Offering improved performance in many areas over its predecessor, the EF 70-200 2.8L USM, this new lens features Image Stabilizer technology, improved autofocus performance and high levels of dust and moisture resistance. The new lens, with its enhanced performance and Image Stabilizer technology, is sure to set the benchmark for professional level telephoto zoom lenses.
Using this lens, your pictures will be amasingly cristal clear. It is fast and sharp. I'm using only this lens now to take portrait, outside sport events, nature photography...
If you can afford its price, go for it. Anyone can buy it, some just have to work longer than others to aford it.
Strength
Crytal clear picture,
Fast,
strong body
Weakness
Beside its price, I would say the only weakness would be its weight. It is not that bad at the beginning but after a long time around your neck, you will feel it.
This lens shines in daylight photos in clarity, color reproduction/accuracy, sharpness, auto focus times, everything lets just say. The lens also works well in dark settings, and produces reasonable and usable images all the way up to 1/15th f/2.8 @ ISO1600 for me. The IS kicks in and keeps shots perfect all the way down to what I've found to be reasonable for me, 1/6th of a second.
Strength
Sharpness: This lens is tack sharp, both indoors and out, be it in the light or in the dark! It is well worth its hefty price tag and is a lens to be carried at all times. If it was shorter, it would be my permanent walk-around lens. The precision in which the auto focus locks on and focuses in daylight is none like I've seen before. In darker situations, it tends to hunt on my 350D, but thats understandable that the body is probably the equipment at fault.
Image Stabilization: I couldn't live without it. I was questioning myself if the IS was really necessary and I have to say it was worth every single cent I spent on it. If it wasn't for the IS, I wouldn't have been able to take photos this past night of an important ceremony. I was stressing the camera and lens @ 1/45th sec, f/2.8 @ ISO 1600, and without that, I would have had many toss out photos. If you think twice about it, honestly, you're foolish to choose anything but the IS version.
Color reproduction: This lens is quite accurate in transmitting colors to the sensor. The colors I see on the subject are what show up on the screen after taking the photo. I know a lot depends on monitor calibration, but I do say, this lens is much more accurate than my non L glass lenses.
Zoom Range: For a lens this size, the zoom range is quite long. 70-200mm is a nice lens to carry around on an outing, family picnic, vacation tour, anything where you'll be moving a lot. The 70mm end works well for portraits and an occasional group shot(if you have room.) The 200mm end, on the other hand, provides a zoom end which is easily in reach with just a simple twist of the zoom collar.
Weakness
Zoom collar tightness: I find it hard to hold the lens and body with two hands, and adjust the zoom at the same time, while keeping the subject in the frame. It takes a twist and a half to get the collar and zoom moving towards the tele end. Coming back wide is much easier. Not sure if thats how its supposed to be.
That would have to be my only nit pick. Everything else about the lens is perfect. It could quite possibly be that I just got a tight rotating unit.
Visitors rate this review
5.00 out of 5
after 4 votes
This should really be an easy review to write as this lens is faultless.
I finally bought this lens after borrowing one a couple of years ago.
SIZE & WEIGHT: If you think this lens is going to be small and lightweight then you're a fool. It's a metal bodied 70-200 lens with IS and an aperture of f2.8. It's going to be large & heavy no matter what. I hate tripods but I still find the lens perfectly hand holdable. However I'm quite a large man (6ft 3", 14.5 stone). A smaller person may struggle with it after a while. It's mainly the f2.8 that makes it so heavy due to the large elements. If you think you'll struggle you may be better off with the f4.0 version.
BUILD: Impossible to fault. Built like a tank. Water resistant and dust proof. Very high quality finish and super smooth zoom and focus rings. Could not be better in any way in my opnion.
AF: The autofocus is nothing short of amazing. Extremely silent & fast for a telephoto zoom lens. Its real strength is in its ability to track moving objects. Select all of your focusing points and let the camera & lens do the work for you. If you keep your subject in the viewfinder it will not lose focus. I tested it with seagulls in high winds and it was sensational. No consumer lens could possibly come close to matching it. This is what makes the difference between getting the shot and missing the shot especially if you're a wildlife or sports photographer. That's why the pros always get the shots that the amateurs miss out on!
IS: The Image Stabilisation does exactly what it says it. Handheld shots at 200mm at 1/30sec are relatively simple. Without IS this lens could be awkward to use at its longest setting without a tripod, especially in poor light. Don't be tempted to save money and get the non-IS version! The system is virtually silent and has two different modes, general and panning mode. IS is not a gimmick.
IMAGE QUALITY: This is entirely as expected. Very good indeed and probably unbeatable on a lens of this type. The only thing I will say is that if you intend to buy this lens for the image quality alone then although it is certainly superior to all other telephotos I don't personally feel it is worth £1100 better than, say, a £150 75-300mm Canon consumer zoom. Don't get me wrong, the quality is amazing but the quality of Canon's consumer zoom telephotos is also very good these days. If you want the best possible quality then this lens is what you need but be prepared to pay for it. Personally I see the superior autofocus, wide f2.8 aperture and IS far bigger advantages over the consumer lenses than the image quality. The image quality is just a good bonus for me.
OTHER: A good bonus with this lens is that you can use it with Canon's 2x extender and retain full AF and IS capability. A recommended combination.
To sum up, this lens is impossible to fault. If you want one and can justify the cost and can handle its size and weight then you shouldn't hesitate to buy one.
Strength
Build quality
Autofocus speed and accuracy
Image Stabilisation
Fast f2.8 aperture
Image quality
Retains AF and IS with Canon 2x extender
Weakness
Impossible to fault in any aspect
Visitors rate this review
3.40 out of 5
after 5 votes
Overall Rating :
Value Rating :
Written By
Ian Wilkinson(Unregistered User)
Date Created
06/21/2006
Summary
This lense is fast. The delay on moving subjects is almost undetectable!!! It rarely or never has misfocused on moving subjects! The pics look clean. There isn't a need to sharpen, everything is crisp! The lense is heavy. But the weight is worth it. We also have a 28-135 IS Canon 3.5 lense and this lense is overall alot easier to use. Meaning its speed can make up for your miss focusing whereas the other lense can't.
Strength
SPEED
CLARITY
F STOP
VERSITLE
Weakness
WEIGHT
Visitors rate this review
4.38 out of 5
after 8 votes
Well, I read and re-read about 300 reviews over the internet before purchasing this lens. And, as all of you that have written have mentioned the same things consistantly, sharpness! Well, that is an understatement. This lens is incredible. I have done only a few tests with it and let me tell you this, the IS works as advertised! I shot a few with and without it handheld at 200mm 1/15 of a second, and the images are tact sharp! Without it, right in the trash with those shots, if I knew how to upload those two I would. However, if you would like to see them I will email smaller versions of the IS and IS off images for yourself. The focusing is fast (ultra fast) and truly silent. My sigma lens sounds like a jackhammer autofocusing compared it now! It's a dream lens. It's beautiful to look at and so are the images it produces on my 20D. If you are like me, deciding whether or not to buy this...BUY IT! The IS is worth the money (you may grab onto a few keepers to earn that extra money right back!)
Strength
Where to begin...solidly designed! Super fast autofocus and quiet as well. The IS is great and performs above what you would expect (1/15s handheld at 200mm and razor sharp!). And, cosmetically, it is a beauty!
Weakness
Weakness....weakness...maybe those to weak to hold it...that would be it!
Visitors rate this review
4.43 out of 5
after 7 votes
4.77 of 5
