I've shot a wedding with the Nikon 200/f2 VR and if the Canon is anything like it, it was the most fantastic lens I've ever used. The Bokeh is simply perfect.
rockit wrote:
why not just wait a bit and get the new 200 f2 IS?
new glass, new technology and factory repair support if needed.
Absolutely...Plus, weddings are not sporting events, so the IS would be more desirable than an additional third of a stop. I'm waiting for the new one to come out too. I saw another photog's images taken with the Nikon 2.0 VR and they were fabulous!
rockit wrote:
why not just wait a bit and get the new 200 f2 IS?
new glass, new technology and factory repair support if needed.
It's a fair point - though looking at it another way - slightly less thin DOF, higher price and optics that are most likely to fall slightly short of the old one. Of course we don't know yet, and as a result the f1.8 prices may plummet when the new lens comes out, or go even higher if the replacement is simply 'great' rather than the best lens Canon ever produced.
Right now I have the option on a tatty one for $2500 and can't decide......
Lord Fluff wrote:
It's a fair point - though looking at it another way - slightly less thin DOF, higher price and optics that are most likely to fall slightly short of the old one. Of course we don't know yet, and as a result the f1.8 prices may plummet when the new lens comes out, or go even higher if the replacement is simply 'great' rather than the best lens Canon ever produced.
Right now I have the option on a tatty one for $2500 and can't decide......
Get the tatty one for $2500. As long as the optics and mechanics are good, a $20 USD (or less) bottle of L lens paint on eBay can help clean up the cosmetic appearance. At that price, it's less than what a new 200/2 IS will cost, and you get it NOW with an opportunity to practice and see if you like it.
I'd jump on that offer if I were you. I'm eyeing this lens myself, for weddings and astrophotography, so I'm interested in how it works out for you for weddings (to help justify the purchase )
To be honest it is (IMHO) only really usable when you have quite a bit of time at a shoot.
The reason is that at least for me, I have to use it on a monpod, and at f/1.8 the dof is so tiny that you need to be incredibly careful with the focus. It takes time to do this.
The 135/2 is not as long but is a heck of a lot more convenient and faster to use.
That said, the 200/1.8 certainly does deliver when you do use it. Here are a few shots from it.
I'm finding that many of my faster lenses are being stopped down just to obtain adequate DOF .. even at 1.8 or 2.0 with an 85 you often need to have two people at almost exactly the same distance from the camera to get them both sharp. A 200 would offer less DOF and potentially more focus issues under the same conditions.
I'll regularly toss otherwise great pics because the groom is a half-foot behind the bride and his focus is soft while the brides is razor sharp.
For a few special shots where the conditions are perfect (as sejanus has shown above) you can get awesome shots .. but for everyday wedding work that fast of a lens may prove to be a solution in search of a problem.
Mike
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