The lens feels solid in my hand, quite well built. But I hate the "valvety" paint they use on the barrel, looks weird and difficult to clean. The IQ is decent for a lens this price. Relatively soft at f/2.8, improve noticeably at f/5.6-f/8. Since I only use f/2.8 for portraits, a little soft is not a big problem. Bokeh is average, nothing to write home about. I like the close focus feature of this lens, just perfect to fill the frame with a rose (see above). If you buy this, do not expect it to perform like the Nikon 24-70G with Nano Coating ($1700+). For making prints that are 16"x24" or smaller, this is a great lens. Pro: Good Color, Good Contrast, Acceptable Distortion, Fast and sure AF, Average Bokeh, Solidly built; Con: Quite soft at f/2.8, Yucky velvet paint, below average flare control, 82mm filter size.

• How did the image on site compare with the actual product? Same
• Was the product free of any manufacturer defects? Yes
• Please tell us about the quality of the product. Solidly Built.