interesting that the 1st lens up for review is the canon kit lens mkII. it would seem, based on the added cost for IS in their other lenses, that this one might be a loss leader for canon in the hopes of getting people to buck up for the pricer IS models of their other lens offerings. the IS in the new kit lens added about $75 or so to the initial cost, whereas IS in other lenses can add HUNDREDS to the cost. very curious move.
Not curious to me. It's the same reason Nikon has released kit lenses with IS in the last few months. Sony, Pentax and Olympus all offer in-body stabilization, and I would venture to say that a good percentage of people who move up from P&S (It's the Image Quality, not the MP) for better pictures will not buy another lens*. Nikon has a two lens kit for their D40 crowd, and Canon has the 55-200 IS (which was announced for PMA 08, but was already announced last year, it's just not available in the U.S. yet, except via gray market) to capture the people who want image stabilization with their purchase. Right now Calumet has a special on the D40x 2 lens kit. Canon seems to think their 28-135 IS is a great fit with APS-C and is the main lens included with the 30/40D kits. (look at Canon USA's website and tell me what lens is on the 30 and 40D cameras) * which is why every major Camera manufacturer** has a 18-200 lens with or without built in IS. Even the third party lens manufacturers have jumped on the bandwagon. **Except for Canon as of January 2008, who is holding out hope that their venerable 28-200 that was released in late 2000 will still catch on. Hint: your lens was a little late to the party. And it needs to be updated.
