Technically, you shouldn't use a lens like this to shoot paintings because it shouldn't be able to take pictures as sharp as a prime---however---the sharpness is simply amazing

It is a true workhorse lens for wedding photography, giving you a very useful combination of zoom and width, nice shallow depth of field with great sharpness at F2.8, and phenomenal build quality (after shooting an outdoor wedding in the pouring

Fabulous wide angle zoom, with exceptional sharpness throughout its range.

Not as heavy as the 70-200mm but still has great sharpness and not a bad zoom

this lens for optimal sharpness

Yes, it is true, as others have documented, it is heavy, but that is what you get with a 2.8 lens that has an extremely functional focal length,incredible sharpness and color rendition

The only improvements I would hope for in a future update would be IS and a little more sharpness at wide apertures near 70mm

This lens is heavier overall than what I'm used to, but the quality is exceptional and the images have more "substance" as well as sharpness.

Upside: great range, good sharpness, excellent color renditionI strongly recommend this over the 24-105 4.0L IS

Outstanding optics (sharpness, contrast

the sharpness of this lens is just amazing

At midrange, the images have superior sharpness to the 24-105, not to mention how fast it is (2.8 vs 4)

For around $380, this lens provides you with AMAZING portrait opportunities, incredible shallow depth of field with great sharpness at the focal points and silky smooth bokeh in the background

Image quality is tops: great colors and contrast as well as sharpness

I previously used the 24-105, but the size and the lack of zoom lock were intolerable for me, and the harsh sharpness downgrade every time I switched back from the 24-70 f2.8 was too painful

Once I realized I was no longer using Image Stabilized technology and changed settings on my camera to increase my shutter speed, the sharpness and the color came through and unleashed the potential this lens is capable of producing

The WOW factor was instant with it and the sharpness is incredible.

This lens required +5 Microadjustment (MA) at 24mm for optimal sharpness (was front focusing)

Sharpness in a well-calibrated copy is consistent across the frame and very good straight from f/4

It improved the sharpness of the photos a lot

It’s just such an amazing lens, sharpness is so clear and on point.

Great color, great sharpness.

has a (somewhat) better sharpness and contrast, visible only when enlarged though

Pros:- Outstanding sharpness, saturation, and bokeh- USM AF is fast and

L Lens looks like it ate my EF-S 17-85mm.

I like the versatility of my EF-S 17-85, but not happy with the ave colors or medium contrast or low end distortions

It is built like a tank, and I have taken it to the base of Niagara Falls (as wet as that is) with no issue whatsoever

The other functions of lens work as they should and everything is tight, down to the lens hood

or it's jut not as sharp as it sould be, specially for the price!

This immediately made me wonder as to why the broken parts were not discovered the first time Canon serviced, and why did the focus ring become loose

When I received my 24-70 f/2.8 lens, I was ecstatic to find that the results from my new L Glass zoom were every bit as impressive as from my prime lens.

F2.8 is not as sharp as the Canon 70-200 F2.8L but it is still way better than anything from other brands

L Lens looks like it ate my EF-S 17-85mm.

I like the versatility of my EF-S 17-85, but not happy with the ave colors or medium contrast or low end distortions

L Lens looks like it ate my EF-S 17-85mm.

I like the versatility of my EF-S 17-85, but not happy with the ave colors or medium contrast or low end distortions