Home · Register · Join Upload & Sell

Moderated by: Fred Miranda
Username  

  New fredmiranda.com Mobile Site
  New Feature: SMS Notification alert
  New Feature: Buy & Sell Watchlist
  

FM Forums | Canon Forum | Join Upload & Sell

1
       2       3       4       end
  

Archive 2013 · Canon 200 1.8 - Risk worth the Reward?

  
 
K mueller
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Canon 200 1.8 - Risk worth the Reward?


Hello,

I have been interested in a Canon 200 1.8 for some time and have come very close to pulling the trigger.

I read that Canon is no longer servicing these lenses, which is the main reason holding me back. Would it be worth the investment to get the 200 f2 instead? I had the USM assembly go bad in a 12 year old 500 f4, so i'm kinda hesitant with lenses this old, especially ones without a chance a being repaired. It's kinda hit and miss but I'm sure a minty 1.8 would give me years of trouble free fun.

Just curiuos if any one had any issues with the 1.8's and there thoughts if they were in my shoes?

Thanks,
Kyle

Edited on Mar 24, 2013 at 10:41 PM · View previous versions



Mar 24, 2013 at 06:32 PM
saneproduction
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Canon 200 1.8 - Risk worth the Reward?


Yes it is worth it, at least for me. There are still 1-2 places that can repair it (at least 1 year ago when I called about it).


Mar 24, 2013 at 07:11 PM
PetKal
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Canon 200 1.8 - Risk worth the Reward?


saneproduction wrote:
Yes it is worth it, at least for me. There are still 1-2 places that can repair it (at least 1 year ago when I called about it).


+1



Mar 24, 2013 at 07:12 PM
saneproduction
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Canon 200 1.8 - Risk worth the Reward?


If you do decide to pursue one, wait until you find the right one and have an option to return it if it is not satisfactory. Peter really helped me with my purchase and I would have been lost without his help. If he does help you, send him some cheese. He likes that


Mar 24, 2013 at 07:21 PM
saneproduction
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Canon 200 1.8 - Risk worth the Reward?


Here is the thread about my purchase.
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1070524/0?keyword=200,1.8#10183057



Mar 24, 2013 at 07:23 PM
PetKal
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Canon 200 1.8 - Risk worth the Reward?


saneproduction wrote:
If you do decide to pursue one, wait until you find the right one and have an option to return it if it is not satisfactory. Peter really helped me with my purchase and I would have been lost without his help. If he does help you, send him some cheese. He likes that


Damn. Mike, that was the best cheddar cheese I've had in my life.....and nothing better than that since. I wish there are more people on this planet who have your generosity of spirit and class.



Mar 24, 2013 at 07:38 PM
convergent
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Canon 200 1.8 - Risk worth the Reward?


I just gave mine up after having it for many years because of the risk of it dying and not being repairable. Spare parts is a real issue. I opted to move to a 300 2.8 instead since I also moved to full frame (5D3) from a 1D3.


Mar 24, 2013 at 08:50 PM
saneproduction
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Canon 200 1.8 - Risk worth the Reward?


PetKal wrote:
Damn. Mike, that was the best cheddar cheese I've had in my life.....and nothing better than that since. I wish there are more people on this planet who have your generosity of spirit and class.


You did a ton of work to help me out and saved me hundreds of dollars easily. I was the one who got the good end of that deal.







Mar 24, 2013 at 09:41 PM
K mueller
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Canon 200 1.8 - Risk worth the Reward?


Thanks for the link to your thread saneproduction, and thanks for all the convincing words of advice.

I have been pondering about it all afternoon and it's killin' me! I am going to have to start pursuing one. The search is on



Mar 24, 2013 at 10:59 PM
saneproduction
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Canon 200 1.8 - Risk worth the Reward?


Good luck! If you do find one it should be sharp at 1:1 from corner to corner wide open and should only have very slight improvement when stopped down (less vignetting). Probably among the sharpest lenses canon has made.

Also get a Don Zeck lens cap



Mar 25, 2013 at 12:32 AM
KINGOFKNGS
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Canon 200 1.8 - Risk worth the Reward?


It's a remarkable lens. I've gotten some really nice glass over the last several years, and I feel like my 200 1.8 is probably my favorite lens I "get" to use. I do primarily bird photography, so I have used my 600 IS a whole lot more, but there's just a little extra something with the 200 1.8 compared to my copy of the 600. (I've recently acquired a 400 2.8 IS version I and can't fairly speak about it yet since it's so new, but the 200 1.8 seems to be every bit as good as the 400.) As saneproduction stated, the lens is exceedingly sharp. My copy is very sharp wide open, and improves only slightly in sharpness stopping down. As saneproduction mentioned, vignetting is the major thing that seems to improve. I got my UM date coded copy off of here about 3 years ago. At the time, the lens was absolutely mint. You literally couldn't tell it from new. Now, there is a little bit of wear around wear the hood mounts and there is a tad bit of paint wear on the foot.

There ARE times when I think IS would be helpful, but I don't know that it's worth an extra $2K plus the loss of max aperture from 1.8-->2.0. If I put the lens on a monopod, I'm generally completely comfortable with it, although I'd probably still prefer to have IS if possible.

@1.8 on 1Ds2
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6218/6232445669_7ae34652cb_b.jpg

@1.8 on 1Ds2
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5140/5483201769_ed7205459f_b.jpg

@1.8 on 1Ds2
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6108/6232958950_c6cd8b13de_b.jpg

Ryan



Mar 25, 2013 at 12:58 AM
mttran
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Canon 200 1.8 - Risk worth the Reward?


So lovely, Ryan


Mar 25, 2013 at 01:51 AM
saneproduction
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Canon 200 1.8 - Risk worth the Reward?


Amazing


Mar 25, 2013 at 02:01 AM
Lars Johnsson
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Canon 200 1.8 - Risk worth the Reward?


I would get the 200/2 IS instead. I can't see any real reason to buy the 200/1,8 when it have a high second hand price. Considering the risk spending that much money on a lens that's so difficult or nearly impossible to get serviced or repaired.
I can't see any reason to buy it over the 200/2 even if Canon did service it.
It's a great lens of course. But so is the 200/2



Mar 25, 2013 at 02:36 AM
WebDog
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Canon 200 1.8 - Risk worth the Reward?


Agree with Lars, the 200/2 is the way to go (and I did )

But there are *rumours* out that the 200 is up for remake... this would push prices for the 200/2 down a bit So if you don't really need the lens, just have the itch, take a cold shower and wait... see if any sweet deals pops up and maybe a new 200/2 Mk2 rather sooner than later?



Mar 25, 2013 at 05:07 AM
John Caldwell
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Canon 200 1.8 - Risk worth the Reward?


I too am with Lars. It might be another matter if the obsolete lens were priced to great advantage over the current production piece. Aside from reparability concern, there is the other matter of IS: In my use of the 200/2, I clearly benefit from the IS in that I'm handholding at borderline shutter speeds.

John Caldwell



Mar 25, 2013 at 05:30 AM
Grantland
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Canon 200 1.8 - Risk worth the Reward?


K mueller wrote:
Just curiuos if any one had any issues with the 1.8's and there thoughts if they were in my shoes?

Thanks,
Kyle


Hi Kyle,

The 200 f/1.8 is an amazing lens. And so it the 200 f/2.0 IS.

I once did a survey on FM concerning older Canon glass to learn who had bought an expensive lens, it broke, and they ended up with an expensive door stop within the first 3 years of ownership. To my surprise no one said they ended up with a lemon in the first 3 years. No doubt it happens but the failure rate was very low.

If you do your homework and buy from a reputable person there shouldn't be too much concern.

Grant



Mar 25, 2013 at 08:07 AM
jcolwell
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Canon 200 1.8 - Risk worth the Reward?


I bought my 200/1.8L in 2010. It's working just fine (knocking on my head).


Mar 25, 2013 at 08:29 AM
GoGo
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Canon 200 1.8 - Risk worth the Reward?


Just to add a little info to this thread I would like to add;

I bought a really nice copy of the 200 1.8 in early 2006 and used it very happily until the new lens came to market. being a responsible business person I didn't think twice about selling the old lens (200 1.8) and buying the new 200 2.0 IS.

Well guess what, after about a year and a half of using the new lens extensively I was consistently reminded that something was missing. The IQ that I was used to was gone!

There is no other way to put it, the new lens is not even close to the original, something is missing. Something about the design or the materials used make the original 200 1.8 is magical, there is nothing in the known universe to equal this lens and if you shoot one you will find out what I am trying so pathetically to explain. It stands alone, nothing that Canon, Nikon or Ziess has ever made comes close to this lens.

And that's all I have to say.






Edited on Mar 25, 2013 at 06:41 PM · View previous versions



Mar 25, 2013 at 09:15 AM
ifxbonz
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Canon 200 1.8 - Risk worth the Reward?


Lars Johnsson wrote:
I would get the 200/2 IS instead. I can't see any real reason to buy the 200/1,8 when it have a high second hand price. Considering the risk spending that much money on a lens that's so difficult or nearly impossible to get serviced or repaired.
I can't see any reason to buy it over the 200/2 even if Canon did service it.
It's a great lens of course. But so is the 200/2


+1
I sold my 1.8 for a 2.0 probably 2 years ago . I simply didn't want to be caught with a paper weight when an irreplaceable part goes bad on it, and with ISO's on the newer cameras I don't miss 1.8. in a 200mm version cause I have a 135, 2.0 an 85, 1.8 and a 35, 1.4 Plus the 200 2.0

These are all from 200 f2
HERE !

Andy



Mar 25, 2013 at 11:35 AM
1
       2       3       4       end




FM Forums | Canon Forum | Join Upload & Sell

1
       2       3       4       end
    
 

You are not logged in. Login or Register

Username       Or Reset password



This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.