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Get information and user reviews for this lens from Amazon: Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
Photo Zone
The Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 USM IS is a very good lens but not a stellar one. The resolution characteristic is excellent at 70mm and 135mm but at 200mm it disappoints – more so regarding its price tag. The results are still very good here (just at f/2.8) but when putting things into perspective (e.g. vs the superb EF 70-200mm f/4 USM L IS) the delivered quality is not overly impressive. Based on the performance at 200mm the potential with tele converters seems “limited”. Lateral chromatic aberrations (CAs) are relatively well controlled but, again, inferior to the in-house competition (inc. its predecessor). Distortions are nothing to worry about as is vignetting. The build quality of the lens is superb and the IS as well as the very fast AF makes it a joy to use. If only it was better at 200mm. READ FULL REVIEW
Other Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM EF Reviews
SLR Gear
By any measure, the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM is an excellent lens. It shares its focal length range with three other Canon lenses, covering all combinations of f/2.8 – f/4 and IS vs non-IS. The 70-200mm f/2.8L IS is a large, heavy beast, but it’s the only way to go if you need a combination of 70-200mm zoom, IS, and a fast f/2.8 maximum aperture. If your budget can’t quite afford the f/2.8L, either f/4L version is an excellent value. Highly recommended, all around. READ FULL REVIEW
Digital Photography Review
The Canon 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM is quite simply an excellent lens, which will reward users with quality images in almost every situation. … Considering that this lens also has build quality at least on a par with anything comparable (including dust and moisture sealing), plus superb autofocus and image stabilization systems, it seems fair to say the it’s probably the most all-round accomplished full-frame 35mm fast tele-zoom currently available. The only real negative is a certain susceptibility to flare with strong light sources either in or close to the frame, as can only be expected from such a complex design. Ultimately, the biggest factor against the Canon 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM is its price. … However the F2.8 IS version covers all the bases, and for Canon users seeking a top quality tele-zoom, it is quite simply peerless. READ FULL REVIEW
Digital Picture
The Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens is my favorite and most-used lens. Combining a very popular and very useful focal length range with excellent image quality, professional build quality, superb autofocus performance, a fast aperture and one of my favorite features – Canon’s valuable 3-stop Image Stabilization – makes the 70-200 IS one of Canon’s most desired lenses. When I really need to make every shot count, the 70-200 IS is one of the first lenses I will include in my bag. It is one of the most-professionally-used lenses available and finds a home in the kit of many, many serious amateurs as well. READ FULL REVIEW
Pop Photo
Image stabilization function gave very similar (i.e., excellent) results in the areas of speed, noise, sharpness, and focusing accuracy compared to previously tested Canon IS lenses. With nonmoving subjects, all of our handheld pictures were in sharp focus at all tested focal lengths (70-, 135-, and 200mm) at shutter speeds as slow as 1/25 sec. Even at 1/4 sec, 75 percent of the handheld test pictures were deemed sharp at 70mm. If you can deal with the extra weight and cost, this lens delivers on its promise of sharper pictures at slower shutter speeds. READ FULL REVIEW
Shutterbug
The EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM produced extremely sharp images with excellent color rendition. As expected, this zoom produced incredibly high sharpness across the entire frame at all apertures and focal lengths. READ FULL REVIEW
Ken Rockwell
It’s a giant, high-performance lens. This is the general purpose tele zoom used by most pros who use Canon. Of course Canon is going to ensure that this lens is as good as it can be, since it’s the lens by which most pros judge an entire camera company. READ FULL REVIEW
Kent Pledger
11 Jun 2009Every lens and every camera has its limits, pros and cons…I started taking my photography seriously after starting an after school camera club with a Canon 400D…I used an 60mm macro, a 17-85 IS UM and a 70-300 IS UM…it was only when I started shooting indoors that I soon realized I needed ‘more power’…rather than put my money into a body, I kept my 400D and added the 70-200 f/2.8 L IS UM lens…it blew me away…yes at full focal length it works hard, but if you understand your equipments limitations and quirks, learn how to work around or with them…this lens has not let me down, indoors and out…I had the opportunity to get a Canon D50 and when I put this lens on it, I could shoot indoors in poor light at full focal length at ISO 1250 and get acceptable, sharp photographs with an acceptable amount of noise (considering the conditions) …I love this lens, it is always on my camera…I have just ordered a Canon 5d Mk ll, and look forward to seeing what this beast can do on this body…I recommend this lens to anyone who wants more for less (I say this as it falls in the mid price range of L lenses)…follow the links for an example, what I ask you look at are the whiskers and notice the settings…if it can do this without trying and hand held, think what it could do under optimum conditions…
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3593/3616078261_882ca9eb05_b.jpg
David
8 Nov 2009I have the EF 70-200 F/2.8L IS along with an EOS 40D & 5D MkI, I can very clearly see the difference between both bodies, this les is definitely sharper on my 5D MkI @ 200 F/2.8 than it is on my 40D the difference is minor, by the way this would be the 2nd copy that I purchased from B&H Camera as the 1st copy was a bit soft in my opinion so I had it exchanged after doing some real world testing. My 2nd copy is very sharp on my FF 5D. On the 40D it sharpens up very nicely on DDP or Photoshop so no big deal, & by the way I used to owned the non IS version of this same lens & lots of people would say it is a tiny bit sharper (true) than the IS, but to me there is no way I would go back to the non IS version. IS makes all the difference in the world to in my opinion specially for weddings!
Claudia
15 Feb 2011I have EF 70-200 f/4 non IS USM version, just brilliant. I can highly recommend it to anyone.