whichlens.com - Lens Reviews

Pros:

• Micro USM. Improved autofocus speed and less noise.
• Good value.
• Light and compact.
• One of the sharpest sub $400 lenses around.

Cons:

• Feels a little cheap, but you get what you pay for.
• Plastic mount.

Additional Comments:
This lens is a prime choice to fill the telephoto void in many beginner photographers' bags. It's small and light enough to keep with you all the time. Despite the toy-like build, it will give you good pictures, which is what counts right? Definitely a lens for the cheap and cheerful.

Pros:

• Fast lens. Very useful, especially in low-light conditions.
• Good value.
• Good sharpness at all focal lengths and apertures.

Cons:

• Somewhat average build quality.
• Lacks USM, the motor is a bit noisy and not the fastest around.

Additional Comments:
The major downsides of this lens are it's ho-hum build quality and its lack of USM. Most people can probably live with the build quality given its excellent price but the lack of USM means slower, noisier autofocus which in discreet situations, can make all the difference. If you can look past these two disadvantages, it's really an excellent lens. It's fast, which means you will worry less about sufficient light, it's compact, which means you won't leave it at home and it's also optically very good.

Pros:

• USM. Quick and silent focussing.
• Light and compact.
• Excellent value.
• Optically good

Cons:

• Mechanically mediocre. Zoom ring feels cheap.

Additional Comments:
If you only had $250 dollars to spend on a camera lens, this would be your best bet. It's around $230 and you can spend the last $20 on a filter and shipping. The range is a bit of a let down since a wider 24mm (as opposed to this lens's 28mm) on a digital body is more preferable minimum focal length but you definitely get a lot for your money.

Pros:

• Good build quality for the price.
• USM. Quick and silent focussing.
• Light and Compact
• Optically good.
• 24mm is a very useful focal length on a digital body.

Cons:

• Questionable quality control. Empirical evidence shows a fair chance of buying a lemon. Be sure to buy it from somewhere with a good return policy.
• A little pricey compared with the Canon EF 28-105mm USM II

Additional Comments:
A very nice beginner lens. No complaints about the image quality, mechanically sound, availability of USM, compact size and a useful focal length all sum up to an excellent all purpose lens. There is some murmuring about getting bad samples of this lens but all the ones that I have handled seemed fine. Many stores have forgiving return policies so don't be afraid to try it.

Check out the wide angle zoom roundup!

Check out the wide angle zoom roundup!

NB: The Amazon picture above is wrong, that is the old version of the lens, clicking the link will allow you to buy the new version of the lens, which incidentally is a much more handsome lens :)

Check out the wide angle zoom roundup!

Verdict: you are better off with the Tamron 17-35mm or the Canon 17-40mm depending on your budget.