Customers Review Amazon Product

As Good As It Gets.
I've been using this lens on my Canon 40D for about a week now, as my #2 shooting lens for general work walking about town when I need to reach out a bit farther than usual (my #1 lens is a 24-70mm f/2.8L USM). I've used it for architectural detail shooting, some portrait work, some entertainment-subject shooting in low-light conditions, even some quasi-macro shooting. This is easily the best long EOS lens on the market, and at Amazon's prices, it's one of the best bargains in photography.

The glass is perfect, the IS and USM mechanical works are super-fast and silent. And it's absolutely astounding how the image-stabilization voodoo can allow me to hand-hold shots in moderate light that before would have had be running for my tripod. And that cavern of an aperature lets in an *enormous* amount of light.

Add the 2x extender and you have a 400mm to 640mm f/5.6 image-stabilized supertele lens, screw in the 500D close-up diopter and you have the next best thing to a dedicated 70-200mm macro-zoom. Quite the versatile lens...

About the only thing that may queer the deal for some shooters is that the IS works will draw more juice from your camera battery than you may expect; I wound up using a BG-E2N grip with two 511A batteries whenever I'm using this lens, just for safety's sake. But OTOH it gives me a better grip to control the lens by; it certainly is a bit on the heavy side, at just under 3-1/2 lbs.

Also, you really do have to keep tabs on your depth of field when shooting this lens wide-open to keep your subject in proper focus; the DoF at f/2.8 is razor-thin! But that's what wide-open aperatures do

All things considered, though, I couldn't recommend this lens highly enough.

First Biggie
This the first 'big' lens I've purchased in my 8 years of learning to get good photographs of subjects I enjoy. It seems to fulfill the need to have the ability to capture subjects well at a distance. I bought it to help get good shots of softball players. Since I play on a team, I am able to be on the field during play consequently wish I'd purchased Canon's Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Lens instead. This lens (24-70) would have given me that little bit more distance ability than the f/2.8 17-55 mm I normally use. Looking at the photo's metadata taken with the 70-200 mm lens I find most interesting, I see where 95% are taken at 70 mm. I need to say that only about 300 images have been captured with the 70-200 mm, I'm sure as time passes I should be able to learn to use it much better. (For what ever it's worth - most photos taken with the 17-55 mm lens mounted on a Canon 40D were taken at the 40-50 mm settings. The reason for four instead of five stars is mostly the weight.)

Fast, Sharp, Well-built L Lens
There are plenty of good reviews so this one will be a short summary:

Pros:
- Sharp images accross zoom range
- Effective image stabilization
- Fast, precise USM autofocus
- Built tough with moisture and dust seal

Cons:
- A little heavy but considering lens size this is minor
- A little on the pricey side

Other:
- Comes with hood and soft storage case
- Overkill for student/amateur like myself

Great in Low Light
This is my work horse lens in low light. It is amazing no matter which camera body I stick it on (20D, 30D or 5D) and is super sharp. One of my favorites.

It is heavy but so worth it. :)

Simply, a great piece of equipment!
Having been a photographer by hobby for 20+ years, I have to say that this is by far the best glass that I have ever shot with. To be succinct, if you are at least a "prosumer" Canon shooter, you shouldn't be without this lens. It has been versatile enough for me to shoot everything from a deceased soldier's burial to youth sports without being a disrupting influence. I've used it to shoot airshows (static displays) and news events. It is simply a must have for the Canon-carrying photojournalist.

The mechanics of this "L" lens are solid and the focus is sharp and fast. It may be a little heavy for some but I've gotten used to it. It is an investment that will pay for itself many times over if you take the time to learn it and how to use it.

If your wallet can bear it, then I say go for it. You won't regret it.