This lens has the construction of the V.II lens, with the better aperture leaves arrangement as seen in the photos shown in the link of the original post...the MACRO lettering on the barrel RATHER than the FLOWER icon identifies this lens as such....
From Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org …_EF_28%E2%80%93105mm_lens
There are three versions of this lens. The original lens has a five-blade diaphragm and was manufactured in Japan until 1999. The second version (from 1999-2002) featured an improved 7 blade aperture with metal replacing plastic on many of the zoom components and "MACRO" instead of a flower marking the side. There was no "II" marking on the bezel yet, but "LENS MADE IN JAPAN" was clearly stamped on the opposite side of the bezel. The Japanese version is considered the most collectible, as it was still manufactured in their primary lens factory in Japan.The third version (from 2003-2010) was manufactured and assembled in Taiwan with a 7 blade aperture, MACRO on the side, a textured case, "II" added to the description on the bezel. "Made in Taiwan" was stamped on the base of the lens. There was a final variation during the last 3 years of production where they replaced all of the gold lettering on the case with all white lettering (to cut costs).
The official MK II version is not as collectible/valuable as this one.
My Canon kit 450D/s90; Canon lenses 18-55 IS, 70-210/3.5-4.5....Nikon kit: D610; 28-105/3.5-4.5, 75-300/4.5-5.6 AF, 50/1.8D Nikkors, Tamron 80-210; MF Nikkors: 50/2K, 50/1.4 AI-S, 50/1.8 SeriesE, 60/2.8 Micro Nikkor (AF locked), 85mm/1.8K-AI, 105/2.5 AIS/P.C, 135/2.8K/Q.C, 180/2.8 ED, 200/4Q/AIS, 300/4.5H-AI, ++ Tamron 70-210/3.8-4, Vivitar/Kiron 28/2, ser.1 70-210/3.5, ser.1 28-90; Vivitar/Komine and Samyang 28/2.8; 35mm Nikon F/FM/FE2, Rebel 2K...HTC RE UWA camera
