Similar Products Used:

Canon EF 28-135, several Canon FD lenses.

A wonderful image range of 18-135mm (29-216mm).
REAL Image Stabilization rated at 4 stops. 3 stops rating on other reviews, but hey, 3 to 4 stops is great feature!
The difference between a non IS and IS on a 70-200mm white lens is over a thousand dollars. On this lens, it's already there!
Other more expensive lenses have zoom creep. This lens doesn't do it! Great!
The extended barrel doesn't wobble like other lenses. A nice improvement.
The zoom grip is wide and very nice to operate.
The zoom focal numbers are clearly seen unlike other lenses where they are under the hood of the on-camera flash housing.
Full of quality but it doesn't show it on the outside. It's a Plain Jane lens exterior look, passed over by potential muggers. Great for tourist on nasty places.
Full metal mount, not plastic as cheap lenses.

It looks like a plain cheap cylinder, not a sexy lusty lens. It doesn't demand attention as the more sexy L and white lenses.
Soft at the wide angle end, for the pixel conscious. Set to F8 and sharpness improves dramatically.

A great EF-S APS sized zoom lens that covers a mild wide angle to telephoto range. The 4 stops IS marketing fluff is true. It tested it down to 1/4 of a second and the images come out crisp and clean as against IS being turned off where camera shake and blur really shows.
A wonderful tool for the amateur and enthusiast. A great arsenal asset to the professional who can squeeze out fantastic images on a modern lens. (These old time pros used to be using coke bottle glass bottoms during the film era, so they know the improvement to technology.)
No zoom creep! The lens barrel stays put.
The lens appearance doesn't demand attention. Nice.

Customer Service

New lens.

Similar Products Used:

27-70mm F2.8
70-200mm F2.8 IS II
16-35mm F2.8
85mm F1.8
10-22mm F3.5-4.5