anyone use a Canon 28-200 Lens?

[charr5]

I am looking to buy a lens to take the place of the range of two others (between 35-300mm).
Has anyone used the Canon 28-200 F3.5-5.6 USM Lens and if so what are your experiences with it?
It will be used for my 10D so in reality it will be ~ 45-320mm, and I already have a 17-35 for wide angle.
I can't find an "L" lens in the same range, so let me know what you think.
Thanks all,
CMH

[robertwgross]

I have that Canon lens. If you need one lens to cover a lot of zoomed focal length, then that is the one. I use it for probably 90% of everything while I am moving around in nature, from caterpillars to landscapes.

I snapped a bobcat on the trail the other evening after sunset. The 200mm end was almost too short. The open aperture was almost too slow.

However, any other lens of mine would have been too heavy, or too large and awkward, so I got the shot.

---Bob Gross---

[mwind13]

I used to use this lense -- liked it alot. Very versatile.

But as the previous post stated, there were times that I wanted a little more zoom. I tried using a 75-300 (for the extra zoom), but found that lense to be too slow.

Something to consider.

[John57]

I have this lens but do not think it is anywhere near as good as the 28-135IS....

I have had the USM version about 18 months but since using it with a 10D rather than an Eos 3 I noticed it is not as sharp as the other lens I use alot , the 28-135. It is OK but when I did a few tests found it to be worse in terms of sharpness than any of my other zooms covering this range. Having said that I do like the handling of it and the flexibility the range gives + whilst it's quality is not up to that of my wifes new Tamron 28-200 it does manages to focus quicker and rarely hunts. For me though the quality/sharpness issue means it will be going soon!

For info the other lenses I checked it against were a Tamron 28-200, 28-300 (both the new small versions) and the Canon 28-135IS. The pictures I took were at 70mm, 135mm and 200mm (apart from, obviously, the 28-135!) on a variety of apertures.

It really surprised me to find the Tamron was so good - if I was definitely after a 28-200 that would get my money.... as it is I just have to steal it from the wife!