A lot of light, but unfortunately also some shadows

I have this lens indulged himself last year at Christmas, as it very well corresponds to the focal length range in which I like to work and also for low light conditions and night scenes is very well suited. The weight I find very pleasant, one or the other, it may perhaps be too heavy with about 650g.

Since there are now countless and independent testing (such as [...]), and are also some good reviews here, I need nothing more to say about function.
Here I therefore write my experiences to this objective. Unfortunately, it did not stop at a ...

1.Objektiv:
Unpacked and ???
Either it had previously already another customer, or, more recently, the employees at Canon are somewhat inattentive, because the lens was in spite of fit items are packed loose in there.
As I look at the lens first, then I also had already noted several large dust particles behind the front lens.
And then there were strange smears seen by the temperature difference, which looked after any greasy window cleaner.

I had so far in any new lens. So it was definitely already in someone else. And the one who was able to apparently not handle because perfumed lenses are completely unknown to me (or Canon's new lemon fragrance).

Now the actual test the optical performance:
Beautiful cold and sunny day, so get out and do practice tests. Attached to the 40D and off you go. I then once briefly the most common of my focal lengths (17, 24, 35, 50) at f 2.8 - tested by 16 and AF compared with MF. So exemption of individual objects to the landscape. Zuhaus computer then the disillusionment.
The left side was fine (vignette from full aperture to f5.6 was already known) but the right side is not. Even in Aperture 11 and 16 (17 and 24mm), actually for landscapes ideal the right side was only mud. Like a veil, almost 2/3 of the picture plane of focus and even in manual focus were (left third of the MF very sharp right part mud).
At the maximum aperture lot to me also the unequal vignetting on.

I then plugged in my 600D and seeks the Vignette Control the camera. Works perfectly only the sharpness of problems remained. Amazingly, were on the 600D the images with AF all, even the left, slightly out of focus. Whether JPEG or RAW ...
In manual mode, it was not any better. I also had the impression that it hooked up something in 30mm.
At the lens mechanism so something is wrong and the AF therefore seems quite often to lie beside.

So back as faulty and get very good service by the Amazon staff via e-mail and of course replacement.

2.Objektiv:
It was really packed, new, without strange smell and wiping traces and after the first tests is all very well balanced, just what I would expect at this price.

After the first 120 frames, the following assessment on my part:

++ Image quality
++ Autofocus precision and barely perceptible
++ Damped focus ring (runs very smoothly) with full-time engagement in AF
+ Scattered light sensitivity (thanks to the Streulichblende even better)
(To photograph even more opportunities in low light) + Image Stabilizer
+ Workmanship of the plastic housing (to be expected with the price also)
o bokeh (blur course) in extreme light and contrast situations a bit restless, top with soft contrasts
- Price for a EF-S slightly very high because no splashing water and dust (since there are then the EF 17-40 / 4.0 L USM for 200 less, with restrictions on panel, IS (would be great in my opinion) and the light intensity )
- Streulichblende not included in the price (as Canon should after more than twenty years, finally it come at the price anyway)

So, except for the I think something very high price an APS-C lens and the well-known shortcoming of the missing lens hood but predominantly positive properties.

The delivered 1.Objektiv was in my previous 12 lenses (used and new) in the course of the past decade, the first, which had technical faults. More than 95% of all lenses on the market are error-free and will have high expectations and incorrect operation declared only through forums hysteria as faulty. And if, as in my case is really so, then these parts will be returned not again be defective, so that the next customer then caught.

Conclusion:

Errors can occur because people are in play.
For the creative photography of landscape, architecture and party shots in buildings and even in night shots, it makes a lot of fun.

Update 2014:
Now, after several hundred Night photography (tripod as freehand) I must also certify the lens a very good Streulichtunemofindlichkeit. I use it now as a quasi Always plan and also do not miss longer focal length, as I have for a very good telephoto.