Fast and silent AF, IS makes things possible which otherwise you wouldn't think off, compact, light weight for a 5x zoom, good optical quality even at wide open, barrel distortion at 28mm particularly good corrected, an all-in-one lens, and the one I'm taking with me on my deserted island.

optical performance at 28mm and wide open, becomes a 45-210 zoom on a digital EOS, optical performance is not comparable with an L-zoom lens.

Man what a lens! No comment this is the one you need to begin with! I would only regret two things: optical performance at 28mm and wide open (but just half a stop down and your back to bussiness), and the fact it makes a 45-210 zoom on a digital EOS. For the rest: a lens that made my day! I'm only hoping that Canon will bring out a 24-135 IS USM L lens soon.

Useful zoom range Image Stabilised Aspherical fast, quiet auto-focus

Too heavy Hopeless at 28mm too soft at larger apertaures Not better than old manual-focus Zuikos.

Like most people, I too saved up for months to purchase and use this "amazing" lens that was not only apparently optically sharp, but had the added feature of being Image stabilised! A revolution since fast auto-focus surely, I thought. After running a few films of various speeds and shooting at pretty much the entire range of apertures and shutter speeds, I must confess any magic simply isn't there. True - the IS feature works - and works well in low light. But if you're looking for overall image quality, contrast and sharpnesss, you would do just as well with the much maligned (unfairly) EF 35-80mm f4-5.6 III. I kid u not! There are no miracles here - the same rules apply as in any type of photography: Its not the camera, or even the lens - its probably just you! I have compared, side by side, identical shots taken with other lenses and the IS 28-135 doesn't do any worse - but doesn't exactly stand out either. The IS doesn't seem to work if you're shooting something straight up - like a decorated ceiling for example. Infact, you'd be better off with a much lighter, brighter and considerably cheaper lens for that! At 28mm, image qualiy is hopeless, even at f9 or thereabouts. The rest of the range is acceptable. But really, after all the fuss, you'd think it would be better than just "acceptable." It hurts to say this - but my 30 year old Olympus Trip-35 (they cost about 5 pounds on eBay!!) actually BLOWS the 28-135mm IS away for the type of photography I do. So there you have it. I should have listened to mother - and just been happy with what I had.

Customer Service

Never needed.

Similar Products Used:

EF 35-80mm f4-5.6 III EF 75-300mm f4-5.6USM Zuiko 35-70mm f3.5-4.5 Zuiko 50mm f1.8 Zuiko 42mm

IS Feature and zoom range. aceptable image quality.

Soft at the edges on 28 settings, Barrel creep on the zoom.

I really liked this lens when i bought it first, The IS was a great advantage, could hand hold even at 1/15sec. Sharpness and contrast was good. Then i started getting some very soft photographs, found a screw floating around in the lens itself. sent back to Canon under warranty, Images were even worse went received back, sent it back to Canon again. Seems okay on its return. But images not in the same class as the 28-70 2.8L which i purchased lately. Good all round lens, dosen't show the same sharpness with digital as the L lens.

Customer Service

Reasonable.

Similar Products Used:

20-35Canon, 28-70 2.8L and 20-105Canon.

- IS is worth the money (if you have it) - very sharp over a good zoom range - Even my wife can point-and-shoot great shots with this lens!

- softer at 28mm, but still OK for a zoom - large filter size - size

A great all-purpose zoom, and the lens on my camera most often. I am very impressed with the IS feature. I just got back some sharp hand-held shots at 1/30sec and 105-135mm. This lens is very sharp, esp., in the 35-105mm range at f6.7 or better, which is where a majority of my shots fall. Shots at 28mm and wide open are OK for good snapshot quality, but not this lens' sweet spot IMO. I have shot excellent portraits with this lens at 105mm, but the 72mm soft-focus filter purchase was expensive. Focus is fast and quiet. I use this lens on a Rebel 2000, and this size lens definitely can cast a shadow with the pop-up flash (but I always use a 420EX flash anyway because the pop-up is weak past 10 feet) The weight of this lens (and about any other lens that has any weight to it) makes the Rebel 2000 feel a little off balance, so spend the $30 and get the AA battery adapter to improve the balance with this lens -- you will not regret it. Like most others, this lens is all I expected and more.

Similar Products Used:

Canon EF 28-80/3.5-5.6 II Tokina AT-X 242 AF 24-200mm f/3.5-5.6

IS, 28-135 range

Zoom drops down easy when pointed downwards, Lens hood not included

I have this lens on my Eos 50E as an alternative for carrying my 20-35 & 35-350 when I’m just walking around. The 28-135 range is very nice, aldo I wished it was a 24-135. The pictures I take with this lens are very sharp and nice colour. I was experimenting with a tube extender 25 just to see what happens and I must say that even than the pictures looked very good! (It makes it a macro imitator) The image stabilizer works very well at all conditions except on a tripod, but you got IS so why bother?! Overall I think this is a superb lens when you want to walk around with just one lens. And please, don’t compare it to the 3-4 times more expensive "L" series lenses. The pictures are just very good, even maybe better than you can imagine for this price and range (28-135, it’s a zoom and not a prime!), you won’t be disappointed! Advise; get the lens hood!

Customer Service

Not needed so far

Similar Products Used:

20-35 2.8L, 35-350 3.5/5.6L

Excellent zoom range Brilliantly sharp in fair to favourable weather at f8 which is definately it's optimum aperture Image Stabliser

Below par performance in not so favourable weather Lens Creep (not a problem I've really struck before) Barrel distortion more than I like or am use to Vignettes at 28/35mm if adding C-PL to UV filter.Again something I've not had happen before. This lens sucks dust almost like a vaccum cleaner

As is obvious by the number of favourable reviews, this lens makes a lot of people very happy. Unfortunately this lens is not what I personally need or want right now. I have found it to be a bit of a fair weathered friend. On the plus side, the image stabaliser function is brilliant. The ability to shoot at lower shutter speeds than normal is wonderful. At f8 and in reasonable to good weather the results are fantastic and almost equivilant to those most coveted of all lenses the'L'lens. At this aperture in the right weather the results really are superb. The range of 28-135mm is an extremely useful range also. This was the primary reason I traded in my excellent Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 for this lens. On the downside however, I have found vignetting on occasions at 28mm (mainly with using a UV and Circular polariser filter together, something that was not a problem on my Sigma). The distortion is also worse than the Sigma (the barrell distortion is pretty neglible on the Sigma)especially at 28mm. My lens does have lens creep. I have found this lens picks up dust like no other lens I have ever used. As someone whose main subject is travel photography, and who shoots in variable conditions this is a downer. I really wanted to love this lens as so many other people do and will do in the future. Unfortunately for me personally the downsides of this lens outweigh the strengths and I will be trading it in for another Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 (unless I can find a Canon 28-70mm f2.8'L' lens secondhand)

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 (greatlens,especially if you can afford the'L' lens Canon 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 (beginners lens) Canon 80-200mm 'L' (magnificent)

EVERYTHING

NONE

Let me first start off by saying that I am 5'7" and 147 pounds. I don't work out and my back hurts alot from carrying a messenger bag daily. I have a Canon setup (Eos 3 or 10D depending on what i am going for that day) and I have researched and researched for the "perfect all around lens". I wanted to have the clearest pictures possible, good zoom and weight is definitely factor. I walk all day, I get to see things in NYC that others may miss because they are in the office looking at a computer screen. I do alot of street and subway photography and often do not have time to use a monopod or tripod for a shot. I've had the oportunity to RENT "L" lenses (my favorite 35-350mm). But let's face it... it's way too heavy and it's white and can be seen by thieves. And believe me, they know those lenses. So long story short... it IS the best lens out there for street photography. The "IS" is great or subway shots and cloudy days... and if you ever get mugged, at least it won't hurt as much as losing an "L" lens for 3 times the price.

Similar Products Used:

Tamron 28-300 (sucks) Canon 50mm 1.4 (great, but I need the zoom)

Image quality IS ability

None

I have used this lens on an Eos3 and 30 before now using it on a 10D. It is not an 'L' lens but is getting there in terms of image quality. I now use 'L' lenses on my 10D but keep the 28-135 as a spare or to travel. No other lens I have used is so useful. The IS had worked well for me and the images it produces are far better than the Canon 28-200 which is not as crisp. The build is fine - again, it is not an 'L' lens but it doesn't weigh anything near say the 24-70L nor does it cost anywhere near as much. I am would thoroughly recomend this lens as a good one to start with or use everyday on the camera (subject obviously to what you are trying to take, etc.)

Customer Service

Not used

Similar Products Used:

Canon28-200, Canon 24-70L, Tamron 28-200 (old and new type), Canon 75-300IS

28-135 Image Stabilizer Fast focusing and sharpness good weight

f 5.6 at 135mm wished it was f 4 or f 4.5 would like to have at 24-135/IS, but 28 is still good. otherwise no weakness

I have used this lens since it first came out and it is the best wide to telephoto lens that I have used. I use it for just about everything I shoot. It has great optics and the (I.S.) feature is really works as advertised. I've got perfectly sharp photo at 1/15sec In room light at 135mm, and at 1/10sec hand held. In low light this lens is a life saver. Highly recomemded to anyone looking to extend thier ability to get the shot without flash or tripod.

Customer Service

Very good,fast and courteous.

Similar Products Used:

canon 35-105 3.5-4.5 (very sharp) Tamrom 28-200 3.8-5.6, 28-105 4-5.6 (same)

Great range 28-135mm with the 1.6 on the D10 your over 200MM IS system great Good weight and feels good in your hand

Plastic feel is the only thing wish it was metal, but you can't have everything

I purchased this lens just a short time now, and I have already taken 300 photos with it on my canon 10D. This is a must have lens for the digital cameras that have a magnification factor. The canon has a 1.6 which means that the movement in your hands translates into the photo. The Is system in this lens takes care of that right off. The photos that I have taken were during sunny days and also overcast. Inside with a flash and without. I haven't found a down side to this lens. I read a few reviews on this lens and they said that the 28mm and the 135mm was not sharp. Well I have not found this to be true yet. All the photos I have taken are very sharp. Two thumbs up on this lens. If your thinking about getting one do so. you won't be disappointed

Customer Service

not used yet and hope never will be.

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 28-300MM Canon 28-200MM