 |
Page: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7
|
|
|
|
Stono
Offline
Image Upload: Off
Registered: Dec 4, 2005
Location: Norway
Posts: 1
|
|
Review Date: Apr 10, 2010
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $2,600.00
|
|
Pros:
|
VERY, very sharp! Impressive IS
and fine AF too
|
|
Cons:
|
None to my knowledge
|
|
|
I have the old Canon 70-200mm f2.8 L IS and the (semi-new)Canon 70-200 mm f4 L IS and I have made systematic comparisons. The conclusion is without any doubt that the new version of 70-200 f2.8 is far better in any respect than the older ones. I'll bet: Buy it and you will be very impressed!
This is the best zoom I have ever tried and owned! And believe me, I am not easily impressed (I got 14 Canon L lenses, from 500 mm f4 to 300 mm f2.8 to 200mm f2 to (the new) 24 mm tilt/shift and the new 16-35 mm). Sharpest lens of them all? Probably Canon 200 f2 IS L. Price for Best lens all over (handy, sharp, usability, travel, airline fit, etc.) will go to the new 70-200 mm f2.8.
|
|
 Apr 10, 2010
|
|
Hank Endzelis
Offline
Image Upload: On
Registered: Dec 17, 2007
Location: United States
Posts: 651
|
|
Review Date: Apr 7, 2010
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $2,499.00
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
Better IS than it's predecessor, AF, contrast and colors, build, locking lens hood
|
|
Cons:
|
A minor issue - harder to align the hood when inverting for storage
|
|
|
It's as sharp or sharper at f/2.8 than it's predecessor was at f/5.6. Using it mounted on my 7D, I couldn't believe how well it handles the extenders, particularly the 2xII TC. At 400mm and at f/5.6 it's about the same as the equivalent prime and you have the benefit of IS.
I sold my 300f/4IS and 400f/5.6 and the savings negated it's overall cost and now I have the benefit of 70-200 at f/2.8 and 200-400 at f/5.6 with IS, all in one lens..... not to mention how it lightened my gear bag.
|
|
|
Apr 7, 2010
|
|
jonbrach
Offline
Image Upload: On
Registered: Dec 22, 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 895
|
|
Review Date: Mar 31, 2010
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $2,465.00
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
sharp wide open and throughout!improved IS,quicker focus...same great build
|
|
Cons:
|
price and size
|
|
|
I traded up from my version 1 and couldnt be happier...yes,the lens is expensive but canon has really got a winner on their hands with this lens.In the past I always regarded zoom lenses as problematic when shooting wide open but no longer...at 2.8 this lens as damn close to prime quality and the IS is fantastic....still big and heavy but what can you do about that?there is always the 4.0 version for those wanting to carry the smaller and lighter lens....I look forward to the 24-70 upgrade now as well!
|
|
|
Mar 31, 2010
|
|
palani
Offline
Image Upload: Off
Registered: Mar 30, 2010
Location: Malaysia
Posts: 0
|
|
Review Date: Mar 30, 2010
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
Many Primes in one, Fantastic colors & Contrast, sharp at either end.
|
|
Cons:
|
None
|
|
I have extensive research for the past one year for a tele-zoom. V1 was not up to my expectation. Wanted to buy a few primes to meet my expectations on image quality. Then comes this V2, grabbed it immediately yesterday. My copy could be one of the first handful delivered in Malaysia, came with a 1+2 yrs warranty.
Price to me is justifiable because this will be my 85f1.8+100L+135L+200L all compressed into one tube, sharp at every level. It Doesn't matter to me that i loose the extra stops of the Primes, this fellow captures sharp images going as low as 1/30 and sometimes even lower coupled with ISO 2000 on the 5Mk2. Further, saves time on changing lens. Conspicuous Yes, i like it, it will enhance my image to a certain extent.
I do photography for a living (Studio + Weddings), and this weight is no problem since, to me it is much lighter than other tools that people carry to perform their work, some for hours and hours i.e grass-cutting unit, hammer drill etc.
If you are earning thru photography, this best tool will not set you back (technically) in your profession. Buy it once and be happy for a long time. Prudent not to beg,borrow, or steal to meet this goal. Best of luck in your research and decision- making process. Will post some pics soon as soon as i learn how to do it here.
www.luxmeimages.com
|
|
|
Mar 30, 2010
|
|
alexosh1234
Offline
Image Upload: Off
Registered: Nov 20, 2009
Location: United States
Posts: 6
|
|
Review Date: Mar 20, 2010
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $2,499.00
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
Lightning fast AF, Incredible Sharpness, Build Quality, Hood Design, Excellent IS
|
|
Cons:
|
Price $$$$$, a bit big, a little heavy- not too bad.
|
|
WOW is all I can say. After getting over that I spent so much on a lens, this new machine is absolutely amazing. The image quality is top notch. 100% crops can be printed large and I can see every detail. I was in Miami and took some pictures of the big hotels, and was wondering what the names were. I looked at some of the pictures, zoomed in, and saw everything. Even small signs hundreds and hundreds of feet away. The IS adds a new feeling of confidence. No longer do you have to worry about shaking a tiny bit and the shot being out of focus or a bit blurry. Canon has really created an astounding piece of technology surpassing others(Nikon) in the lens market. The build quality, as expected from an L series lens, is made to withstand extreme conditions. The zoom ring is large and easy to use. The buttons for different IS and af/mf are easy to use/see. The new focusing distance allows you to get closer to your subjects, and can get quite close if some cropping is done. The Af is also excellent, and focuses very fast even in low light. Now, price... yes... I recommend thinking about this purchase for a while. 2500 - as of now, is a lot to spend, but if you have the money and really really want it, I highly recommend it. The pouch that it comes with is very nice and the hood is easy to put on and is a better material than other hoods. It does not scratch easily like my 24-70 f/2.8L lens hood does. At all apertures, this thing is sharp. If you are an IQ aficionado, this lens is quite a big step up from Mark 1 especially at f/2.8. For me, sharpness is my big thing, so I wanted the best out there. I did not want to step back in terms of technology and get the first generation of the lens even if it is still very good. In a few years if you decide that you want to sell the lens or change to something else, I can assure you that this will retain its resale value very well. I doubt Canon will be upgrading this in the next 5 years, so the sharpness and awesome Af will pay off in the coming days, months, and years to come.
All in all, the new 70-200 is quite a stunning lens which will continue to be one of or the best in Canon's lineup of pro lenses. If you want it and can afford it without selling your house, I would get it haha but as always, research extensively and weigh your options before buying something at these price levels.
I hoped you liked the review. More info and analysis to come in the future...
Check out my unboxing video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYJ8sJVwlfo
Thanks
- Alex
|
|
|
Mar 20, 2010
|
|
henkeggens
Offline
Image Upload: Off
Registered: Mar 20, 2010
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 0
|
|
Review Date: Mar 20, 2010
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
Just can say that all positive kind of comments can be done are really true.
|
|
Cons:
|
They promissed better button, but, as a sportsphotographer, with permanently using zoom, all the buttons should be taped, like on the old 70-200, It's seems to me easy to put the button a little bit deeper in the frame, and make the switch not as easy as it goes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 20, 2010
|
|
Maggot
Offline
Image Upload: Off
Registered: Jul 19, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 81
|
|
Review Date: Mar 18, 2010
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $2,500.00
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
Great IQ, Great IS, Super fast & accurate AF, Excellent wide open.
|
|
Cons:
|
Price...........dear Lord.
|
|
|
Coming from the original version, which like many, I thought was a little lacking at f/2.8 across the whole lens, but especially on the long end........I find this new version to be far superior. I'm not saying the original was bad, not at all.....it's a classic workhorse lens for so many, but as I'm a prime guy first and foremost, with a few zooms for versaltility, I always found the original 70-200 2.8 IS to be lacking at f/2.8 and that always irked me. I can safely say f/2.8 on this new version is simply excellent. So much so, that I'm considering getting rid of my small 200 2.8 II, which the version I of the 70-200 couldn't touch for sharpenss. Then we come to AF. One word......SNAPPY! This thing snaps into focus so fast and accurate that one feels like they just got whiplash. In low light on my 5D2, there's absolutely no hunting. Incredibly confident and competant AF!
|
|
|
Mar 18, 2010
|
|
denoir
Offline
Image Upload: Off
Registered: Feb 11, 2010
Location: Sweden
Posts: 4184
|
|
Review Date: Mar 12, 2010
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $3,600.00
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
IQ, sharpness, speed IS
|
|
Cons:
|
price, size, weight, glare
|
|
This lens is an impressive piece of engineering. It's really sharp. Prime lens sharp, wide open and at both focal length ends. At 2.8 and 135 mm it is almost indistinguishable from the 135mm f/2.0L @2.8. The sharpness would be considered excellent for a prime lens but for a zoom it's nothing short of amazing. It's a big improvement over the MkI version of the lens - especially at 200mm.
The IS is very good but it's a less dramatic improvement over the previous version.
The auto focus is the fastest that I've ever seen.
Optical distortions, CA etc are virtually non-existent. It does have problems with glare - it's not a lens you want to point in the general direction of the sun.
The bokeh is very good, but not as good as on the 135mm f/2.0L.
The only significant problems with this lens have nothing to do with the images it produces. It's the price, size and weight that are arguments against buying it.
Price: I paid $3600 (in Sweden) which hurts. At $2500, (which is the US price at the time of writing this review) it's still pricey. $2000 would have been a reasonable price.
Weight & Size: It's big and heavy which makes it in every respect a bit more difficult to use than smaller lenses. You need to find new ways of holding the camera while carrying it and you must adapt your shooting technique - not to mention re-organize your camera bag. I was surprised however that it was easier to handle than I thought - at least walking around and shooting with it for a few hours was no problem. The build quality is excellent bordering on the absurd. The thing is built to survive a nuclear blast. This is not all positive - the focus ring is a bit too stiff for my liking and I'd gladly trade some of that build quality for lighter weight.
The size is primarily problematic because it is an extremely conspicuous lens. The MkII is even larger than the MkI and you can be sure that everyone within a radius of a mile will know you are taking photos. Because of this it's not very useful for street photography. If you think that the 200mm tele will save you, think again. People notice the lens from a very large distance.
Overall if you can handle the price, size and weight then it's a fantastic piece of glass. It is simply put a zoom lens with image quality comparable to high-end prime lenses.
For some real world example shots see:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1029&message=34781207
And here is a comparison with the 135L and an el cheapo super zoom lens:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1029&message=34776029
|
|
|
Mar 12, 2010
|
|
tom guffey
Offline
Image Upload: Off
Registered: Jun 17, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 574
|
|
Review Date: Mar 12, 2010
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $2,499.00
|
|
Pros:
|
Well built, a little heavierthan the series 1 - and the lens barrel is all the same size. Still takes 77mm filters, (good), and it is a notch sharper than the series 1, which is hard to believe. Linked up with the 7D, its a killer. The Af is extremely fast. The AF, with both the 1.4 and the 2.0 extender's focus faster that the series 1. Very pleased with lens. Hope Canon upgrades the 300 and the 400 next.
|
|
Cons:
|
The only one I had was the price.
|
|
|
The feel is 'beefer', a little heavier and the lens fits the hand better, as the 'tube' is all the same size. The 77mm filter is consistant with the prior, and the lens hood has a different method to snap on and off.
When using this with the 7D, the AF seems to be faster than the series 1. Both of the extenders work very well with the new lens. If theres a flaw, I'm not sure what it might be. Pleased with the purchase!
|
|
|
Mar 12, 2010
|
|
Mikeyi
Offline
Image Upload: Off
Registered: Mar 11, 2010
Location: Canada
Posts: 0
|
|
Review Date: Mar 11, 2010
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $2,500.00
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
Sharp sharp sharp....
|
|
Cons:
|
Pricey...
|
|
|
I had picked up the version II today and started doing some testing immediately. After Canon did such an amazing job of the Mark I 70 - 200 2.8 IS L, I did not think it was possible to get any better. I was wrong. Like the last reviewer, I could not believe how sharp this lense is. It also has tripod sensing for the IS and works more effectively with the 1D Mark IV autofocus. Tried it in EXTREMELY dark conditions 1/6th (1600 ISO, 2.8) of a second and was amazed at the autofocus and the sharp image quality. Great contrast. Excellent lense. Although a little pricey, I am VERY happy with it.
Michael.
|
|
|
Mar 11, 2010
|
|
Jonesy
Offline
Image Upload: On
Registered: Jan 29, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 2695
|
|
Review Date: Mar 11, 2010
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $2,499.00
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
Fast, Sharp, IS works!!
|
|
Cons:
|
Price
|
|
|
I use to own the 70-200 2.8 IS MKI before this and loved it. Sold it and went all primes for weddings but I missed the 70-200 for portrait sessisons and etc...
Compared the MKI and MKII in the shop before buying and the MKII is sharper and the IS works better. I have done some 100% crops from the MKII at 200mm, 2.8 and they look nice!
Only complaint is the 2499 price tag....I almost wanted to add more money and just get the 300 2.8 but I felt the 70-200 would be more practical for my use.
Nice SHARP fast lens!!!!
|
|
|
Mar 11, 2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reviews
|
Views
|
Date of last review
|
|
107
|
126131
|
May 1, 2013
|
|
|
Recommended By
|
Average Price
|
|
94% of reviewers
|
$2,387.71
|
|
|
Build Quality Rating
|
Price Rating
|
Overall Rating
|
|
9.94
|
8.72
|
9.9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
