How good is the 24-105 f4 L IS USM?

How good is the 24-105 f4 L IS USM? I have 350D and am thinking of moving up from EFS 17-85. Does it make a good walk around lens?
Would appreciate comments - and samples if possible.

From what ive read the 24-105 L IS is great! I knwo im waiting to get one!

Well it's between the 24-105 and the 70-200 (both IS) that fight for the time on my camera. The 24-105 is a great sharp lens that's perfect for a walk around lens. Sure would be nice if it was slightly wider but for quality it's superb. Great contrast and colour and as I said sharpness is great.

JD

Love mine.
Stays on the camera most of the time.

I'm not sure exactly how to quantify "how good it is", but I can honestly say that I absolutely love mine! It helps get awesome pictures and the IS works great (my best example of how IS works is at 1/15 at 47mm, cropped slightly and printed to 11x14, still extremely sharp, link to shot: http://www.pbase.com/b​oss351/image/54159823).

While it's not a great axample of what this lens can do (nothing I post here will be due to the size) I wanted to show what the IS can help you with.

I've never looked back after buying this lens, never had a regret about it. Based on my experience with it I'd highly recommend it.

For years the 28-135 was my walk around. Now the 24-105 is what I grab for everyday use (or Puerta Vallarta).

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I'll 2nd that! Fab walkaround lens, great colour, contrast and if like mine very sharp The only thing I wish it had is a zoom lock like (if I remember correctly) a Tamron zoom has or had. I find when I'm walking with it the lens barrel tends to extend out on its own.

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Its my numero uno lens, very versatile and optically outstanding

fantastic walk around. perfect when you dont want all your gear with you. heck it performs outright fantastic.

Hi Paul. Just what I was wishing. My 70-300 DO has the zoom lock. It would be nice to have on the 24-105.

Thanks all for your valuable feedback - greatly appreciated. The overall impression I get - from this forum and also other sources - is that's it's a superb lens with great image quality. Although it's not cheap, I reckon it would be worth the outlay, especially if I sell 17-85 privately.
And if I ever go full frame it would be an ideal companion for 5d (or 6D whenever this comes out!).

Well I got mine back in May and have been very impressed with this lens. Build quality, colors, very sharp even from f/4. Its a keeper for me.

Here are a few samples from my collection

My one does seem to be good, better than spec at 105mm possibly, of course I have only measured it with a crop camera. You can also see it compared with other lenses I have at that link.

I thought about getting this lense myself as a general walk around "keep on the camera" lense.. but decided to go with the Tamron 28-105 F2.8 SP instead.

With Canon's USM (fast focus speed) + IS (2 Stop Gain in Hand Held) it might have made up for the F4 vs. F2.8 difference... but I really like my Tamron .. though I did initially have some worries about crispness of the image until I used it for the first time... also about half the cost of the Canon at just about $650 last I checked and the Canon is about $1100.

Christopher