Canon 9517a002

Pros: optical quality, IS, wide angle

Cons: cheap build quality, f4 aperture, slight electronic hum, lens hood

The Bottom Line: A good walkaround lens for the value.

Pros: IS, stationery front element, good range for walk around lens

Cons: Many have bad things to say about it, slow max aperature, C sized sensors only

The Bottom Line: The range on this lens makes it a great walk around lens. IS system allows hand holding at lower speeds. Some love it, some hate it.

Pros: Nice zoom range covers just about everything I want to do - IS really works.

Cons: Quality control, weight. I'd have felt ripped-off if I'd paid $500 to $600.

The Bottom Line: If you need that zoom range and the IS is important to you, then buy it -- Just watch what you pay for it and inspect it carefully.

Pros: Phenomenal IS, 5x zoom range, USM.

Cons: High price. Slow aperture bad for people/pets. Didn't use IS as often as expected.

The Bottom Line: I liked this lens, but didn't love it enough to pay $600. For the same money, I got two other lenses that are more useful.

Pros: Lightweight and nice focal range

Cons: Price, soft pictures, and dark corners

Pros: great quality optics, image stabilizer, excellent range

Cons: low light flaws, expensive

Pros: IS, non-rotating filter mount, quiet operation, fast internal focus, 'lightweight', constant length focus

Cons: Maximum aperture only f4, somewhat expensive, no full-frame compatible, sharpness below fixed lens

The Bottom Line: Certainly the most versatile lens to date for Canon's dSLRs with weakness regarding sharpness and chromatic aberration.