Whaddya Think?

Three test shots from my newly-repaired Canon EF 28-135 f3.5-56 IS lens... the third lens element and auto-focus assembly being replaced... received back from Canon factory service about 45 minutes ago (as always, click for larger):

The shots were taken with a variety of settings. Both of the iris pictures were taken using the camera's macro setting (with a bad crop job on the second)... the top shot is 70% of actual size; the second is 100%. My Baby is 50% 0f normal size and was taken with a shutter-priority setting of 1/160 of a second, f8, ISO 200. All three shots were auto-focused.

I'm still not completely satisfied with this lens' performance, given the images aren't as sharp as one would expect... or perhaps demand... from a camera in this price range. I understand that telephoto lenses generally have a "softer" focus than a "normal" lens. So... it's with that knowledge in mind that I see a new lens in my future... more than likely a "standard" 50mm fixed-focal length lens.

Opinions, anyone?