One of Canon's best lenses

While this lens is expensive the focal length is excellent for all indoor shooting and it is nearly perfect for all shooting. This is a Canon "L" lens which makes it the best quality optics Canon has to offer. For some reason this lens lacks the Image Stabilizing feature and Canon does not make this lens with that feature.
This lens is pretty heavy as well. I use it with my Canon 7D body with a battery grip. The combined weight is substantial but this is not a point and shoot.
The price for a new lens is about $1500.00. You can get a used one in excellent condition for just under $1000.00. Provided it has not been mistreated and the seller has a good rating on ebay it's worth the risk to get this lens used.

Canon EF 24-70mm USM lens

This lens is outstanding. Very useful focal length and sharp as a tack. I believe Canon is bringing out an IS version of this lens, so you may want to wait to purchase that instead of this older model. That said, if you know how to take photos, this lens does a beautiful job w/o that feature. Well worth the money.

rgr

New or Used, This Lens is One You Need to Have!

I bought this lens to use with my Canon T2i. I have been told many times that it's better to invest in getting superior glass (lenses) for an average camera than to invest in a superior camera with only average lenses. The advice was right on. I can take incredible pictures with the "L" lenses that I have including the Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8L USM.

I was concerned about the crop factor with my T2i whereby I wouldn't be able to capture a wide angle close up shot (i.e., full torso or body at about 4 feet away). My worries were for naught. The difference is not really noticeable in these situations. This lens is really impressive. I was amazed by the picture quality and the ability to sharply focus on an object only a foot away.

Between this lens, the 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM, a 50mm F1.8, and 2x converter, I am set for almost any situation.

I would highly recommend adding this lens to your arsenal of lenses. Even a used lens can be a beaut and also saves you a bit of money.

Life Changing!!

This lens is by far the top of the line. Even on the 1.6x crop sensor of a canon 50D it still delivers a nicely wide 24mm on the wide end and a "perfect for portraits" 70mm on the zoom end. The optics in the canon L series are unmatched in my opinion, the Ultra Low Dispersion glass and the wide f/2.8 aperture allow you to get great crisp shots even in low light. I am a recent converter to Canon i have been through SONYs and Nikons and Minoltas but this lens makes me proud to be a canon shooter. It really gives me the confidence to go on a shoot and know that i am going to be coming back with the best pictures i could have possibly taken! This lens was worth every penny and more! It gave me a whole new perspective on life.

Expensive, Heavy, but worth the money if you can afford it.

Owned this lens for about a year and loved it! I parted with it only because the newer model came about. Image Quality on this version one was already great. The second version also has great IQ but it doesn't seem to be as well made as the first version. The second version is similar to the Canon 24-105 L f/4.0 IS in size and lens hood design. OK... it's a little heavier and bigger than the 24-105 and definitely lighter and smaller with hood than the version I. I actually like the original Version I lens hood than version II. Version I hood kept dusts out of the front of the lens better than version II and protected the lens better (if you believe lens hood also serves that function.)

These lens Version I is still commanding about the same price used as when they were new. That should indicate that the demand for these quality glass is still there. OK, version II is $700-$900 more than version I thus that may be one of the reasons why version I is still commanding a premium price. Even for the price, is it worth it? Yes - absolutely if you like great Image Quality go ahead and buy this lens. In a few years the depreciation will most likely be minor unless Canon comes out with version III.

Bottom line: Heavy, Expensive - Quality glass, quality made, OUTSTANDING IMAGE. If I had not upgraded to Version II of this Lens --- I would still be HAPPY with version I.