Compact and lightweight compared to the Canon 24-70 f/2.8 II lens, the f/4 offers a 4-stop hybrid IS system (Canon’s best IS), 2 aspheric and 2 UD elements, a 9-blade circular diaphragm for beautiful, soft backgrounds, weather sealing, and fingerprint and smudge resistant fluorine coating on both front and rear elements.
Its most interesting feature is a macro mode that is accessed through a one-touch switch, allowing the lens to give 0.7x magnification focusing as close as 8 inches from the front element (normal close focusing distance is 1.25 feet). Compact and lightweight, it’s a great standard-range travel lens, with the added bonus of being a macro lens, too. A great run and gun lens.