 "Being the only game in town for EOS, it's the best." | 2009-11-18 |
| - Reviewed By yc1 |
I used it on 5D for low light portrait mostly. This one is the only 70-200 2.8 zoom with the IS for EOS. Would be interesting if Tammy or Sigma add their VC/OS to their zooms.
I did some side by side comps of this lens and Canon 200mm F2.8L II prime, and Canon 70-200 F4L (non IS). The tests were done in indoor lowlight. The results are very predictable: Wide open 70-200F2.8IS is not the sharpest but pretty close. The IS helps a big time! All handheld, with the help of elbows and back against walls, doors, etc. The IS zoom gives the most reliable and consistent results. The prime and F4L produce the sharpest pictures when not blurred. But in my case, over 50% were blurred from those two Non-IS lenses. I am talking 200mm / ISO 1600 on a 5D at about 1/30 - 1/60sec handheld. I don't know what version of IS this lens has on it, but it certainly works great!
The other thing surprises me is that the weight isn't all that bad at all. I thought the difference between the IS 2.8 and the non-IS F4 would be day and night. Not so. Especially when shooting in slow shutter speed at the long end, I have to focus on keeping my hands steady so much that I didn't feel the light weight of the F4 at all. Light weight isn't always a blessing. I didn't realize my hand shaking so much till I compared with the results from the IS. I've always used door or wall to help steady my hands when using the prime (the F4 was used for outdoor only). But still, the IS is amazing.
The reason I give it a 4 star is for the price/value ratio. This lens is way over priced IMHO. I am surprised Tammy and Sigma haven't gotten their VC/OS into their 70-200 zoom yet. This lens is 3 times more expensive than the Tammy!
The real appeal of these L lenses are their reliability and consistency. The AF on L lenses have been consistently accurate and fast for me. For the 3rd party lenses there're more misses and hunting in low light. That is why I never hesitated to go for Tammy and Sigma for their macro primes where AF are not that important. I am not disappointed at all.
Would it be great if this zoom is as sharp as a macro prime wide open at 200mm? Ya, sure. But life is full of compromises and for what it is and what it can do, I have yet to see a worthy competitor to this one. Also, sharpness is not everything for portrait anyway...
If you need the 2.8 and want to hand held at 200mm, this is the one. The added flexibility of the zoom from 70-200 is a bonus really. |
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 "««WAIT»» to buy this fantastic lens - it's being upgraded" | 2009-11-13 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1DB5QPH7WO488 |
This white whale of a lens is very well regarded, as you can see from the number of very positive reviews. BUT, as some have mentioned, it utilizes an older, less effective form of image stabilization than is used on the 70-200mm f/4L IS, and is generally considered to be slightly less sharp than that lens as well.
These would not be persuasive reasons to not buy the lens, of course, except that it is expected to shortly be replaced by a Mk. II version, incorporating the newer Hybrid IS technology that is used on the 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro, and possibly making improvements to the lens' sharpness as well.
IF you can wait until late November 2009, you may be rewarded for your wait either with a decrease in the price of this Mk. I model, or the opportunity to buy an improved Mk. II model. |
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| "Love it!!" | 2009-11-13 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3FWIG62XHY5BY |
| Ok,after months of reading reviews and research between 2.8 or f4. IS or non IS,I finally went this route. That was months ago. Now I've had time to get my feet wet with this lens and have not been dissapointed. I was worried to death about bad copies,but I guess I got a good one although I have no other L series to compare too, yet. I love sports and action photography and with the F2.8L lense,the 6.5 fps on the 40D and Canon's DPP software I have gotten some fantastic night-time shots at rodeo and football events. And daytime in the bright Texas sun, soccer and horse racing etc......unbelievable!! It's amazing how people will step aside when they see this lense thinking you are a professional I guess. Reviews are correct saying that the 70-200 will attract attention. At a horse race earlier this year two "gentlemen" actually followed me around thinking I was photographing the upcoming winners!! Wish I had that foresight.Buy one and have fun. |
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| "Great for indoor shooting" | 2009-11-13 |
| - Reviewed By User: A20SO4WDR1E0BM |
| This lens is great for outdoor scenes. This is the first lens I purchased with IS and after using it I will never buy another lens without it. But the true test for this lens was it's ability to take indoor pictures in dark settings; theatrical, swimming events, indoor soccer, it handles them all. With my other lens I could not get an ISO/exposure combination that would give me a quick shutter speed to catch the action but not come out too dark. I would buy this lens again. |
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| "Perfect Lens" | 2009-11-09 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2BKKVEPQ1FKAN |
| I use this lens for high school gym, volleyball and basketball on a Canon 50D. If you've shot in this environment you know it's tough...IE Low light, fast action. This lens is as good as it gets. Of the available lenses it's Perfect for this venue. Fast at 2.8 & Image stabilization are what make it the best. Sometimes wish it was 50-200 in smaller gyms. Push your IS0 to 3200 for speed/grain best balance (on a 50D) and you'll love it. |
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| "Makes an average photographer better!" | 2009-10-26 |
| - Reviewed By lewis_wright |
It was hard to swallow the price tag but trusting in the Canon lens paid off. The hardest part about learning how to use this lens was figuring out how to trust it; letting the glass do its job.
Ease of use
Plug it in and take pictures, it's really that easy.
Focus
I've already used this lens taking photos on the sideline of a college football game so quick focus is critical. Trying to watch all 22 players on the field can be difficult and trusting the lens to find the one you are trying to photograph makes all the difference between terrible photos and poster-worthy shots.
Quality
There's a balance to walk, spending money on quality camera's or quality lens. Since new camera's are created all the time it's probably a better investment to put money into quality lens'. This is worth it.
Flexibility
Those huge lens' you see during games can't capture close up shots. This telephoto lens is just the right size for everyone trying to capture distant shots and players running right for you.
Great lens if you can afford it! |
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