Snazzy lens with some caveats

Pros
Exquisite focal length, superb pix along mid to long focal length, commendable aperture

Cons
Middling picture at wide end, sliding zoom ring, hefty.

The Lowdown

I purchased this for my EOS-400D to replace my standard 18-55mm lens. As soon as I got in on the camera I realised how much heavier it was, nearly half a pound. Got a bad back? Avoid it. However once I got used to it, I found it balances with the camera quite well and as a nice solid feel to it.

But as I started to use it, it has help to deliver fantastic results, though it’s a fringes a bit at the wide end and will flare in the sun easily unless you have the lens hood attached

This lens had been a pleasure to use, nonetheless, once the zoom ring loosens up a bit with use; it will sometimes slide when pointing the camera downwards and the lock function is a bit of a gimmick as it only works right at the 17mm end which is the only point where it hasn’t ever slid from.