Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras Reviews

• Sharp and fast with excellent build quality

  
  By A3M06TE1J42O3T on 2005-09-26
  I have owned this lens since February 2005 and have used it exclusively with a Canon 20D. This is the second L-series lens I've bought from Canon (the other being the 24-70mm f/2.8L). Before buying, I researched the different versions of this lens Canon offers (IS, non-IS and non-IS f/4). I looked for every reason 'not' to spend the money on the IS version but ultimately got it anyway. I have never regretted the purchase.
  
  You should know that IS (Image Stabilization) is not a miracle cure for camera shake, but it does give you the equivalent of two or three stops in terms of usable shutter speeds. A motorized gyro inside the lens helps compensate for a modest amount of camera shake. It's powered by the camera's battery. That means if the slowest shutter speed you can shoot handheld without unacceptable blurring is 1/60, you will be able to shoot 1/40 or maybe 1/30 with IS. In some situations, that's the difference between a photo that's a keeper and one you toss. Of course, you can still take blurry photos with IS--as I said, it's not a miracle cure, but there's no question it's a worthwhile feature. This version of Canon's IS can be used with a tripod unlike the older version on some other Canon lenses such as the 100-400mm L, which cannot. It has two modes, one corrects for vertical motion only (for shots where you pan with a moving subject) and another that corrects for both horizontal and vertical motion. Note: IS does NOT compensate for subject motion--the only way to slow subject motion is with a faster shutter speed. IS is purely a feature that helps avoid the blurring caused by the camera moving.
  
  My copy of this lens is very sharp at all focal lengths. Color and contrast are excellent. I really don't have a single complaint about this lens. Some people find the weight objectionable, but it hasn't been an major issue for me. Unless you need to be physically running around to capture your images, or unless you have to hold the lens to your eye for lengthy periods (isn't that what tripods are for?), I don't see that it would be a problem for most average-sized, healthy adults. I often carry my 20D in a shoulder case with this lens, the 24-70mm L and a 580EX Speedlite. Hours of carrying this bag around does require transferring the load from shoulder to shoulder periodically, but it's a price I'm willing to pay to get quality photos.
  
  I own Canon's EF 1.4X II teleconverter and have used it on this lens with great results. The 70-200mm is so sharp to begin with that there's no appreciable loss in sharpness when combined with the 1.4X TC. Reportedly, the results from the 2X TC are not as good, and some find the falloff in sharpness to be too much (not just with this lens, but with any of the telephoto lenses).
  
  This lens is highly recommended. If you can get over the steep entry price, you'll have a high-quality optic built to last for years to come. Of course the non-IS versions can take beautiful photos as well, but having lived with IS now, I've been spoiled.
  
  
  

• Fast, sharp and solid with IS to boot

  
  By A7OYN96T4S3US on 2004-01-14
  This is the best lens you can get in this zoom range for the Canon EOS. It's not the cheapest and it's not the lightest, but it's the best. This lens is fast, it has excellent optics, the build quality is very solid and the image stabilization (IS) feature works wonders for hand held shooting. If you shoot hand held in marginal light, this is the lens for you. If you always use a tripod, you don't really need IS -- take a look at the less expensive non-IS version of this lens. If you always shoot in good light, the lighter and even less expensive 70-200mm f4.0 may do the job for you. But for me, the extra stop of light and the IS make the difference between unusable images and great images. This is an awesome lens.
  
  

• The Canon EF 70-200mm IS is an awesome tack sharp lens!,

  
  By A2PSD2R9A1CXG7 on 2006-09-30
  I shoot with a Canon 20D and before purchasing this lens, used the Canon EF 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 III USM lens. I've always noticed the limitations of this lens when shooting amateur softball. I reviewed the lens lineup at the Canon website and decided on purchasing the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM Lens. The 100-400mm is a great lens, but it can be a little soft. For that reason I decided to add the Canon EF 70-200mm 2.8/f IS USM telephoto zoom lens to my lens collection.
  
  As an L lens, there are numerous features and is manufactured with high quality materials and a higher level of dust and moisture resistance compared to the standard line of lenses. This pro quality lens is meant for serious photographers with high demands of their equipment. The construction is sturdy and consists of 23 elements in 18 groups. The four Super UD-glass elements largely eliminate the secondary spectrum reducing residual chromatic aberration. An improved 8-blade circular aperture offers a more pleasing out-of-focus image. The Canon EF 70-200mm lens weighs in at about 3.24 lbs/1,470 g, and a minimal focusing distance of 4.3 ft/1.3 m. The front thread accepts 77mm filters, be sure to get a good quality UV haze filter to protect the front lens element. This lens is compatible with the 1.4x II and 2X II telephoto extenders.
  
  Being white, this lens looks out of place, but helps it stay cool when shooting out in the sun. Some people are concerned that being white, it attracts attention to criminals. From my experience, my 20D attracts attention regardless of what lens I put on it. In addition, I most likely have a camera bag and tripod/monopod with me to further attract attention. I personally doubt a thief looking for something to steal is taking the time to evaluate the cost of the item and are more concerned with the ease of taking something they can unload. I try to make things difficult for would be thieves and have my equipment insured as a back up.
  
  The dual IS system has two modes. Mode 1 is for stationary subjects while mode two is for moving subjects. It is recommended that the IS function is not used while using a tripod; however I have successfully used this feature while on my monopod. The IS helps to eliminate camera shake and helps stabilize the lens when shooting from a moving vehicle or in low light situations. While there are limitations to what the IS can do, it can give you a few extra stops. Just keep in mind, the IS attempts to eliminate camera movement, not the movement of the subject being photographed.
  
  This lens permits for auto or manual focus depending on how the switch is set. There is also a switch to shift from a 1.4m/4.6ft to infinity or 2.5m/8.2ft to infinity.
  
  Included with this lens are the tripod mount, lens hood, and storage case. The tripod mount is the best option to use when mounting to a tripod, helping to maintain balance. Mounting the camera instead creates an unbalanced set up that may topple over. The case is a zippered soft case (LZ1324) that can also be purchased separately. The lens hood (ET-86) is used to reduce lens flare and can protect the front element in certain situations. Often times, Amazon recommends purchasing the lens case and hood, however they are normally included with the lens.
  
  The Canon EF 70-200mm is such an awesome lens, it almost fails to compare to the Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM telephoto zoom. The EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM telephoto zoom lens is a well used option for me, but the clarity and sharpness of the 70-200mm IS lens is more refined. I doubt the 100-400mm lens will be replaced by this lens as a favorite. I find the push/pull focusing of the 100-400mm lens to be a benefit that the 70-200mm cannot replace. This lens can be used for portraits, landscape, sports or as a general walk about lens. The f/2.8L combined with the IS makes this lens a good option for certain low light situations. The features add creative versatility. The Canon EF 70-200mm IS lens comes at a price, but it is worth every bit of it.
  
  PROS:
  Incredible clarity and sharpness
  Quiet and quick auto-focus
  Features add creative versatility
  Dual IS system
  
  CONS:
  Heavy and bulky (This should be expected with these types of lenses)
  
  

• Excellent lense but having some unsurfaced IS unit problem

  
  By AWF4XSW6UXDAG on 2005-11-08
  Well, well, well..
  This lense is known to be one of the best Canon lense.
  It gives excellent pictures, fast focusing, and is very helpful through excellent Image Stabilizing mechanism.
  HOWEVER, with $1700 price tag, any defect/quality control issue should be disclosed to this lense users.
  Many lenses with serial number of UT08XX or earlier, there is phenomenon on the lense surface that you can see numerous "bubble" or "milky way". Newer ones do not have this phenomenon. You can see the phenomenon by illuminating a flash light through the front of the lense and looking at the mount part of the lense. If you happened to own this kind of lense, please check yours, and have the IS unit serviced by official Canon service center before the one-year warranty expires.
  
  
  

• Wow! An incredible lens in so many ways.

  
  By A2MIXD8BDAPCRJ on 2005-10-14
  I recently moved into the category of "serious impassioned amateur photographer" and, after a healthy dose of research, purchased the Canon 20D D-SLR (see my previous review of the camera and experience with it). As is necessary to all impassioned photographers, the lens selection(s) is tantamount to the best photo, as seen by the photographer's inner eye. As a result, when I decided to purchase the 20D, I wanted the broadest breadth of lens exposure possible in the fewest possible lenses.
  
  In large part, my search came to a rapid halt when I ran across this lens, the Canon EF 70mm-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Telephoto Zoom lens. While this lens is heavy in terms of weight (approximately 2.9lbs) and price, it is easily the best lens purchase I've made, hands down. I have paired this lens with the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Standard Zoom lens and a 2x telephoto extender, and I am set for most any shoot. I have read reviews regarding quality degradation when shooting with the 2x extender however, I've not experienced that (perhaps it is my inexperience...but my photos don't show it!). The 2x extender has provided me with exposure options from 24mm to 400mm, with the high quality expected from Canon "L" lenses.
  
  A few words about IS (image stabilization)...I love to take shots of the moon. First, to get really great shots, one must have a reasonably telephoto lens (that is, if you want to actually see the cheese). The next issue is simply, how do I keep the moon from looking blurry even though the night is totally clear? The answer is simple: get a tripod or get a Canon lens featuring image stabilization. The IS feature has allowed me to take my best moon shots yet, and yes, the cheese is quite visible and quite clear. IS is a must for those shooting without a tripod.
  
  All told, this lens is incredibly rich in features, handles well for a large telephoto, has a tripod bracket for easy attachment to a tripod, and is pretty much the nuts for those of us not fully versed in photographic knowledge. While not the most inexpensive lens around, the features and product results afforded by this lens is well worth the cost. I'd buy it again without hesitation.
  
  
  
  
• Why you should buy this lens!
  By A38NZO0YIHGGBG on 2006-10-25
  First of all it took me a few months to decide on what lens to buy because I did so much research. My choices were between Canon 70-200L 4, 70-200L 2.8 and the 70-200L 2.8IS. After much investigation I opted not to buy the 4.0 because I knew that I would be shooting in dim lights and needed the 2.8. So to save money I bought the 2.8 NON IS. The lens is great and I travelled to Utah with it. All was great until I tried to shoot a deer at full zoom. Every one came out blurry and could not use. Apart from that it is a fantastic lens. As a result I decided to fork out for the 2.8 IS lens and it is amaizing. It has the same optics as the non IS but handheld the IS really works great. Like on some of the reviews it does not make every shot in focus but certainly most of them and the picture quality is amaizing. Fast focus, great colours. Fantastic. If you can afford it buy it and the IS is def worth it because the lens is heavy and you do shake a bit, which is noticeable at full or close to full zoom. Hope this helps.
  
  
• Worth every penny!
  By A1H8Q2PUKD25JL on 2005-07-22
  I bought this lens a couple months ago and have a little over 2,000 images (mainly summer lacrosse leagues and tournaments) and could not be more pleased. Fast, works well in low light conditions, and the images are razor sharp. Its built like a tank and rock solid.
  I paired this with the 24-70 2.8L and the 20D body and feel like I can go anywhere and be covered.
  I have a friend with a 400mm 5.6L and when he complained about shooting in low light conditions (even just cloudy days) that's when I decided to go with the 2.8.
  I figure with 8.2 Mega Pixels, I can crop to cover the lost reach.
  I spent alot on my outfit, but don't forsee ever needing anything else. This will get passed on to my kids after I take my final picture.
  
  
• This zoom is AMAZING!!!
  By A37ZBT4TNPHLA0 on 2005-03-12
  As all of you "L" users know, the optics on these lenses are just amazing. For those of you looking to buy one of these lenses, this is definitly a good start. This lens is constructed from tank material I'm sure. It not only has superb optics, it also is very fast in low light. The IS is one of the best features, giving you the ability to hand hold the lens in almost any low light situations!! Another beautifully crafted lens from Canon. Highly recommend!!
  
  View some of my work at (...)
  
  
• Expensive as H*** but worth the $
  By A38ZYJGF1YX5B4 on 2007-01-30
  I thought my old pictures were sharp, but after using this lens, my old pictures don't look as sharp :). It does not matter if the lens is at 70mm or 200mm, it's just as sharp. At first the lens felt heavy, but after a few hundred shots, I got used to using it hand held like I did with my old feather weight lens. USE THE STRAP! USE THE STRAP! USE THE STRAP! Or prepare to drop everything. It can be held by hand, but I had a very close call when I first tried it :). This lens does come with the lens cap, lens hood, and a very big bag the size of a 2 liter bottle of coke by the way. lol :).
  
  This is a great lens. I shot birds, I shot cars, I shot houses, I saw a chicken the other day and shot that. I even shot the police.... @ 200mm lol :). Then, I looked up and shot the moon. I need to travel around the world to find more stuff to shoot!
  
  A guy asked me if this lens would zoom. "You see that fly on top of that truck over yonder?" I said. lol :)
  
  They don't call them Canon for nothing.
  
  
• The Cream Machine
  By A1FL5XN202N9LC on 2008-09-16
  I will preface this by saying that I bought the 70-200/4L non IS before getting the f/2.8 IS version. The f/4 version is not shabby at all for its price point. A lot of people think that the price of the f/2.8 IS version is very high, and it is. However, for some people, and you'll know who you are, f/2.8 is necessary in order to capture the picture that you want. For those who have not noticed yet, there are four different 70-200s in Canons lineup. Starting off with the f/4 non IS as a base price, you have to add about $500 for either IS or f/2.8, or $1000 for both.
  
  Here is a quickie for those deciding if they need either f/2.8 or IS:
  
  f/2.8 is useful for two things compared to f/4...
  1) thinner DOF, yielding a more out of focus background, which is pleasing for portraits
  2) shooting action in low light environments, in which case f/2.8 can make your shutter speed twice as fast as f/4, all things else the same (ISO, etc).
  
  IS is useful for one thing: canceling out the hand movements that you yourself make. It will not freeze the movement of your subject; you need a flash or a faster aperture lens to do that. One thing that comes out of this is the ability to shoot stationary objects much clearer than a lens without IS. Another thing is that on long lenses such as this one, IS can help you compose your picture more accurately, because the viewfinder will be stabilized along with the lens, allowing you to perfectly frame your shot. This is one advantage to Nikon and Canon's implementation of in-lens IS, compared to Sony and Pentax's implementation of in-body IS.
  
  Anyways, that tutorial aside, let me focus on two things that matter most: build quality and image quality.
  
  Build quality is amazing. If you are used to consumer grade lenses like the EF-S series of lenses or the kit lens, and have never touched an L lens, this thing feels rock solid. The f/4 version had the same build, but the f/2.8 feels more solid. I think this is all due to the weight: this lens weighs approximately twice that of the f/4 versions. The zoom and full-time manual focus rings are very smooth in action. Like its non-IS f/2.8 sister, this lens come with a tripod mount. If you use a tripod, I highly suggest you use the tripod ring to mount your setup on the tripod, because it will provide a better place to balance your lens+body. There is a knob you can twist on the tripod ring that will loosen the ring so that you can swing your camera from landscape into portrait mode and vice versa, without adjusting anything on your tripod. The one thing about build quality that didn't impress me was the included lens hood. It is plastic and my hood doesn't fit the bayonet mount perfectly...it has some play and sometimes rattles when I move the camera back and forth. Not a huge deal, but you would expect more since Canon paid attention to all the small details elsewhere. By the way, this lens is weather sealed. Both the 70-200/4 IS and 70-200/2.8 IS are weather sealed, while their non-IS sisters are not sealed. Note that this sealing is only effective when you have a weather sealed body to mount it on (read: 1D series camera). There is a rubber ring around the lens mount that provides some of this sealing, and the 1D series has the complementary sealing around its lens mount. A note on this: I discovered a speck of dust on an inner element that wasn't there when I first got the lens, which is curious for a weather sealed lens. Not that it really affects anything.
  
  Image quality is amazing. Some very choosy pixel peepers will tell you that this particular lens is not the sharpest 70-200 in the Canon line-up. They are being very nitpicky; all 70-200s perform amazingly in terms of IQ (contrast, colors, sharpness). I have done some real world testing myself to clear the fear of shooting wide open at f/2.8, and I have found it produces sharp pictures at f/2.8 until you get to about 200mm, in which case the sharpness goes down a little. However, that said, it is hard to shoot accurately at f/2.8 and 200mm...the depth of field is extremely thin and lack of sharpness could be due to misfocusing. Once stopped down to f/4, it is plenty sharp at all focal lengths. Until you try this lens out, you will not know the meaning of creamy bokeh (an exaggeration, since there are other lenses out there creating awesome bokeh too). At 70mm, the bokeh is still amazing, but once you get to 150mm or longer at f/2.8...the background really starts to get creamy and extremely easy on the eye. My main use for this lens is for portraits, as its longer focal length starts to compress the perspective and is extremely good for tighter portraits. Colors on this lens are amazing straight out of the camera. Of course, in post processing they get even better. One time I did a shoot using my 17-55/2.8 IS and my 70-200/4L non IS, and the colors were very noticeably better on the 70-200. Upon getting the 70-200/2.8 IS, I didn't notice any change in colors between it and the f/4 version, and didn't bother to shoot portraits anymore with the 17-55, but if A>B and C=A, then C>B (A being 70-200/4L, B being the 17-55, and C being the 70-200/2.8IS). Sorry had to put some math in there :). One thing I noticed is that this lens shoots warmer than my other lenses, which is not a bad thing when it comes to portraits. Performance wide open is very good, and stop it down a bit and you'll get a little more contrast and sharpness, as it is with any lens.
  
  If you guys are curious about the large number of switches on it, here they are, from top to bottom:
  1) focusing limiter switch: either 1.4m to infinity or 2.5m to infinity. Use the latter if your subjects are farther away from you, in order to get the fastest AF possible. I don't bother with this switch, since AF is lightning quick. There is a reason lots of sports shooters use this lens
  2) AF switch: either manual focus or automatic focus. Not of much use, since this lens includes full time manual, meaning that you can adjust focus manually by turning the ring, even when the lens is set to autofocus.
  3) IS stabilizer switch: on or off. I leave mine on all the time, but sometimes when its bright outside, I just turn it off to conserve battery
  4) Stabilizer mode: mode 1 or 2. Mode 1 stabilizes your lens in all directions, while Mode 2 is for when you pan, in which case the lens will sense which direction you are panning in, and disable that axis of the stabilizer. (I wish my 17-55/2.8 IS had this feature, as the viewfinder jerks when you have IS on and are trying to pan).
  
  In use, this thing is much heavier than the f/4 version (of course, since it weighs twice as much). On a 40D, it will require two hands (one under the lens, one on the camera) most of the time due to the center of gravity being in the lens and not the body. The 70-200/4 was a much better balance on the 40D, and it was easy to hold that setup by one hand on the camera grip. The 70-200/2.8 IS is also large and noticeable with its white coating. One time I took it to my university's basketball game, and an official told me to put it away, since it was too long for their regulations. He told me that those regulations were put in place by the media, since the media basically wants to be the only people selling shots. I looked at the sideline and all the media shooters were using the same exact lens to cover the game. Basically, you will get lots of attention with this lens, wanted and unwanted. With the hood on, it is very long. The tripod ring gets in the way sometimes, so I settled on leaving it on but twisting it 180 degrees so the leg is on the top side of the camera, out of the way. In such a location, it can serve as a handle of sorts, though I wouldn't carry it by that all day. One minor annoyance I have with the lens in operation is that the MF/AF switch is easily moved. A couple times I pulled it out of my bag to shoot with only to notice that it would not AF because it was in MF mode. I have heard of people fixing this by putting tape over the switch, to keep it in AF mode. I have not done so myself, as it has only happened to me a couple times.
  
  Notes on the IS: I barely shoot this on the tripod, since I can take advantage of its IS. Canon advertises this lens as having a 3 stop stabilizer, meaning that you can shoot stationary objects clearly in 1/8 the amount of light you would normally need. Therefore, at 200mm, you would only need a shutter speed of 1/25 on full frame, and 1/40 on crop bodies, instead of 1/200 and 1/320, respectively. I have been able to shoot still objects clearly at 1/15 at 200mm (320mm equivalent on crop). Amazing, considering the focal length!
  
  I use this lens on a Canon 40D, and cannot wait to use it on a full frame. On the 40D, it provided an excellent lens to cover dance shows, fashion shows, etc on stage in the venues I frequented at my university. However, now that I have graduated and will likely attend less shows, I am looking to convert this lens more into my go-to for portraits. A 70-200 on a crop body puts a little too much distance inbetween you and the subject. This can be a good thing, since not everyone is the most comfortable when a big lens is pointing at them from a few feet away. However, in order to maximize blur, I had to stand farther away and use the longer focal lengths. On full frame, one can stand closer and still use long focal lengths, thus taking advantage of this lens's bokeh at closer range. Also, personally, I find the thought of carrying this much glass around for a crop body a bit wasteful, and can't wait to use its full imaging circle in all its glory.
  
  A note on other lenses: If you don't want the f/2.8, the f/4 versions are just as good in the build and image quality departments, at a much lower price and weight. Also, if you want lens with good, creamy bokeh at a focal length less than 100mm, consider the 85mm f/1.8 prime, which provides the same pleasing bokeh at 85mm wide open that the 70-200/2.8 does wide open at 150mm or more. The 85 is significantly cheaper and lighter, too.
  
  Summary: Stellar build quality, excellent image quality (colors, contrast, sharpness). Image stabilizer is very effective. An f/2.8 zoom in this focal length range is very useful for covering stage events and sports with moving subjects in dim lights, so that you can minimize motion blur. It is also a great lens for portraits, providing extremely pleasing, creamy out of focus blurring, and excellent perspective for tight headshots. It is relatively heavy and a bit front-balanced on a 40D, but this is the price to pay for so much fast glass in a zoom. The ultimate low light zoom, if you can swing its price and weight!
  
  
• I Call It "My Baby"
  By A34HU1VRXT2NAQ on 2006-01-03
  Can't imagine life without this lens. I owned the 70-200 f4L first, used on the 10D which had poor high ISO/low light performance. The f4L lens itself is spectacular for those who can get away without shooting in low light. I love to/have to shoot in low light, bought this lens in Feb 04, and it's rarely off of my current body, 20D. I'm a pro equine shooter, and for us this lens is the "gold standard". Also use it with the 1.4x TC and am pleased with its performance. The isometric exercise from hefting the combo has prevented "tricep wave", which afflicts many of us over 50. My lenses have to stand up to considerable environmental abuse due to my subjects' location and both of my Ls are more than up to the task.
  
  
• Two basic concerns: The weight and the stabilization
  By A19MYCD3QZ476N on 2007-01-14
  Weight:
  I've seen reviews complaining about the weight. I was worried too when I bought it. Each gram is thanked for, once you see the results. It's heavy because it has a lot of glass to make you produce such nice images. So if you go for a long walk and want to take pictures, take some other lens. But if you want the best pictures, go for this lens. Besides: it's not THAT heavy.
  
  Stabilization:
  When I was comparing lenses in Amazon, I wondered about the difference between shooting with and without the IS. Were the pictures in the reviews real or were they made by some guys from Canon? Let me tell you: if you're going to use a tripod, don't buy this lens. But if you're going to shoot without one, you can REALLY see the difference. The pictures you found with the "with and without IS"? They are real. It's amazing. However, keep this in mind: You don't need IS for every shot. If there's enough light, you can shoot without it. One thing that helped me decide: think about the times you've said "if only I had shot this with a tripod". If they're higher than 5% of your pictures, go for this lens. If not, I don't think you need it.
  
  
• Just do it!
  By A65GWYVWMOY19 on 2006-07-07
  You know, I researched this lens again and again. I put it on my Christmas list. A year and a half went by and I finally just bought it.
  
  My gosh, everything is true! This is one of the world's great lenses. What a piece of glass. With the image stabilization I can take candid shots in a candlelit restaurant using available light.
  
  The lens is magical. It captures the soul of its subjects. Nature photography is phenomenal. This is an incredible tool that will take you to a new level.
  
  Just do it! No regrets. Honest.
  
  
  
• What a Lens !!!
  By A22DD9SKE0NWRT on 2006-03-13
  I had read the reviews on this lens and no one had anything bad to say about it. It is fast, crisp, focuses fast, quiet, solid and a bit heavy. The weight is vastly compensated for by all of
  the positive features. I have used it on my 20D and was just amazed. I just purchased a 5D and cannot believe my eyes. Just a great great lens.
  
  
• Nancy Zehnder Sumner WA
  By A16X2H044BHGN6 on 2005-01-10
  This is a pretty spendy lens but worth every penny if you take low light action photos. The photo quality is incredible. It is fairly heavy and you'll want a tripod after the first 15 minutes of trying to carry and shoot. My highest recommendation for sure.
  
  
• Sharpest Lens you'll fine
  By A2JFOHC9W629IE on 2005-04-29
  I have the non-IS version of this lens, so I can't and won't comment on that feature. But the glass is superb. I've taken probably 5 of my 10 or so best shots ever with this lens.
  
  I shoot sports and some other stuff. I had several "news" item shots with this lens published in various newspapers. It is a good all around lens, and makes a great combiniation with Canon's 28-70 L (or 24-70). As far as sports, I shot a lot of basketball without lights in poorly lit gyms, and this lens coupled with good film came through. I've recently gone SLR digital and only used this lens outdoors, but I liked the results (I do have some digital camera tweaking to do!).
  
  A couple of things about use. First, its better if you use a mono/tri-pod. On rare occassions do I use this without a monopod. It certainly isn't the heaviest lens in the world, but the pod adds more stability to your setup. If you don't use a pod, you'll need to carry your setup by carrying the lens to minimize potential damage to the camera mount. Note that this applies to all EOS film cameras, the Digital Rebel series and the non-1D line. The 1D line of cameras are so heavy, you can probably get away with carrying the body only, but check that. I don't own a 1D(_) and would use a pod with one anyway. The IS feature gives you the ability to shoot without a pod, certainly, but still support the lens on the camera when shooting as such. Since I don't have the IS feature on my lens, my pod comments relate to weight only. I've heard someone actually say a pod is counterproductive to IS lenses; since I don't own any IS glass, I can't comment. Check other reviews or do your own research if you think that will be an issue.
  
  The lens includes a mounting bracket that can easily rotate for portrait orientation shots. Most of my sports work is done this way. The auto/manual focus is easy to get to, and I'd always be aware of how it is set and shoot accordingly. I go manual focus a lot, depending on the body I'm shooting with, and its easy to work with. But you will find some of the fastest autofocus you've ever seen with this lens, even on an early '90s film EOS body. One of my film bodies is a EOS 10S and, coupled with this lens, the autofocus speed was light years ahead of a late '90s production Nikon N90s with the "new" Nikon 80-200 lens.
  
  This lens belongs in every Pro's and advanced amatuer's bag.
  
  
• Pros & Cons
  By A16HJNKURGDHJN on 2006-03-16
  Pros: Superb Retention of Color, bokeh (background blur), sharpness. Fast silent and accurate autofocus. Great Build quality.
  
  Cons: Size, weight and price. Not your everyday walkaround lens. Expensive.
  
  
• Could not be happier
  By A1VU8J0DOZYPTT on 2005-06-07
  I am more of a novice in photography. I understand the basics of speed, appeture, etc. But this lens has added so much excitement to my photgraphy I a can't wait to get deeper into it. I could not agree more with the ratings here. The lens is fast to focus and crystal sharp. It is a little heavier, but it's an acceptable trade off for me. I can absolutely tell the difference between this and my midrange lenses in the quality level. I couldn't be happier that I spent the money. When you walk into a room with this equipment, people know you are serious!
  
  
• Super lens
  By A2F312RWLWLXMM on 2007-08-26
  This lens is one of (if not THE) best lens Canon makes, period. It is the premier "sports lens" in the industry, and it has that title for several reasons:
  
  1.) BUILD QUALITY: It's built like a tank.
  
  2.) WEATHER SEALING: couple with a 1 series body, as soon as it starts raining, everyone else will be scrambling to keep their cameras dry.
  
  3.) SUPERIOR OPTICS: color and contrast from this lens are excellent.
  
  4.) IS: I bought this lens because of the IS.
  
  My former 70-200 lens was the Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 HSM. I'm not going to sit here and lie saying the Canon completely blows the Sigma away- it simply doesn't. The Sigma is a fine lens. It is also built like a tank, the HSM is almost (when I say almost, I mean by milliseconds- ie barely noticeable)as fast, and the colors and contrast are superb- almost indistinguishable from an L lens. There are a lot of "almosts" in this paragraph, I know. The Sigma is "almost" perfect, the Canon IS PERFECT. If you are willing to pay the substantial price difference for perfection, more power to you.
  
  The main reason I purchased this lens was not because it was white, not because it has a red ring, and not because it's a Canon. I bought it for the IS. I am a sports shooter and I found myself limited in the shutter speed I was able to use with the Sigma. I am a big proponent of the 1/focal length (x 1.6 on my 30D) rule. At 200mm, I would need a shutter speed of at least 1/320 to prevent camera shake. When using flash, I would have to use HSS for the flash to work at that shuttter speed. HSS significantly cuts down on flash output. I would rather use my cameras maximum x-sync speed (1/250) most of the time. This is where IS comes in handy for me. With the Sigma at 200mm/ 1/250 I would get blurry shots, with the Canon using the IS I'm safe. I can even go several stops slower than 1/250 if I desire. The IS is fantastic and is definitely worth the extra $$$.
  
  
• Great pics, great upper-body workout!
  By A3E5IEDSVMDLVD on 2005-11-21
  I bought this lens to compliment my new EOS-5D and the combination produces stunning photos... and severe muscle strain!
  
  No doubt, the combination is very heavy, but its worth it. Also great is that with the fast F/2.8 glass, you can use a 2x converter and get a 400mm lens and still use the autofocus.
  
  All in all, a great lens that's worth the investment.
  
  
• Worth It's Weight In Gold
  By AADXYS0UGKZL9 on 2006-08-22
  Had the 70-200 f/4 and loved it to pieces with a D60, and now with a 1D MKII, but sold the 4.0 in order to pay for a 35-350, which is my work horse. Due to the push and pull feature however, the 35-350 gets dusty quick in good ol' Montana land, so it has to go in for cleanings every once in a while, and the f/stop isn't always desirable for certain situations. The 70-200 F/2.8 is amazing. The twist zoom is a little close to the camera, so it takes some twisting of the wrist to get it where you need it, and IMHO, is a bit too much of a turn to be from 70 to 200 in the time one might need for extreme sports. (Rodeo, NASCAR etc) The clarity of this piece of glass just blew me away. I did a comparison of images from my 70-200 F/4 when it was new, and the 2.8 is still visibly sharper. I put an expensive filter on it, as my equipment is asked a lot of in very harmful conditions, and I do notice the slightest big of distortion with a filter, even though it is a good B&W..... so when I can, I shoot the lens with no filter if I require extreme detail. The 35-350L is nowhere near the quality of this little 2.8... if it weren't for the difference in distance, this lens would be my one and only. Oh, and I love the IS. As it is my first IS Lens, I treasure is, but know I will not buy another distance lens without it.
  
  
• Great lens but...
  By A3Q063FW6TVLHB on 2008-02-28
  Pro: Great image quality, especially for available light portraits shot at f2.8 where you want a pleasingly blurred background. The IS is good but see note below.
  
  Con: Weight if you plan on carrying it around all day on a pro camera body.
  
  This is a great lens and if I didn't also own the 70-200mm f4.0L IS Canon lens I would have rated it 5 stars. IMHO the f4 is a better all around carry lens if you don't absolutely have to have the f2.8 aperture. The IS in the f4 is Canon's latest and is usable up to 4 stops slower shutter speed than you'd normally need at less than half the weight. The 2.8 version uses the very good, but older, 3 stop IS. On the surface you would think that the f2.8 aperture being one stop faster would place them on even ground where IS is concerned but it does not. the newer IS on the f4 version is INCREDIBLE in operation! To be fair to the 2.8 lens, given the same lighting conditions, it gives you one full shutter speed faster that may make a difference if stopping motion is needed in the shot. My best advice is to not end up with both lenses becuase it is so hard to decide which one to take along!
  
  
• Most incredible zoom
  By A1H4WLPFV59XMA on 2006-05-29
  Nick Xu, if you can't figure out the difference between this lens, and the cheaper consumer grade lenses, by all means, stay with the cheaper consumer grade lenses. After all, "Mr Magoo" of cartoon fame couldn't tell a Chevy from a Rolls Royce. All kidding aside, this lens is simply awesome in use. Having one of these lenses in a camera bag is very close in practice to owning three or four high end prime lenses. Yes, it's that good.
  
  I am using a borrowed version right now, but as soon as I pay off my new 24-105 f/4 L IS USM lens (very, very awesome), I will buy my own 70-200 f/2.8 IS USM. It's as good as it gets in this lens range, but if you feel comfortable with a pinhole camera, carry on, as it's all about the end user.
  
  For everyone else, this lens is the Holy Grail of mid range telephoto lenses. It is simply the best available in it's range, and responds well to Canon tele adapters. If you can figure out a way to afford this lens, buy it, as it is all that. If you are a Nikon lover buy this lens anyway, and buy a fairly cheap 20D body to make it work. It's OK to tell your friends that you used a Nikon to take the pics, but you will end up knowing that Canon is the premeir lens crafter of the 21'st century.
  
  (Sorry, Nikon fans, but this lens stands all by it's self in the grand scheme of things. It's simply awesome.)
  
  
• Fast, sharp.....what else is there?
  By A2BC098UBUZV18 on 2006-06-15
  I use this gem on my 20D along with my 24-105mm, and as far as I'm concerned it is one of the best optical lenses out there. My 24-105 isn't the ideal indoor/low light lens nor is it the ideal sports photography lens( although it is sharp, just not quite long enough) The 70-200 fills in that gap in my arsenal with IS to boot! The photos I've taken so far on the sidelines are all keepers. If you can afford it, do it, you won't regret it
  
  
• Awesome but big and heavy
  By A2VS55J1JBFSEO on 2007-06-04
  It's big. It's heavy. But it does an awesome job. I have to carry this lens around for a whole day at a time, and by the end of the day it's tiring. But, it's the only lens that does what I need. Low light hand held, quality images. The f2.8 combined with IS mean I can handhold for just about all my shots. No blur even down to 1/60 second at full 200mm.
  
  The included lens hood adds a lot to the length, but it works very well. It's held in place with a simple "push and turn" lock, so it won't fall off, even if you knock the lens against something. It will also keep the rain off the front lens (unless it's being blown straight at you, but then nothing works, does it?)
  
  The autofocus has 2 settings. One for only when you are shooting at distance, and the other for closer work. I only use the longer setting. This is meant to speed up autofocussing if you know you will not be coming in close. Also, once you have locked in with autofocus, you can just turn the focus ring to over-ride autofocus. No fiddling with buttons on the camera, or having to always use manual focus (although that is an option). I frequently use auto to get close, then quickly adjust manually to get the final exact result I want.
  
  One negative is the minimum focus distance. From memory, it's about 1.4m (or about 4 to 5 feet). It's not a problem for me, but check this limit if you need to come in close.
  
  The tripod support bracket is easily removeable if you only do handheld. Saves a little on the weight, and also makes for a much easier lens to hold and operate.
  
  So, if you need a fast lens with good image quality, just get this lens. If size/weight/$$$ are issues, then look to the non-IS or f4.
  
  Happy shooting :)
  
  
• Unexpectedly awesome.
  By A5KMMY627T3W on 2008-03-23
  I say "unexpectedly" not because I thought it wouldn't be great; I damn sure expected it to be great for nearly 2 large. I say "unexpectedly" because I did not expect to get so much use out of it. I had planned to use it sparingly (for special events, weddings, portraits) but it turns out I am getting 80% of my great shots with this lens. In fact, I just got finished with a day of shooting with this lens mounted on a 40D and the 35mm f/1.4 mounted on a 5D and all of the "keeper" shots were taken with this lens and the 40D combo. The 40D is a nice camera, but it's no 5D. In fact, up until this point I have not been thrilled with the 40D (in comparison to the 5D which really spoils you with its low-noise and sharpness) and have used it only as a backup. I attribute my satisfaction with the day's results, however, to this lens. It's just flat out awesome. Ditto everything that has already been said about it. The combination of the sharpness and the telephoto focal lengths is just stellar. I have used many other telephoto lenses and I can not recall any of them being so sharp at the longer lengths. This lens stays razor sharp at all lengths. I also don't mind the weight as much as I thought I would. In fact, not once today did I say to myself "this lens is just too heavy." I was too busy shooting to worry about it. It's big and heavy to be sure, but not as big and heavy as I thought it would be. So I am very pleased so far in every way. Like always, if I find an issue down the road I'll come back and revise this review to reflect it. Right now, I have zero complaints.
  
  ***UPDATE 4/11/08***
  After more extensive shooting, I have found a minor flaw. It is moderately (more than expected) soft at 180-200mm and really soft at 200mm. So soft I will only use it in a pinch at this focal length. 140-180mm is great but I have found the sweet spot to be 70-140mm.
  
  
• Yet Another Stellar Canon L Series Telephoto Zoom Lens
  By AKT8TGIT6VVZ5 on 2005-07-07
  Without question, this Canon EF 70-210mm f2.8L IS USM telephoto zoom lens may be the best of its class; a worthy competitor to Nikon's 80-200mm f 2.8 lens which many regard as the finest zoom telephoto lens in this range that's available now. I have been quite impressed reading excellent technical reports in both Shutterbug and Popular Photography regarding how splendidly this lens performs for both general photojournalism and fast-moving sports photography. If I owned Canon equipment, I would probably opt for this lens over its slower f4 sibling since I tend to do a lot of available light photography where the larger aperture (f2.8) would be quite beneficial for focusing. There's no doubt in mind that this splendid zoom lens is among the best in Canon's celebrated L Series line of premium optics for 35mm film and digital photography.
  
  
• Good, but not the holy grail of lenses
  By A3T94WC8KXR6I4 on 2008-04-29
  I bought the basic, f/4 non-IS version of this lens about a year ago and liked it a lot. However there was always a niggling feeling that I should have gone the whole hog and bought this one as it would be more versatile for wedding photography. So, I recently caved in and made the purchase. The wide aperture and particularly the IS are superb but, compared to the f/4 lens, sharpness is not blowing my skirt up. Side-by-side, the much cheaper f/4 lens is slightly sharper both in the centre and in all corners. That is not to say the lens is soft, but it isn't the all-round stunner I was hoping it would be. Had I never tried the f/4 I'd have given this lens a 5-star review. I was hoping to sell the f/4 lens, but now I feel I should keep it, as it unexpectedly outperforms the f/2.8 IS when optimum sharpness is required.
  
  
• Amazing!!!
  By A2449IYAKUV5RS on 2007-05-27
  This is my first L lens and I'm hooked!!! I did a lot of research before purchasing this lens. I wasn't planning on spending $1,700 on a lens, but I am very glad that I did. I was looking at the other 70-200mm options that can has as well as some other brands. What finaly made me decide on this lens is I couldn't find a single complaint about it. All of the other lenses had good reviews, but none were perfect across the board. Many said that they settled for lesser lenses and then upgraded down the road.
  
  Pros:
  This is a remarkably crafted lens. It is built like a tank. The zoom is amazingly smooth and the focas is beyond fast. I have taken 100's to 1,000's of photos with it so far and have yet to have it wonder. It is quick and percise on my Canon 30D. This is no light lens either. You can feel the sturdiness when you hold it. I added the battery grip to better balance the camera and its a beautiful combination. The two stage image stabilization works wonderfully as well. My previous zoom was a Sigma 135-400mm and had a heck of a time hand holding it. There is no problem at all hand holding this lens. Even with the 1.4x extender it takes crisp sharp photos. I will have a hard time even thinking about buying another lens that doesnt have IS. Contrast and colors are also gorgeous with this lens. I didnt know what I was missing until I purchased this lens. Lastly, and by far least is the 2.8 constant aperture. If you can afford it buy this 2.8 lens. You will not be sorry. The effects of the blurred background is brilliant! You can really make your subject pop and opens up all kinds of opportunity for creativity. Personally I think a large percentage of photography is mental. If you have awesome equipment you will strive to take better photos. This lens will do that for you and more!
  
  Cons:
  Really there are none. My only word of warning is this, as it relates to higher end lenses and bodies as well. A great lens does not make a great photographer. There is also a smaller margin for error in higher end equipment. As I upgrade to better equipment I am finding how challenging it can be to be a "real" photographer. A zoom of this caliber and 2.8 aperture can be difficult to get good high quality shots until you have mastered shooting at 2.8. Especially if you are are fairly close to your subject. The days of point and shoot are gone. It's time to think like the pros. hehe... I have no doubt that with some practice persistance i will be able to produce much higher quality photos with this lens than with any other lens that I could have chosen.
  
  Conclusion:
  If you can afford this lens buy it! If you can't afford it but have a credit card, buy it! If you have to sell a couple other lenses to be able to buy it, buy it! I'm sure the other choices out there, weather they are non IS or are F4 are great lenses. This is a superb lens though. You will not be disappointed.
  
  
• Why I changed my mind about IS..
  By ASFE36C069TD9 on 2006-12-24
  I had the 70-200/4.0L but wanted to get to only three zooms all at 2.8. I've never felt IS was needed. Well, I got this lens for Christmas and have changed my mind. With the 5D's low noise at high ISO's this lens opens up new ways of shooting with availble light and not having to keep changing out to fast primes.
  
  One of Canon's great lenses, you'll not regret it.
  
  

• Tiffen 77mm UV Protection Filter
• Adorama Dedicated Lens Hood for Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 Image Stabilized (ET-86)
• Canon Lens Rear Cap for Canon EF SLR Lenses
• Canon EF 1.4X II Extender Telephoto Accessory
• Lowepro Lens Case 2 (Black)

• Canon 77mm UV Haze
• Canon Speedlite 580EX II Flash for Canon EOS Digital SLR Cameras
• Canon EF 1.4X II Extender Telephoto Accessory
• Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Standard Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
• Canon BP511A 1390mAh Lithium Ion Battery Pack for Select Digital Cameras and Camcorders