I was able to take this one out a few weeks ago and I have to say, I love this lens! I was concerned about the non IS but I ended up forgetting about that once I saw the shots. There was plenty of light even though it was a bit over cast and the lens performed very well. It is very light for it's size.
The Zoom ring is nice and large and I never had to search for it when I was addressing a shot. The ring was very smooth when turning and I could tell the quality was an L. The only drawback that I could think of was the overall length. It wasn't that much of a big deal for me as I'd be taking this one for outdoor shots anyways.
The colors and crispness of the shots were outstanding. I would highly recommend this lens.
Excellent Zoom! 
