The original manufacturer's suggested retail price was ¥180000 (equivalent to ¥188,239 in 2019).

Among standard zoom lenses, it is known for very good contrast and sharpness and for its extremely low chromatic aberration and barrel distortion.

Like many other zoom lenses, it exhibits some barrel distortion at the wide end of its range.

When used with the supplied "petaled" lens hood, which attaches to a non-moving part of the lens, this extension results in a properly matched shade at every angle of view.

Most zoom lens hoods are designed for only the widest angle of view, offering progressively inadequate shade at longer focal lengths.