Great lens from Canon! You can shoot both macro 1:1 (the image of the subject on the matrix will be the same size as in life), and portraits with a beautifully blurred background due to the 9-blade rounded aperture. Very fast and accurate autofocus and amazing stabilizer! At normal distances, it gives 4 stops to shutter speed, and allows you to take clear handheld shots at shutter speeds up to 1/20 sec! At macro, two to three stops, depending on the magnification. There were a few mentions of a plastic case in previous reviews - yes, I would like to see metal with a beautiful coloration like all L's. But the quality of the plastic is excellent, and most importantly, under it, the groups of lenses are still in a metal glass. There is almost no chromaticity (or it is not noticeable), excellent geometry and picture clarity. This is one of the best Canon fixes for clarity across the entire aperture range used (2.8 - 16). With an average cost of 35,000, it gives an absolutely amazing picture! I highly recommend if you decide to replenish your kit with a fix for portraits! Insects and flowers in nature can also become an object of your interest after purchasing this lens.