I'm a part time professional photographer, and a self-labelled prime lens snob. However, in the interests of client satisfaction, for certain gigs I needed more flexibility than 3 prime lenses could offer.Initially I believed an f4 maximum aperture would be a handicap. This proves to be false, in the case of this lens. When mounted on a full frame body, performance seems superior even to the f2.8...Breakdown of pros and cons:Pros:-extremely well priced-optically delivers better results than a borrowed f2.8L-quiet and responsive AF usable even for video.-IS seems effective down to about 1/15 sec.-macro switch is a nice touch, though takes some getting used to-lightweight and relatively discreet-rugged enough to be caught in a shower/use in dusty natural environmentsCons:My version arrived in a plain box with no warranty card. I'm assuming it's a grey import.-zoom action feels a little coarse, would be problematic for serious movie making.-external zoom can be annoying when using on a light body such as RP or crop sensor.-macro is useful, but the switch is a little worrisome until user becomes habituated.-the styling is a bit old fashioned which is not surprising. This is not a recent iteration but a tried and tested formula. I tend to tape over the logos and superfluous writing in any case so this is a non-issue for me.My uses:-Hobby, including aviation and nature/landscape shots.-location photography for events and commercial purposes-weddings, as a wide and close portrait/group lens when moving around is not an option.Perfect for a hobby photographer to take on a stroll. It would more than deliver great results under wide ranging conditions... even on a crop sensor body the lens would provide a good focal range and a relatively decent weight ratio.