My workhorse lens
I've purchased this Tamron lens back in 2006 and it has been my favorite go-to lens ever since. My brother in-law is a prime Canon L lens snob (lol), but even he gets amazed with some of the photos I've taken with this versatile zoom lens. I don't mind the plastic construction at all since it ends up being very light-weight and it has been perfectly sturdy over the years. I find it amusing that the price of the lens has been steadily increasing over the years, but it's not surprising given its performance and quality. I have several primes of my own, but I hardly ever grab those other than for specific needs such as for wide angle or for telephoto. This lens will give you the L glass performance at a fraction of the price. Please see my hummingbird photos for examples.