The IS works very well indeed -- as low as 1/5 @28mm and 1/15 at 135mm for me. The range seems good, the sharpness decent (at least coming from Contax fixed length lenses) for a zoom.

Canon needs a pro model of this lens. It is fairly durable, but feels a little loose in construction. Also, it sucks too much battery power -- they need a setting that allows the lens to go into IS mode if you drop under the inverse rule, and only then. There are still some places in the world where AA batteries don't grow on trees...

In this case, you get more than what you pay for. I was a skeptic, buying the lens when it first came out to replace my stolen gear, and coming from using Contax lenses. Now i'm a total convert to IS. As everyone else has been saying, if you get only one lens, let this be the one. For travel photography, this is doubly true. With good 400asa film, you can go pretty much anywhere sans tripod. It's a bit heavy and bulky (internal focussing would be a godsend for this lens), but look at it this way, it's a lot lighter than a tripod and a bunch of other lenses. And after a while you won't even notice that weird grinding noise :)

Customer Service

Not needed (yet?)

Similar Products Used:

Contax fixed focal length lenses, Canon 20-35mm and 28-70mm

IS allows me to handheld shoot at 1/15sec (@ 135mm), worth the money
Very verstile zoom range

weight, price (compares to EF28-105)

Can't tell the difference on a 4X loupe between this lens and the 28-80 IV USM. However, IS is great if weight is not an issue.
Also a great travel lens.

Similar Products Used:

None

The IS is an Excellent feature. Great utility focal length.

Small maximum aperature, not constant throughout focal length.

Although this lens shouldn't and couldn't be compared to the "L" series pro lenses, it is a great buy. I used the IS for some holiday lights night shots and night club band photos with no tripod and had very sharp pictures. I wish this feature would be offered on more of the "L" lenses. If you're looking for a utility, inexpensive, short zoom to keep on your camera, this is it.

Customer Service

None needed yet. Canon has a pretty good reputation here.

Similar Products Used:

28-80 EF (yuck), 200 2.8L, 100-300 5.6, 135 2.0L, 24 2.8, almost all Canon FD manual focus lenses

IS works very well. Quite sharp.

When zoome in, the widest aperture decrease rather fast (e.g. f3.5 at 28mm --> f5.0 at 70mm). However it's not a big deal because IS can help. Filter size is too big (72mm).

A little bit expensive but it's worth owning anyway. IS is obviously useful. The quality is quite good.

Customer Service

I've never had problem with this lens.

Similar Products Used:

None

The image stabilizer feature is just wonderful. The other day I was shooting some portraits without my flash and I handheld 1/30 at 135mm. Sharp as could be. Amazing.

72mm filters are expensive. It is strange to have a lens that makes a noise.

AWESOME LENS. Kinda expensive, but worth every penny.

Customer Service

Not needed.

Similar Products Used:

There is nothing like it.

Image stabilization function works wonderfully. Fast auto focus and internal focusing with non-rotating front element is terrific when using filters. Sharp in most focal range

pricey at 2x the price of 28-105, but worth it.

One great lens that everyone should own one! IS works better than Canon advertises.

Customer Service

na

Similar Products Used:

canon 28-105, 75-300 Is

This is an amazing lens. I can shoot at 135mm at 1/15 of a second on average with no tripod - IS works better than advertised. Very useful zoom range, and sharp as far as "consumer" lenses go, although I would say this lens blurs the line between consumer and pro.

Could be a little sharper I think. Pretty big lens to tote around, but well worth it.

My favorite must have lens. It lives on the camera and I use it for everything, and the IS lets me take shots that would have been impossible to get otherwise. I cannot imagine not having IS on a lens (Ihave several non-IS lenses and they always leave me wishing for IS...) and I wish all the lenses I had had IS. If you want an all purpose workhorse lens that you can do anything with, the 28-135 IS is it - worth the money.

Customer Service

Never had a problem.

Similar Products Used:

Tamron 28-200, Canon 28-105... for me this lens replaces a Canon FD 35-70 L, it rplaces it and then some.

This lens has great sharpness, a nice focal length range, and the Image Stabilizer does all Canon says it will- it's great! USM autofocus is super fast.

My only complaint would be the small maximum aperture.

Very nice all-around lens- it's on my camera almost all the time. Even with IS, I still prefer a 50 f/1.4 for low light work. When Canon makes this lens into a 2.8 aperture L series, they will have made the perfect all around lens.

Customer Service

Haven't needed any. Can't say that about my Sigmas.

Similar Products Used:

Several Sigma and Canon zooms.

Very good performance at all focal lenghts. The IS mechanism is AWESOME! I have been able to shot at 1/8 sec. at 28mm. on a monopod with no blur.

No.

It is not recommended to use this lens with IS turned on on a tripod, or for a long time shots.

Customer Service

Not tested.

Similar Products Used:

None.

Since I consider such a zoom range as 'travel' range, I shall compare this with my Tamron 28-200mm f/3.8-5.6 LD/IF.
1.IS is indeed god-send as reviewed by many others. I hv tested the lens under various situations and I hv on many occasions achieved very acceptable sharpness /detail @135mm; 1/10sec, handheld under low light conditions! Overall sharpness/detail at other focal lengths is good - very good.
2.Flare is well controlled (which was a big pain in the *** with my Tamron .
3.Focusing is very swift and quiet (compared with the high pitch whirr of the Tamron & imagine yourself in a museum).
4.IF - which is most useful when using cir pol. (Tamron also has IF)
5.FTM - or Full Time Manual control
6.Reasonably well built

1.When inverted (which is how I keep it in my bag), the lens barrel tends to slide out. (Am I the only one?)
2.Noticable barrel effect at edges (esp when shooting buildings).
3.72mm makes filters an expensive endeavour. Thus if u hv many consumer grade Canon lenses (usually 58mm), u'll hv to reinvest heavily in 72mm.
4.Expensive lens
5.Hood is optional

I'm a frequent outdoor person and like to travel light(i.e without a tripod or monopod). This 28-135mm IS is almost the ideal 'one-lens' solution - versatile zoom range and IS capability. It performs as described and pictures are sharp.

In terms of value for money - for producing consistently sharp pics under existing light while travelling (esp. museums or night scenes), IS maybe a worthwhile price to pay. I wud recommend this as a ideal travel lens (if u can only bring one lens).

Something I can't understand is why the hood cost a bomb. USD30 (excld tax) for a piece of plastic. But definitely useful when shooting in open spaces and towards/near a light source.

I had a whirlwind romance/experience with the Tamron 28-200mm during my travels and the IS feature of the 28-135m certainly won me over.

Customer Service

None.

Similar Products Used:

Canon 28-80mm V USM f/3.5-5.6
Canon 28-105mm USM f/3.5-4.5
Tamron 28-200mm LD/IF
f/3.8-5.6 (for Canon)
Minolta 28-80mm
f/3.5-5.6
Minolta 70-210mm
f/4-5.6