Positives:Covers the 28-200mm range - unless you photograph wide landscapes (200mm) this would ideally be the only lens you needVery compact and lightweightInternal focusing allows you to place filters on the lens without end-of-lens rotation
Negatives:Very soft at the 200mm range with distortion throughout the zoom range3.5-5.6 means you have a slower lens throughout the zoom range as wellNot a good lens for enlargement over 5x8 or even 4x6 under some circumstances
Overall, this would make a great lens for someone looking for a lightweight single lens to take with him or her to capture almost every type of shot available. This would not make a good lens for anyone aspiring to take great photographs, where sharpness, flare, and distortion are key concerns. I suggest you try it out if possible to see if you notice the issues listed above. If you like the results, then by all means, keep the lens. For the price, 28-200m coverage is a great thing.
Thanks for your time...
This is it!
Upside: 1)Great range of focal lengths 2)Pretty fast for the range and for the money. There are faster lenses out there but nowhere near the price. 3)Rugged
Downside: 1)Heavy 2)You must be at least 7 feet away to focus. That's not usually a problem because you can zoom in so tight but if you're shooting in a home sometimes it is akward to get back far enough. 3)There are now lenses with even greater range of focal length
If you want to put a great lens on your Canon and never, ever have to fuss this is a lens for you.
If you're on a photo shoot and don't want to lug around a lot of lenses this is a great one (however, it does get heavy on long hikes).
I've never regretted buying this lens. And I've never thought, "You know, if I would have spent a little more I could have got a whole lot better."
This has satisfied in every way.
Even though I own a wider angle (19-35mm) and a more telephoto (80-300mm) zoom, this lens encompasses 90% of my shooting needs. It has 28mm for scenics, 100-135mm for portraits, and 200mm for close-ups and action photography. (The 200mm length is also great for girl watching in the summer time, pictures of which I use to dress up my vacation photo albums.)
The lens has separate rings for focusing and zooming, but since my SLR camera is autofocus, I just leave my (left hand) fingers on the zoom ring and let my shutter release finger control the focusing.
The compact size of the lens makes it very portable. And having such a wide range of focal lengths means I don't have to worry about missing a shot -- because I'm caught changing camera lenses.
If you're planning to buy a new SLR or are looking for a new lens, please be sure to put this fine optical instrument at the top of your shopping list.