If I shot sports all the time 200/1.8 would be great w/monopod, but I don't... I shoot handheld at weddings, and if I can barely tell the difference between 2.0 and 1.8, I'm pretty sure client won't be able to. The IS is amazing. To me, the lens (in conjunction with the 85/1.8) is a 70-200/2.8IS, 135L and 85L rolled into one. When you factor in the cost of those 3 lenses versus the 200/2 and 85/1.8, it's only $500-$600 more (at new lens prices) to get the 200/2.

I am afraid the 200 2.0 is not rational anyway, like the 85 1.2. It just delivers more, much more, but on paper the cost is crazy. Like the magic 85L, you try it and fall in love ...

Recent basketball shot.

Lookin' for bokeh in wrong places.....it's winter, colours have gone south.
1DMkIIN + 200 f/2 IS.

Excellent PetKal!

Thank you, Joakim.

last one is great petkal, perfect focus and near nothingness for a background

Thank you, Andrew.....fortunately, f/2.2 at that proximity turns ugliness into nothingness.

PetKal wrote:
Thank you, Andrew.....fortunately, f/2.2 at that proximity turns ugliness into nothingness.

Did you notice the increased sharpness or reduced light falloff thanks to the lens being stopped down 1/3 stop?

stanj wrote:
PetKal wrote:
Thank you, Andrew.....fortunately, f/2.2 at that proximity turns ugliness into nothingness.

Did you notice the increased sharpness or reduced light falloff thanks to the lens being stopped down 1/3 stop?

The only reason I'd stop the lens down is to get an exact shutter speed value, or when I want to increase DoF (on rare occasions). Also sometimes when I photograph a very bright/reflective scene in order to prevent the shutter speed pegging high.

Have not noticed any light falloff yet.......mind you, 99.99 % of my shots with it are on the 1.3 crop cameras.

What is the typical replacement cycle for Canon on their big white lenses? Is the 200 f/2 still a young lens?

James Taylor wrote:
What is the typical replacement cycle for Canon on their big white lenses? Is the 200 f/2 still a young lens?

Yes. Cycle is around 10 years, the lens is ~2 years old.

stanj wrote:
James Taylor wrote:
What is the typical replacement cycle for Canon on their big white lenses? Is the 200 f/2 still a young lens?

Yes. Cycle is around 10 years, the lens is ~2 years old.

The predecessor, EF 200mm f/1.8L USM, was marketed on November 1988 & discontinued in 2004. While the current replacement, EF 200mm f/2L IS USM, was marketed on April 2008.

That's over 2 decades for the white 200mm prime. And the EF 200mm f/1.8L USM still usable today.

Peter,

It appears you could also find Jupiter-sized planets with your two 200s

Some slightly different subject matter (other than people)

All wide open at f/2, what's the point of stopping down?

^beautiful

samwise wrote:
^beautiful

+1!

The third one os my favourite

dmbphotography,

Very cool Symmetry with that train shot. Nice job

Has anyone tried this lens with 2.0 x III yet?

Dawei - I like the Koala shot, well composed and sharp