IS
Build quality
Image quality
Nice range
Fast AF

For the price, none at all, except perhaps the slight ditortion at 28, but don't lose any sleep about it unless you're very serious about architechture and the like.

Build and image quality just shy of L lenses, for £400. As far as I'm concerned, that makes the IS free! IS is very useful indeed, no doubt about it. It's every bit as good as everyone says. You can use 100 where you would have had to use 400. Handholding 1/5 at 135 no probs. I didn't actually buy it for that, I bought it to increase image quality having been unimpressed with OEM consumer zooms such as the 28-80 and the new 28-90. These must be changed asap for decent glass. This lens and lenses like the 50 f1.8 are great VFM upgrades.

Similar Products Used:

75-300
50 1.8 MK1
nasty 28-80
various Ls

(1)good zoom range (2)IS function (3)compact & light (4)good all rounder lens (5)silent & extremely fast AF with manual override in AF mode (6)lens barrel does not rotate during AF (7)many professional photographers carry one for grab shooting (8)low flare (9)good contrast and sharpness

(1)slow aperture (2)lens zoom in & out of barrel will suck dirt inside (3)wide angle distortion is pronounced

Very good general purpose lens suitable for most situations not requiring a pro quality L lens.

Customer Service

none required

Similar Products Used:

17-35/2.8L, 24-85 USM, 100-300 USM

Mercedes-like build
Crisp Optics.
Excellent contrast
Immediate focus lock speed.
Wonderfully stable shots

NONE

For the D30 owner THIS is the MUST HAVE lens. It covers from the "portrait" to "moderate telephoto" range and does it with "L like" quality. In fact it is just a pinch away from the optical capabilites of the 28-70L lens (according to www.photodo.com analysis) at a fraction of the price. The handheld stability will absolutely spoil you rotten. The build quality is what one would expect from Canon. This indeed is a "just get it" recommendation. You can't possibly be sorry.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

Tamron 28-105
Sigma
Tokina

the IS system...focal length range...reasonably fast aperture range

a tendancy for the lens to zoom by itself when held downward...not terribly serious

This is a fine "day" lens...mount it and it will cover 90-95% of the things you might photograph. Have used this lens for about 16 months....very happy with the optical quality..more rugged than I would have thought. A great "pro-sumer" lens...can deliver 16x20" prints at mid-aperture with the IS enabled. Not an "L" lens...but can produce "pro-quailty" work. Long time Canon users could compare this lens to the manual focus FD 35-105mm f3.5 lens. About the same quality.

Customer Service

Excellent...Canon user for 30+ years

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Canon 50mm f1.4 USM...24mmf2.8AFD...50-200mmf3.5L

Very sharp across most of the entire range.
Quality nearlt that of L glass

Slightly "plasticy" feel in the Zoom motion where dirt can get in as well.

Getting slightly older now it becomes harder to hand hold even at 1/180. I have hand held this lens with excellent results at 1/125.
I tend to use this lens 90% of the time. For D30 owners this lens is a must especially if you can't afford L Glass

Customer Service

Never needed

Similar Products Used:

Canon 17-35 MM
Canon 50 MM 1.4 )
Canon 75-300MM (So awful gave it away -- real waste of money)

*Zoom range that covers everyday use.
*IS is a +++ for a lens.
*Very good optical quality

*Tends to zoom when looking downwards.
*Can create barrel effect at 28mm.

I bought this lens along with my new Canon EOS 30. It is a great lens that offers great quality pics for just $440! The range that this lens covers is adequate for landscapes, portraits and some telephoto needs. The IS has helped me avoid shaken pics. Yes, it really works! I have even used it with 1/15 shutter speed and it gave me good result. Go for this lens. It is great for the advanced amateur photographer.

Customer Service

I didn't need it until now.

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None

focal range, USM, IS

distortion, flares

I wanted this lens badly and had bought it on my trip to US, where it cost 2/3 of a price here. I must say IS is working, zoom range is fine, sharpness not bad for such a focal range, but there is something missing. I made faaaar better pictures using cheapy 50/1.8 and Sigma 105EX, and they both cost together as much as this zoom... maybe the distortion, maybe the contrast or bokeh, there is some flatness in pictures I don't like at all. From ordinary magazine or post-cardy point of view, pictures are OK, but don't expect miracles. I finally gave up and sold it after a few months (I guess I'm stucked with primes forever)
However, for someone looking for a travel lens for family shooting or general photography, this could be the best amateur zoom avialable in EF mount. But I advice you to give a try to cheap 50/1.8 also, so you can see what I'm writing about.

Customer Service

not needed

Similar Products Used:

EF 50/1.8II, Sigma 105EX, Contax 50/1.4, Contax G 45/2, Pentacon 50/1.8 etc.

- great zoom range
- good general optical quality
- IS is very useful
- very fast AF
- manual focusing is possible even in AF Mode
- non-rotating frontlens

none for that price

I can highly recommend this lens. It offers some nice features at a moderate price. Of course IS may not be a substitute for a tripod but in available light situations you don't want to miss it any more!

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other Canon lenses

Nice zoom range, non rotating front element, IS, almost silent USM

At 135mm position front of lens has a loose feeling feels real cheap

Nice optics and a real nice zoom range especially for landscape. IS is fantastic for candid portraits of children in natural light. Canon should have made this lens as a L to give it a more robust build. I know one other photog who ownes similar lens and it has the same loose feel that I describe in weakness catagory.

Customer Service

Haven't had to use on this product but check my report on Canon 100-400IS lens.

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none

Zoom
Sharpness
I.S. DEFINITELY

Plasticy feel

THis is a great lense for someone like me who wants a little better than the lense that came with my Elan 2.It's not too heavy, and gives me the zoom I want for pics of the family, nature, etc. I was impressed with the step up from the 28-80 that came with the camera. I don't have the patience to carry around a tripod, and this gives me frameable shots. Awesome on black and white film. Even got a good action shot of kitty leaping for a bird. Luckily she missed.

Customer Service

Not needed

Similar Products Used:

Canon EF 28-80