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As far as I’m concerned: none. Oh, and the weight? I just say that it’s lighter than the 70-200 f/2.8 L IS USM

I was long waiting to buy this piece of glass since I sold my former EF 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS USM (the only non L series I owned). I never got acquainted with the lens because it felt like I was using a plastic toy. A good glass but strange handling it.

Finally my new 24-70 f/2.8 L USM arrived and I must say that this is in fact a great copy and as far as my first test were made, the lens is 5 stars.

I waited a bit longer for the news from Canon to come out and as soon as the 24-105 came out it was just a few days to make the possible comparisons and decide which to buy. Of course that I was just trying to fill the gap between my 16-35 and the 70-200 and avoid using the 16-35 as an all purpose lens.

It is really an excellent copy and the glass is superb.

Lens buttons not protected, white color

This has been for quite a long time my first choice lens. Even in some situations when I can probably use a shorter FL lens I first try the 70-200 because its image quality is so good for a non prime lens that I get tempted.

The lens is fast, not only fast on apperture - f/2.8 but also in focusing. The USM works greatly.

The IS function, which has two modes if in ON - enables the panning to be done without compromising vertical shake stabilization, if you're not using a monopod or tripod, since when attached to on of these the IS function is automatically disabled.

By the way, the lens mode buttons are easy to unset inadvertedly and this is a negative aspect for this lens.

The colar is a great add when working on with a monopod/tripod since you'll be able to rotate the camera for portrait/landscape pictures.

The results with this lens are superb for a non prime lens and even attached to an exteder 2xII, doubling the focal lens the images are quite acceptable.

White color is good to avoid overheating but bad if you like to be discrete. I don't believe Canon will ever change the color for these lenses but it would be nice if they did.

On a 10D you might feel some disconfort with the battery grip because of the lens wheight but on a 1D Mark II or any 1 body the set will feel steady and confortable to work with.

As a comclusion, this a must buy for professionals and for amateurs, go if you have the money to spend on it, you never recoup but you'll be satisfied with the results and the pictures you get with the EF 70-200 f/2.8 L IS USM lens.

Despite being an L series lens, which is the same to say - top notch equipment, the EF 16-35 f/2.8 L USM is a great partner on a pro everyday work due to its sharpeness and the f/2.8 max aperture.

On a EOS 10D this zoom lens is great since it is not a 16-35 but a 25.6-56.0 due to the 1.6 coversion factor and in terms of distortion when wide open it is acceptable.

On a 1D Mark II this becomes a second choice zoom lens or a specific use lens since, besides not being a 16-35 but a 20.8-45.5 (conv. factor 1.3) the distorting becomes more noticeable, specially on landscapes, but it quite acceptable for some events.

Mine had to replace the USM motor after almost 2 years of use but it works as new now.

Metering system on available light, jpeg processing quality, FEL button position

This is no doubt a photojournalist and sports camera - fast and reliable, I would say, so fast that you better know what you whant to shoot and how many frames you do really need because switching to Drive H as you touch the shutter button the camera almost instantaneously makes to exposures for a single fast button press. This is excelent for some subjects and assignments. With the Drive on L its quite fast for almost all regular needs.

One thing you'll notice is that the burst speed and the file writting speed is almost unbelievable and this adds a great value for a photographers work.

The battery life is excellent, even if you set the preview for 4secs. it will last for more than 8GB shooting session o jpgs. Even though, an extra battery is always a good choice to consider.

The autofocus modes and the 45point selectable auto-focus points, with extra options for extending single points is one of the great issues in this camera, specially the AI Focus mode wich has an incredible reliability for tracking and acquiring fast or erroneus moving subjects.

But the greatest issue I found on the 1D MK II was the E-TTL II system and the extraordinary final results that it enables with the EX speedlights. I was not amazed but astonished after the first set of testing shots with the 550EX on poor lighting conditions - the colors were marvelous, the mettering system extraordinary and the flexibility of ISO speed settings gives you more space to work with confidence.

Now, what I didn't like on the 1D MKII:

The mettering system (working on jpeg files) is far worst than with the 10D, as an example, but on RAW (CR2), no problems. What I found on jpeg files, with standard or factory settings, was that the images came out 1stop darker and the reds (even after updating firmware) a bit to saturated.
On clody days, the 1D MKII, workin on M mode gives you a little extra work (again, on jpgs) to set the right parameters for fine results.

The FEL button, eve though I don't use it very often, isn't located as well as I would like but this is just a minor detail.

The 8,2 megapixels are a bit short for this camera.

Conclusion

I really appreciate Canon's efforts on the 1D Mark II and this is really a fine pro camera but, unlike some other users say, I hope that Canon will be back with a better evolution on the 1D MKII, specially on the mettering system and the resolution of the CMOS sensor.
It's a must buy for almost any professional who doesn't need the full frame sensor of the 1DS MKII but needs the speed of the "Ultrasonic" 1D MKII

Bad construction, tilt buttons prevent fast work, battery door with anoying opening/closing, too small buttons

My first words on the 550 EX goes for the equipment's user guide: MUST READ TWICE! If you're planning to get a good usage for this flash you better spend a good time reading and testing the unit in different situations as you may be able.

Due to its powerfull light you must be very aware of its features since it can become an excelent add or a "picture distroyer". Read and test it before you use it in your work.

I've heard so many bad words from colleagues about the 550EX but I noticed that they didn't read the user's guide!

Despite the good features it has and the excelent E-TTL results, some buttons are too small for a good usage, namely the flash high sync/2nd courtin setting... humm!

I've never used it off camera with the ST-E transmitter but for what I've heard from others it works great. Well, if it is great on camera why not being off camera.

The battery compartment door is strange and not possessing a good design for usability. Each time I have to open it I pray for not breaking it!

The tilt system is quite odd and to complicated for fast work. Each time one has to change the from landscape to portrait that system really complicates the workflow. The tilt is better but not perfect and it would be better if no buttons were necessary for aplying these changes (like in the Olympus flashes).

Loss of two stops, some picture degradation

I've been working with the 2x II Extender on my EF 70-200 f/2.8 L IS USM and noticed some image degradation, besides loosing two stops. Hopefully I don't use it oftenly in low light situations (most of my work) but when used it gives good results, not excelente but good.

The construction is very good and the Extender's contacts have been working nicely (if kept clean).

A good solution for those who don't have budget to buy greater zoom lenses. If you do... forget the Extender!

I'm happy with my purchase for the purpose I bought it and though I recommend it with caution.