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kengroff
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Registered: Jan 5, 2009
Location: Canada
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Jan 5, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Zoom range is very useful, sharp wide open, focuses very quickly, nice colors and bokeh, I love it!
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Cons:
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Color attracts a bit of attention...nothing much else, a little heaving but it balances better when I put the battery grip on my 30D.
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Great lens, I wanted the f/2.8 for sports and its very sharp even wide open. Focuses fast and accurate. Zoom covers a good range and can be used for portraits. Gives a nice creamy bokeh. Some say its heavy but I don't find it that to be that bad, can get a little hard on the neck when not in use but I don't find my arms get tired. A great lens, no complaints here, lived up to expectations.
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 Jan 5, 2009
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saaketham
Offline
Buy and Sell: On
Registered: May 17, 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 7881
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Review Date: Dec 30, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $850.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Beautiful background-blur ability and bokeh
Sharp when used on tripod or higher shutter speeds
Beautiful colors
Build is solid
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Cons:
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Very Heavy after a few minutes of use
Huge
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After years of trying different cheaper options such as the Canon 70-200mm f/4, the Sigma 100-300mm f/4 and other such tele-zooms, I finally caved and bought the 70-200mm f/2.8. And man, portraits taken with this lens have come out absolutely beautiful. Clients love the images taken with it. It is built very solidly and has the white coating, which I like. It comes with the hood and the tripod collar. It has the same 77mm filter thread as my 17-55mm IS, which makes it much simpler to assemble a filter-collection. I have a 77mm Nikon Circular Polarizer, a 77mm Canon 500D close-up and a Cokin P 77mm adapter/holder + Singh-Ray Reverse GND. Both lenses have same filter thread and this keeps things much simpler. The weight is a bother after just a few minutes of shooting, but then I think of the quality of the photos and I keep shooting. My copy is sharp even wide open, handheld, provided I am shooting at decent shutter speeds, in good light. I would definitely recommend this lens over the f/4 or f/4 IS versions, IF you're more interested in background blur and wonderful portraits, and less on ease of carrying it around.
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Dec 30, 2008
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RichNYSME
Offline
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Registered: Oct 9, 2007
Location: United States
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Dec 27, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $900.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Excellent IQ, fast focusing, build quality.
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Cons:
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Weight, didn't notice any IQ difference to my F4 version.
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I use my telephotos for auto racing 95% of the time, was using an F4 version of this lens and loved it. Had a chance to buy a 2.8 version on Ebay for a good price and went for it. I sold my F4 and took the 2.8 to the Petit Le Mans race weekend for 4 days, shot about 1400 pics with it and after comparing them to previous pics taken with the F4 version I couldn't justify the higher cost and weight of the 2.8 so I put it back on Ebay and bought another F4! If you need the low light capability of the 2.8 then go for it, otherwise you are lugging around a brick of a lens for no good reason as the F4 version does everything exactly the same.
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Dec 27, 2008
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skibum5
Offline
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Registered: Jan 20, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 17304
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Review Date: Oct 13, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,050.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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quite sharp even wide open at 200mm, pretty resistant to PF and flare
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Cons:
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not quite as quick to focus as the IS version
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better contrast wide open than the IS version
less prone to PF than the IS or the sigma
less prone to flare than the sigma
sharper than the sigma at 200mm f/2.8
nicer colors than the sigma
focuses more accurately than the sigma
doesn't focus quite as well as the IS
better rendering of oof areas than the IS
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Oct 13, 2008
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cdryall
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Registered: Mar 19, 2005
Location: South Africa
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Sep 8, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,000.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Stunning IQ, great bokeh wide open, beautifully built, worked very well on both APS C and APS H bodies
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Cons:
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Lack of IS, heavy - unless need for sports then F4 I/S today may be better option
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Bought this some two years ago and was immediately pleased with the quality of the images on my 30D. Is heavy though and as one gets older - well lets put it this way IS is a very useful aid. As a result have now sold for IS version.
However as the better application of high ISO through new technology continues to emerge, this lens may experience a resurgence in popularity and find its way back into many photographers hands, especially those young guns keen on sports....
Definitely pretty much a classic.........
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Sep 8, 2008
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chuborama
Offline
Image Upload: Off
Registered: Jun 18, 2008
Location: Japan
Posts: 73
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Review Date: Jul 24, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $950.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Excellent build quality, addictingly fast AF, f/2.8, noticeably better color, contrast, and sharpness (even wide open!)
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Cons:
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Expensive, as big and heavy as it looks in the pictures.
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I bought mine used, and it's been working fine for the month or so I've had it.
First L lens. Sharp sharp sharp, even at f/2.8!! The colors and contrast are so pleasing to the eye. I took the shots at same aperture, shutter speed, ISO, angle, etc against my 100-300 4.5-5.6 and comparing the images is like comparing night and day. No question you get what you paid for!
Which means that the lens is hefty. It's definitely hand holdable, but I would think a monopod would help with long shoots, especially sports or events, festivals, etc.
Because the lens performs so well natively, when used with my 2x extender image quality and AF still perform very well. I am pleased that I can have both the 2.8 and 400mm if I need it.
Zooming is easy and the lens does not extend while focusing or zooming.
You will want to shoot telephoto for almost everything once you touch this lens, but realize that you'll have to take it off your camera eventually when you want to shoot wider than 70mm :D
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Jul 24, 2008
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aladyforty
Offline
Image Upload: Off
Registered: Feb 3, 2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 2027
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Review Date: May 31, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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sharp contrasty, great DOF beautiful images
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Cons:
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My hood is a pain but I gather its just this lens
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I have had this lens just two weeks but I have to say I love it already. I thought my F4 version was great until I used this lens. I got mine used but its only 6 months old so may as well be new.
I don’t miss IS at all. On my 30D this lens seems so well balanced I’m handholding at quite low shutter speeds without much problem. It does start to get heavy after a while but when I see the images I forget that,
The only negative I have is that the hood is a pain, probably just this lens but I find it so hard to get on and off. I had to cut a small piece out of the plastic just to get the thing on and I worry each time I put it on I am going to break it.
I can’t seem to handhold it well with the 1X4 TC on, it’s as if it is unbalanced on the camera but I doubt that I will matter as I won’t need the TC often anyway.
I still give the lens a 10 as you just can’t beat to image quality it produces for a zoom lens.
If you can do without IS this is the lens to get. I have no regrets at all
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May 31, 2008
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JanPhoto
Offline
[ X ]
Registered: Feb 27, 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 32
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Review Date: May 7, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,699.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Well build, quick focus, supper optics ... CANON CLASSIC ...
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Cons:
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Do not see any ....
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This lens which I have purchased in addition to f4.0 IS, is truly awesome .... the F2.8 plays a big role here since I love shallow dept of field in images plus of course speed increase due to F2.8 ....
@ As far as color reproduction I say SUPER!
@ Sharpness PERFECT!
@ Focusing dam QUICK!
@ Image Stabilization FANTASTIC!
Over all the BEST 70-200mm lens I have ever owned ! Highly RECOMMENDED!
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May 7, 2008
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babylonboots
Offline
Image Upload: Off
Registered: Jul 23, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 107
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Review Date: May 6, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Smooth zoom, quick focus, great DOF
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Cons:
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None
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Had my reservations about getting this lens instead of the IS version. However, I've managed to hold this well balanced lens steady. It's rapidly becoming my favorite.
The f/2.8 allows me to control DOF much better than my 100-400. So much in fact, I may end up divesting it. I took test photos at up to 4 seconds, and each was spot on sharp.
I really love this lens! No regrets whatsoever. It's added another dimension to my photography.
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May 6, 2008
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rgiaco777
Offline
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Registered: Feb 14, 2008
Location: United States
Posts: 292
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Review Date: Apr 15, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Build quality, sharpness, contrast, bokeh, focus speed. An all-around gem.
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Cons:
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None except the cliché "price and weight". No IS. Looks goofy on my tiny Rebel ;)
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I'm giddy after splurging on my first L. Upon taking this lens out of the box, I immediately noticed the superb build quality and the smoothness with which the controls operate. The included hood and tripod mount are excellent and both work perfectly.
Image quality is on a league I've never personally achieved before - I never feel the need to bump up sharpness and contrast in Photoshop as opposed to other lenses, and the 70-200's bokeh is as smooth as butter and incredibly pleasing to the eye. I can't comment on how well the lens accepts extenders as I have yet to use one with it.
The ring USM is fast, unnoticeable in all but the most silent of spaces, and it almost never hunts. I found my keeper rate increase drastically, even on the Digital Rebel I frequently mount to this lens (which is known for the worst AF in Canon's current camera line).
I find that the larger size gives the lens more inertia and therefore makes handholding with slower shutter speeds easier than with smaller lenses like the Sigma 70-300mm I used to use. Be prepared for stupid comments from non-photographers with regard to the size of the lens. Removing the hood helps to some extent, but this is still a pro-grade piece of glass and there is no getting around the fact that it is anything but inconspicuous. I'll have to be really careful to make sure that it never gets stolen.
I can't wait to use this lens to its full potential in the upcoming months and years. I mainly shoot sports, so I don't have the need for IS. I'd easily recommend this 70-200 to anyone looking to take their photography to the next level.
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Apr 15, 2008
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EOS-1D
Offline
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Registered: Oct 22, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 397
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Review Date: Mar 18, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $800.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Amazingly sharp throughout, build, overall quality.
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Cons:
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Nothing I've noticed
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I just picked this up a week and a half ago and it's everything I'd always heard it was, and more. Phenomenal lens in every respect. I paid $800 for mine, all that was missing was the box and manual. Lens was in almost perfect condition, with one little blemish you'd have to look for. I can't understand why I only paid $800 for it, it's incredible. I had the Sigma 70-200/2.8 that I thought was amazing until I acquired this L. In fairness, the Sigma was an awesome lens, but I didn't have the Canon to compare it to.
The pictures this produces on my 1D have a sharpness and a feel to them I haven't seen before. The colors are so warm and true...
Completely and totally recommended, especially if you can get one at a price comparable to what I paid. It just makes it that much better!
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Mar 18, 2008
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charliebrown34
Offline
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Registered: Mar 7, 2008
Location: Germany
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Mar 7, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Sharpness is amazing even wide open, solid built, fast and reliable AF. This lens will remain in my camera bag for a very long time.
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Cons:
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Maybe the weight if you use it for a longer time without support of a monopod, tripod or beanbag; there is a bit of movement between the lens and my 30D
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My first 70-200mm lens was the 70-200 f/4 L USM, which I thougt was the sharpest thing wide open I've ever seen (I used it virtually just wide open). But this lens beats the f/4 easily at 2.8! As I'm in taking sports and concert pictures I do need the f/2.8 due to poor lighting in the most situations I shoot.
As I'm photoraphing moving objekts (I'm not shooting chess!) I didn't go for the f/4 IS or the f/2.8 IS because I need shutter speed faster than 1/200s anyway - which is handholdable for me in the focal lenght range of this lens. So think about if you really need IS - if not, you can save a lot of money.
If you need f/2.8 and if you can live without IS this is the lens to buy.
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Mar 7, 2008
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Devin Hillam
Offline
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Registered: Nov 8, 2007
Location: United States
Posts: 456
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Review Date: Jan 30, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,100.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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This thing is amazing!
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Cons:
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Not a thing
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This puppy is amazing...I thought I knew sharp until I began cheated on my other lenses with this beauty. Its fast (even on a Rebel Xt) Its even fast on a Rebel Xt with a 1.4tc. Its been on my camera 90% of the time since I bought it. Great for sports, portraits, landscape, and any other thing you can think of! Amazing! L glass rules!
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Jan 30, 2008
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Joel Kern
Offline
Image Upload: Off
Registered: Nov 14, 2007
Location: Canada
Posts: 21
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Review Date: Jan 29, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,100.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Super sharp zoom lens with no chromatic aberration problems to speak of from 100mm to 200mm. Rock-solid build and a complete joy to use... a MUST-HAVE lens from the Canon stable.
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Cons:
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Nit-picks: Closest focusing distance could be a little better and chromatic aberration performance at 70mm leaves a little to be desired... but then you'd have a perfect lens.
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This is the one lens that will keep me tied to Canon. It's just that good. I've used Nikon a equivalent in the past (80-200 f2.8D two-ring), and while it was a good lens, the Canon runs circles around it. Incredibly fast focusing speed thanks to it's ultrasonic ring motor, incredible sharpness for a zoom and unsurpassed aberration correction for a lens in this range (I suppose the Leica 70-180 APO might be better, but I could never afford one anyway). The best telephoto lens I've ever had the pleasure of using.
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Jan 29, 2008
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Kevin Tallman
Offline
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Registered: Jan 6, 2008
Location: N/A
Posts: 3
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Review Date: Jan 6, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
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Pros:
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Question/advice
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Cons:
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I am currently in the market for a zoom lens and have narrowed my search down to the canon 70-200 f/2.8, f/4 or the sigma macro 70-200 f/2.8. I shoot mainly portraits and my kids' sports(mostly outdoors). They are young,however, I am thinking to the future. Can I survive with the f/4 or should I bite the bullet and buy the f/2.8. Thank you.
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Jan 6, 2008
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JackyFong
Offline
Image Upload: Off
Registered: Apr 27, 2006
Location: Singapore
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Dec 26, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Fast AF, Excellent Optics, Nice bokeh, Performs better than my EF 70-210mm f3.5-4.5 USM (which in some reviews similar to an L)
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Cons:
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A bit heavy and all handhelds 70% turns out shaky (But its just my hands, not the glass)
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When I was still a student, this is a lens that I hope to get. No matter how I had saved 3 years ago, the money just could not be accumulated and gave up saving for it. Now, as a working class drawing regular salary, I could finally purchase this amazing piece of glass. To me, it is finally a dream come true. This is my first L, and will not be my last.
Bought as an used copy from one of my closed friends, I was happy of this L. Tested its capabilities in my work place, I was delighted the optics and reputation performed to its best. I am a photographer for my company and I frequently need a long lens for sports and actions, as well as indoor studio works. I am pleased by my copy by its colour and bokeh as well as the weight. I think a monopod would be my next purchase.
Overall, this white L performs better than my EF 70-210mm f3.5-4.5 USM, which some says its comparable to L. My 70-210 now will semi-retire to loan out while this L will be my workhorse.
=)
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Dec 26, 2007
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Reviews
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Views
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Date of last review
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179
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441257
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Oct 16, 2020
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Recommended By
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Average Price
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98% of reviewers
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$1,134.20
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Build Quality Rating
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Price Rating
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Overall Rating
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9.85
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9.08
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9.7
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