Review on Black Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM Lens - Model 1380C002 by James Cabot

I read technical reviews and knew what to expect in terms of sharpness and performance. I will only report three things that differ slightly from my expectations. The lock button only locks the zoom in the retracted position. It does not block the zoom in any position. Aside from the lens hood, one of my biggest disappointments with the 24-105mm version I was that the zoom would slip when aiming at the subject. Canon tightened my old lens for me, but it still wasn't as tight as I'd like it to be. I was hoping for a zoom lock feature on the Canon 100-400mm f/4-5.6, but with a switch instead of a ring. On the plus side, the zoom in Version II is nice and stiff, but it's also easy to rotate, so hopefully it won't creep when used. Pleasant to the touch - firm and smooth.2. While I know the lens is a bit heavier, it doesn't really feel like it. Feels like the old model.3. Pleasant surprise: hood. The Version I lens hood of the 24-105mm lens was cumbersome to attach and remove, as was the case with some other older Canon lenses. The new hood is easy to put on and stays firmly in place. This is a huge improvement. There is a small button on the lens hood that you can press to release the lens hood for unscrewing, similar to the 100-400mm f/4-5.6 II lens hood. The new lens hood has a cheaper inner workings - it's a matte plastic instead of the darker light absorbing felt of the I version lens hood. The darker felt in the I version not only absorbed light better but also attracted dust, which was actually a good feature -Dust has not gotten on the lens. I have a slight fondness for the old inner hood treatment, but I'll bet in practice no one can tell them apart. Other comments: I've experimented with the image stabilization and it seems to be more stable than the old model.