Having owned the 17-40L, 16-35L and 15mm FE, I guess you can say I have a thing for UWA lenses. I've always been tempted by the original 14L, but was quite pleased with the results I was acheiving with the 16-35L at the time. Plus, I could hardly justify the cost. Fast forward to 2007 and Canon introduces the 14L II. This lens comes on the heels of the 16-35L II, which is reportedly a nice improvement over the mark I version as well. Those seeking a fast sharp UWA solution now have several great options to choose from. I was pretty much dead set on acquiring the 16-35L II, but recently sold all my zooms in favor of shooting primes exclusively. Then along comes the 14L II and many wondered if this lens will address the shortcomings of the original mark I version. While I can't compare this to the original version, I will say that I've been quite impressed with the performance so far. The images have been incredibly sharp even wide open. Yeah you'll get some distortion at the edges, but this is the nature of the beast when you're talking about UWA lenses. I concur that this lens is sharp from corner to corner and the colors and contrast is everything you'd expect from an L lens. The lens is incredibly wide on FF and there is just so much potential to be creative as you want to be. I love it. The build quality is incredible. A very solid lens. The built-in hood works well by design, and the improved lens cap works great. Makes you wonder why it was never implemented to begin with and if Canon will make one for the 15mm FE as well. Of course the front element protrudes, so you'll have to be careful about handling the lens. I haven't noticed any significant aberations, but I haven't really run it through its paces either. I plan to take it out this weekend and get some shots outdoors. I'm really anxious to see how it handles flare and CA, but based on reviews so far I expect it to perform exceptionally well. I will still rate this lens a 10 based on what I've seen in less than extreme conditions. I will conduct a more comprehensive follow up review after I've had it for a while longer. I plan on using this lens for urban landscapes, dramatic shots of interiors and people shots primarily. This is a very niche lens, so you have to weigh your options carefully before investing in this glass. There are many great alternatives to choose from and they won't set you back as much as this lens will. But if you need absolutely the best fast UWA prime that's not fishy, you would be wise to save your pennies and invest in this glass. Canon has done good.
I think I need to go re-read the recent 
