I really like the reach of this lens. I wouldnt want to carry a lens much bigger than this. I never thought 2.4 pounds would feel that heavy but after a few hours it does. The autofocus is a little slow and can easily miss. Some shots require manual focus. The IS is worth the extra $. When you look through the viewfinder you can see the view wobbling and then when IS activates it stops instantly.

A must have for this camera. First time I picked up my XSi I put a finger print right on the screen. I was able to remove all the smudges with the included cloth. I have been very happy with it. It adds a slight insignificant amount of glare in sunlight but nothing like the screenshots of the other ones listed here. It is a lot better at keeping off smudges and scratches then the screen itself.

An extra battery is essential with digital cameras. Battery life is quite good. Remote shooting via usb drains these fairly quickly but the Canon EOS Utility warns you well in advance when its running low.

Well I'm not so sure it is a Precision Lens hood. According to the package it is from a Hong Kong company named Jenis. Sometimes its hard to attach to the lens but if you align it right it has no wobble or other problems. It works fine for a lot cheaper then the $100 they want from Canon. It seems to be made of good quality solid feeling plastic. The cleaning kit does the job well.