OMGosh it's like I just got a whole new camera, it might be a dream but it's waaaaayyyyy better when using the IS off than ever before; this brings back both the 85 1.2 and 135 2 into serious consideration.
This is absolutely thrilling but I assumed I would hate walking around with it hanging from my neck. A couple of weeks ago I got one of the POTN neck straps-do it, they are very convenitent and comfortable and I'd hesitated because the photos make them look so big, they are not-just a little wider where the pad is than the original Canon strap and soo comfortable. This is in reference to having it hanging around my neck, the only way I use a strap as I only carry one camera.
So I did some tests with the 24-105 and came away feeling that I hardly need to think about IS if I can still shoot at 1/30th of a second, even at 105mm, but I will leave the IS on all the time like I usually do.
Maybe it's just because it's new and you pay more attention when something is new but I'm convinced this is a hugely excellent tool. And I'd had trepidations because some had said they were not solid and they could feel flex, well they must have changed something in the design because it's as if it was built as part of the camera.
And yes there will be sometimes I'll want to go light, it's rock solid on my camera and feels fantastic but the camera felt good with everything but the heaviest of my lenses before so there will probably be times I have it off.
But there is another thing that is very noticable, it's the way the camera is now balanced with the lenses, I've caught myself shooting vertical shots and forgetting and putting my hand up on the top and it's more solid doing that as well as using my hand on the side, pretty interesting, it just overall gives greater balance and confidence.
