Camera Labs

got the 70-200 f2.8 IS II USM...one word to describe AMAZING...it's big, white, heavy & pricey but definitely worth it...amazingly sharp and fast!!!

Yeah

i have got 1 for myself as well... gr8 lens te only drawback is very very heavy.. m sure one cannot hold this for more than 30mins outside while shooting.. but this i already know before buying so i shudnt be complaining abt this now .....

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Canon EOS 5D mk III|Canon EOS 7D | 70-200 F2.8 L IS II USM | 400 F5.6 L USM

Something not mentioned yet (or I didn't read it?) is that the IS versions don't just have the "IS" but they are also weather sealed.

I guess the most realistic one for me is the f/4 IS. But still no money for it...
I even thought of the Sigma f/2.8 as it's easier to pay, has this great aperture... well... but it's no Canon (and isn't so beautiful white), has no IS and no weather sealing.

The Tamron seems to have a better image quality than the Sigma but no "USM" or "HSM"...

Well... waiting for the future and hopefully more money.

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Canon EOS 500D + Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Canon EF 24-105mm 4L IS USM + EF 100-400mm 4.5-5.6L IS USM + EF 100mm 2.8L Macro IS USM + Sigma 12-24mm 4.5-5.6 EX DG HSM + Canon Speedlite 580 EX II + Nissin Speedlite Di 466

In my opinion: The 70-200 F4.
It is cheap, and very sharp.
I thought it's almost sharper than the F/2,8 @4...

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Ruben

Panasonic DMC-FZ18, Panasonic DMC-FZ28, Canon G5, Canon 350D, Canon 50D + BG-E2N
Tamron 17-50 2.8, Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM,
Canon 18-55 II plus lots of Minolta MD/M42 lenses and bodies

I found the weight and price of the f2.8 just to hefty.

When I bought my 1st EOS-3 film body (used), two lenses joined it within days, the 70-200 f4L IS USM and the 17-40 f4L.

I've not been disappointed with either, they are tack sharp, contrast is great as is color saturation, AF is fast, are fairly light in weight and both work great on my 40D!

*** For low light and excellent bokeh I mostly use primes, a 50 f1.4, 100 f2.8 macro; and barrow a friends 28 and 85 f1.8 (both are on my wish list.)

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EOS-3(2) & EOS 40D (w/drives), EF-S 10-22, EF 17-40 f4L, EF 50 f1.4, EF 100 Macro, EF 70-200 f4L IS, EF 300 f4L IS, EF 1.4x Extender II, EF 12mm & 25mm Ext Tubes, EX 580 II(2), Bogen supports (tri, mono and super clamps, ball & tilt heads), Kata-84 & Domke Brick10 (storage), Domke F2 (Daily; original/1978)
Dell Latitude e6500, Lightroom, DXO & various plugins; Canon FD Collector - Fav kit, T-90 w/200mm f4 macro, ML-3 Ring Lite...Fuji Velvia 50 (film)

Major edit of the initial post!

Originally I had in mind the f/4 IS. I was worried about the weight being an issue with the f/2.8 lens. I did eventually find a really good buy on an old "mark I" version of the 70-200 IS and the 3lbs really doesn't seem that heavy after all even when using it handheld! Strangely, the 100-400 is about the same weight, but seems heavier somehow. It might have to do with the push-pull design of the 100-400 that puts the weight out further from my body.

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Still nursing along my Canon XTi/400D with EF 100-400L IS, EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM, EF 50 f/1.4, EF-S 18-200, EF 75-300, EF-S 18-55.

I love the f/4 IS. I would not even consider the non-IS version of these lenses! I choose the f/4 over the f/2.8 becaue it weighs only half as much. In most of the shooting I do where I'm carrying the lens all day, that makes a huge difference in usability. I'm willing to give up 1 stop of light for that portability.

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My Photography Websites:
SteeleTraining.com Free Photography Tutorials and Online Courses
SteeleVisions.com Personal Photography Site and Blog
BurnMonkey.com Photos from the Burning Man Festival

EDIT - some posts removed to stay on topic. This thread is only about which 70-200mm Canon lens you bought and why - thanks!

This f4L IS lens is impressive! I heard that some shops are putting the price up because of the increased cost of the lens to the dealers from Canon Europe so I got one now. Mind you they are not easy to source now from reputable dealers at the lower price.

Just tried it out and the photos are so sharp and clear compared to my 70-300 IS USM lens! And that lens is very highly rated. It certainly is true to say it is more important to get better lenses than a better body, if you have to make the choice. I was concerned at spending a lot of money on a zoom lens that was within the zoom range of a lens I already have but the image quality of this lens certainly justifies it.

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Canon 40D, EF-S 17-85mm IS USM, EF 70-300 IS USM, EF 50mm f/1.4, Speedlite 430EX II, EF 70-200 f/4L IS USM, EFS 10-22mm.

I first wanted to get the f/4 IS version, being cheaper and optically better than the f/2.8 mkI.
But then realized I needed the 400mm extra reach (with X2 converter) about 4X a year for wildlife and aviation pics, and 280mm with the X1.4 would not be enough for many occasions also.
Then Canon made the f/2.8 II and that's when I deceided, after many debates, to buy this wonderfull piece of glass.
As and added bonus, I make my body builder coach and my wife happy as I do some regular lifting exercises due to the weight of this lens

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eos 7D, Eos 5 (not D) 10-22mm, "vintage"20-35mmf/2.8L, 24-105f/4L, 50mmf/1.4, 100mmf/2.8 macro, 70-200mmf/2.8L IS II, ExtX2III, 580EXII, Giotto vitruvian tripod, many other bits that goes in a camera bag...

@dsmcl77

Congrats for new telephoto.
hope u have fun shooting people and wild-life with ur new sexy L lens.

i thought canon have mark II for their 70-200 IS USM. if it really a mark II for non IS ?

still wish i canon could low-down price for many people that can't afford without the need to ro* bank.

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Canon EOS 7D + Red Canon IXUS 300HS.
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L,Canon EF 100mm F/2.8L IS USM.
Sigma 70-200mm F/2.8 APO EX DG OS HSM, Sigma 50mm F/1.4 HSM
Canon Speedlite 480EX II + Tripod+ B+W MRC (2x77+67), hoya HD UV (77) B+W MRC 77mm(CPL slim+10 ND).

Thx

it is the IS USM version of course

As for the (high) price I took the opportunity of a pay raise and sold my 450D and my 70-300mm to be able to "afford" it

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eos 7D, Eos 5 (not D) 10-22mm, "vintage"20-35mmf/2.8L, 24-105f/4L, 50mmf/1.4, 100mmf/2.8 macro, 70-200mmf/2.8L IS II, ExtX2III, 580EXII, Giotto vitruvian tripod, many other bits that goes in a camera bag...

@ dsmcl77

Sorry, mostly went i see member talk about mark II they always put IS.

WoW,then u are luckily. do feel so sad about lost 450D. sometime we gain some we lost some.

still wish canon make Mark II for 70-200 like 70-200 F/2 USM it would be cool.

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Canon EOS 7D + Red Canon IXUS 300HS.
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L,Canon EF 100mm F/2.8L IS USM.
Sigma 70-200mm F/2.8 APO EX DG OS HSM, Sigma 50mm F/1.4 HSM
Canon Speedlite 480EX II + Tripod+ B+W MRC (2x77+67), hoya HD UV (77) B+W MRC 77mm(CPL slim+10 ND).

Well - a 70-200mm f/2 wouldn't be a Mark II but a new model Extremely expensive, big and heavy new model

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Canon EOS 500D + Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Canon EF 24-105mm 4L IS USM + EF 100-400mm 4.5-5.6L IS USM + EF 100mm 2.8L Macro IS USM + Sigma 12-24mm 4.5-5.6 EX DG HSM + Canon Speedlite 580 EX II + Nissin Speedlite Di 466

@Jiko
like weight 3Kg and cost $3000. O.O

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Canon EOS 7D + Red Canon IXUS 300HS.
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L,Canon EF 100mm F/2.8L IS USM.
Sigma 70-200mm F/2.8 APO EX DG OS HSM, Sigma 50mm F/1.4 HSM
Canon Speedlite 480EX II + Tripod+ B+W MRC (2x77+67), hoya HD UV (77) B+W MRC 77mm(CPL slim+10 ND).