Good choice! IMO, it's a great lens and one of the best values in the Canon lineup. Excellent for tight portraits and shooting action in low light.


Like Sean, it was the first lens I bought after the lens that 'came with' my camera (I skipped the kit lens and got the 17-55mm straight off, and I concur that it's the best general purpose zoom for an APS-C body). I did sell my 85mm f/1.8, but only after getting the 85mm f/1.2<span style="color: #ff0000;"]L II. I love the 85L, but I do sometimes miss the small, light, and fast-focusing 85/1.8. Its only real flaw is a susceptibility to LoCA (aka purple-green fringing) in OOF specular highlights (chrome, sunlit water, even catchlights in eyes from a flash) when shot wide open. But all ultrafast lenses suffer from LoCA, L-series included, if to a lesser degree. Just something to be aware of as you compose shots.


Enjoy the new lens - and your vacation!!


--John