Looking at purchasing a used 200 1.8L. Probably have to sell wy 17 TS-E to
do it...(love shooting architecture. It find more of a need for fast tele prime at the comedy shows I shoot). Should be a big difference vs my 135L w/ EF Extender 1.4 II.

How long will canon support/repair this lens (obviously out of warranty).

Thanks!

The quick answer is that Canon don't support, service or repair the 200/1,8L.
Just as they don't any of the first generation super-tele's - 200/1.8L. 300/2.8L. 400/2.8L or 500/4.5L.

Yep no support from canon.
3rd party repair centres will repair and service it though as long as spares are available. Note spares availability is usually from donor lenses so can change in price a fair bit.

Don't forget the focus drive does both AF and MF so a dead AF unit results in a completely no usable lens.

If you want support for a lens like that then probably better to go for the 200/2

Alternatively the 200/2.0 IS works well in comedy shows. On paper it is only 1/3 of a stop slower but with 5 stops of IS.

Canon Canada refused to even take a look at 200 f/1.8 as early as 2007 or thereabouts.
Independent camera repair shops such as Sun Camera in Toronto will gladly work on the lens, yet if they can not get a spare part for it, should one be required, obviously the repair can not be completed.

Some spare electronic assemblies are still obtainable from eBay sources, but at a high price. For example, I've seen spare AF units listed at $500-$800, and then there is shipping to be added, tax and installation labour as well which in that particular case of a failed AF unit would be quite extensive.

Therefore, the best risk minimization strategy is to steer away from well (ab)used lenses, which at a first glance might appear priced favourably, yet in case of a failure, you'd be faced with a very expensive repair, if repairable at all.

Buy a 200 f/2.

my belief is that if you find a 200 f/1.8 in good condition from a good seller the risk is minimal. is there risk, sure.

does anyone know of someone who bought a first gen super-tele who got stuck with a door stop because no one could fix it? maybe things are different today but few years ago i did a poll on fm to learn just that. who had bought an older lens that canon no longer serviced and it became an expensive door stop. if memory serves me right it it was less than 1-2%. So is there risk, sure. but . . .

another question you might ask is towards those who own a 200 f/1.8. why aren't you selling your f/1.8 to buy the f/2.? are you not worried that if it breaks it might not be repairable? isn't now the time to recoup your $$ and upgrade? what if . . . ?

could just be me. i am the type who never buys the extended warranties from the stores based on "what if" . you know when you go to the check out and they say, "what if . . . and for some more $$ you can . . . "

That's a nice photo!

Thanks for the advice all! Seems like I should just start saving for the 200 F2 IS and get one in the next year or two. I have access to borrow 70-200 2.8 IS any time until I get one, but I tend to shoot the 135L and 135L w/ 1.4x out of convenience (don't like to borrow and return lenses) and I find I really need to shoot at 1/125 to 1/200th anyway to catch the moments I really like. F2 is essential for this as I don't like shooting over 1600 or 3200 on my 5DII. How is the 1D4 at high ISO? Is it a stop better than the 5D2? Maybe the 1DX or some other high ISO camera will be the better way to go when I get that much money saved.

Forget the 200/1.8L. Aside from the fact that it will be a PITA to repair/service this lens, it's very big and very heavy. I would advise that you get the 70-200L II instead. The zoom will come in handy, and the 4-stop IS would allow you to shoot in low light. And this lens is as sharp as any 200L and it works really well with the 1.4x TC.

saneproduction wrote:
Looking at purchasing a used 200 1.8L. Probably have to sell wy 17 TS-E to
do it...(love shooting architecture. It find more of a need for fast tele prime at the comedy shows I shoot). Should be a big difference vs my 135L w/ EF Extender 1.4 II.

How long will canon support/repair this lens (obviously out of warranty).

Thanks!

my favorite lens; have had mine for 15 years or so with minimal issues. I had one n element was out of line 5 years ago. KEH in Atlanta fixed it for me for a small fee. The biggest issues is the focus motor. Only a few available and difficult to find and when one is found, it is exppensive, perhaps absurd.

I have experience with the 70-200/2.8 IS, 70-200/2.8 IS II and 200/2.0 IS and I will rank them accordingly. Keep in mind in theater-like environments light is often not enough to stop human movement. IS was not design to reduce subject motion blur but camera operator-caused motion blur.

0. 200/1.8*
1. 200/2.0 IS
2. 70-200/2.8 IS II
3. 70-200/2.8 IS

*There are long term risks. Also no experience with the lens.

If are curious how the 200/2.0 IS performs in theater-like light check out my set at http://www.flickr.com/photos/alabang/sets/72157623075977893/detail/


Exposure: 1/6 by alabang, on Flickr

Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Exposure: 0.167 sec (1/6)
Aperture: f/2.0
Focal Length: 200 mm
ISO Speed: 6400
Exposure Bias: +1/3 EV
Support: Handheld

bobbytan wrote:
Forget the 200/1.8L. Aside from the fact that it will be a PITA to repair/service this lens, it's very big and very heavy. I would advise that you get the 70-200L II instead. The zoom will come in handy, and the 4-stop IS would allow you to shoot in low light. And this lens is as sharp as any 200L and it works really well with the 1.4x TC.


How does the 70-200/2.8L II obtain 1.3 stops more light than an f/1.8 lens?
(therefore possible to get 1.3 stops faster shutter speed to stop the subject motion... not the photographers.)

And how does the 70-200/2.8L II get a tighter bokeh (less DOF) that the f/1.8 lens gets?

(replace f/1.8 with f/2 for all practical purposes)

IS is great for the real slow shutter speeds as posted above, but when it's stage performance action you seek to stop, IS means nothing.


I'm sure the Series II zoom is a great lens in it's own right, but I'm honestly curious how a f/2.8 lens can possibly match the light gathering capability and bokeh that primes have been notorious for since they were invented?

It is unfortunate that some people on this forum persist in giving advice on gear and issues they have limited or no experience with.

Superlarge nominal aperture aside, the only telephoto lenses which the 200 f/1.8 performance can be compared to are 400 f/2.8 IS, 500 f/4 IS and perhaps 300 f/2.8 as well as 200 f/2 IS.

There are very few lenses other than 200 f/1.8 about which the owners have held a complete consensus regarding its standing as one of the 2-3 best telephoto lenses ever made by Canon.

It's a legend for good reason.

This was the lens I was looking at no hood or cap for $3k they have another copy with haze and fungus and a chip for $3300 (more because it has the hood, cap and box). Personally I would rather have a good lens then a hood or box. Anyway, it may not be that good of a deal. Half of what a new 200 would be and as several people mentioned IS is not the most interesting part of this lens for my application (though nice to have for sure). Was this even a good price?

http://www.adorama.com/US%20%20%20%20454359.html

I have been watching Adorama's 200 f/1.8 lenses for a long time, I even bought one from them myself.
Have you seen that one which is fungus infested and they wanted for it $3,600 buy it now on eBay ?
My sincere suggestion is to stay away from Adorama's 200 f/1.8s on account of the price and perhaps quality as well.

Your best bet would be to wait for a suitable lens to show up on B&S.

I'd never buy one with even a hint of fungus. I'd never buy one rated "V" unless I could see it in person, first. Be patient. You should be able to snag one on eBay for under $3500, in 'real' E or better condition.

If you don't get a hood with a lens, you'll want to get one. I believe other posts have discussed alternative hoods for the 200/1.8L; mine is original.

You don't need the original leather hood/cap - just get a Don Zeck cap, http://www.donzecklenscap.com/. He made a special production run for the 200/1.8L a year or so back (they had been discontinued for some time), and he might have some left - send him an email through his site if the requirement ever comes up.

Makes you wonder why they don't put the hood and cap from the fungal one on the good one and just out the fungal one for spares.

Thanks guys! Really hard to shake this 200 bug! I am thinking crazy thoughts like selling my 17 TS-E and other lenses (even the 85LII to get one sooner. I wonder if renting one would solve my jonesing issue