No lens will make you a pro photographer by itself, as with any tool, you must learn how to use it and how to properly do the job you are attempting to do-- with that being said, this lens has gone a long way in improving the quality of my images, I love it's ability to produce a great bokeh and focus on the subject with great results

The focal length works very well for portrait work and allows you to work from quite a distance from your subject, which is nice for people that are not used to being in front of the camera, as they don't feel like you're right in their face!Pros: Great quality, tack sharp, shallow DOF, and nice bokeh.

I was concerned there would not be enough bokeh

First, the bokeh is better with the mark I lens (already documented on other sites).

It is unusually fast for a telephoto zoom, and has the sharpness and attractive bokeh we have learned to expect from L lenses

I use it for my senior shoots and weddings because I love the bokeh

The colors that come out of this lens are accurate and vibrant, and the bokeh it produces is genuinely beautiful.

I am pleased to say the bokeh is beautiful on this lens.

Great for distance portrature as it creates nice bokeh and makes subjects more comfortable because you're not in their faces.

While it is quite large and somewhat heavy, I have been able to hand hold it very comfortably and the images, portraits in particular are spectacular - sharp, with fantastic color and bokeh.

This thing better have some pretty spectacular bokeh because that is all it has over the f/4

The extra stop of light from the F4 does make a big difference in low light situations and the bokeh is beautiful

Tack-sharp images with great color saturation and beautiful bokeh at every focal length.

Absolute amazing lens with superior bokeh.

I personally shoot DSLR video with it the most and its a beautiful interview lens with such detail and beautiful bokeh

Beautiful bokeh, sharp as a tack- just all round gorgeous hunk of glass!Canon did not disappoint--I couldn't be happier!:D

Incredibly sharp; subjects visually pop from the background; fast; great bokeh.

I just love the bokeh I get wide-open

Beautiful bokeh and background compression

Clarity/sharpness is excellent, with wonderful bokeh and contrast.

It's fantastic for portraits I even sold my slow 85 1.2 because in my opinion this does what that does and more , just as good bokeh but better auto focus and even though it's just as heavy the 70-200 is more ergonomic.

As you would expect it is very sharp, the autofocus is extremely fast and the bokeh is awesome

Very fast focus able to capture birds mid flight (7D) and nice bokeh

The autofocus is fast and precise produces very sharp photos and great bokeh

Tack sharp with great Bokeh!

For portraits, you get excellent bokeh at 200mm / f2.8 (the smooth background blur where your subject is in focus)For those upgrading from the original Canon EF 70-200mm

The focal length works very well for portrait work and allows you to work from quite a distance from your subject, which is nice for people that are not used to being in front of the camera, as they don't feel like you're right in their face!Pros: Great quality, tack sharp, shallow DOF, and nice bokeh.

At that point, just decide if doubling the available light and getting more bokeh is worth $1,000.

It is MUCH sharper than my 24-70L. Unbelievable bokeh as well

They're a lot more money, but the bokeh is to die for

The bokeh (the out of focus background) is soft and pleasant

This thing better have some pretty spectacular bokeh because that is all it has over the f/4

It's super tack sharp, renders beautiful colors and creamy smooth Bokeh.

The bokeh and razor thin depth of field is incredible

It is excellent in low light situations, has a beautiful BOKEH that adds amazing dimension and clarity of subject, plus is great for portraiture.

However, if you plan on using it for portraits you're not going to want to miss out on the extremely smooth bokeh

The pictures quality is brilliant and the bokeh is very nice

Wide open it produces impressive bokeh and a gentle softness on the subject.

I suggest a B&W UV filter to protect the front

Now that the price has come down, about $130 from the original price, that should pay for a good B+W 77mm UVA (Ultra Violet

A B+W UV Haze Filter (77mm) is absolutely necessary to protect the lens element and please do not settle for a UV filter of lesser quality