I have something tocompare with - I used the first version of this lens for 10 years. I really liked it, althoughcompared to the second version, the picture was more blurred, the bokeh was more "torn". The first version of the lens is very vacuum (due to the "pump" design). For 10 years,comllected enough dust. As a result, the sharpness has fallen even further. I can’t say anything about the dust resistance of the new lens yet - I’ve only been using it for six months. The sharpness of the new lens is excellent, its reserve is enough to use the x1.4comnverter, although autofocus becomes slow and not very accurate (with sealedcomntacts on 7D). I was struck by the work of the new stabilizer and the minimum focusing distance - 0.98m (and, as I understand it, this is the distance from the camera's matrix, from the front lens - 60-70 cm, why not a telemacro lens! ) The new lens eliminates the "ghosting" of a small moving subject in backlitcomnditions and the appearance of outlining that was sometimes present on the old version. (I sinned on the installed protective filter, but now I use it on a new lens, so it turned out to be nothing to do with it). In general, the new lens is at least an order of magnitude, or even two, better than the first version. I strongly recommend. Photo samples can be viewed at the link: