highonsnow Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 What do you think about this lense? I'm really keen on buying it, I've read a lot of good reports about it's predecessor (the one minus the IS) and I suppose this can only be an improvement. Anyone here with good hands on experience or know somebody who has one? What would you recommend? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Express Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 Its very fast lens. I like the f/4.0 version though -- much less bulkier than f/2.8 and more sharper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saxondale. Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 I think everyone will agree when i say it's an incredible lens. Personally, i think i'll be adding the f/4.0L to my collection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 What do you plan on using it for? I have the Canon 70-200 2.8L non-is and love it. Its razor sharp at F/2.8, unlike my Sigma 70-200 I used to have which wouldn't be near that sharp until F/4.5ish. If you are shooting sports (like me) theres almost no need for IS, and you can pick one up used for around $900 (I found mine in near perfect condition on craig's list for $825) If not, and you are shooting more portraits etc, then the IS can be useful. I upgraded from the F4/L to the F2.8/L and don't regret it. The 2.8 helps a ton indoors and at night for sports, and has a much more narrow depth of field check out http://photography-on-the.net/forum/index.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pink Floyd Veteran Posted September 12, 2008 Veteran Share Posted September 12, 2008 if you have the money to buy it, then don't wait and do it! This is an awesome lens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highonsnow Posted September 12, 2008 Author Share Posted September 12, 2008 (edited) thanks for the quick replies lads.. I'm going to be using it for wildlife and sports photography, portraits down the line but haven't spent much time on portrait photography.I wish craigslist was in Ireland! :( Wait a minute... Craigslist is now International.. but I guess it's not very popular here - not very many items on it. Good suggestion, I'll look around - prefer to buy new though, if I can (optics especially) Edited September 12, 2008 by highonsnow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saxondale. Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 I wish craigslist was in Ireland! :( I buy all my camera equipment from a Hong Kong company called DigitalRev. They have an online shop and an eBay shop. With the eBay listings, they tend to have little free extras, slightly cheaper and most of their listings cover your for import tax (very quick process if you get taxed). Anyway, the prices are a lot cheaper, i mean, stupidly cheap compared to the UK. So if you eBay for the lens, you'll most likely see their listings. A few people on this forum can vouch for them. Seriously the best company i have ever dealt with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 few examples from my 70-200 2.8 from last week with my 40D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highonsnow Posted September 12, 2008 Author Share Posted September 12, 2008 I buy all my camera equipment from a Hong Kong company called DigitalRev. They have an online shop and an eBay shop. With the eBay listings, they tend to have little free extras, slightly cheaper and most of their listings cover your for import tax (very quick process if you get taxed). Anyway, the prices are a lot cheaper, i mean, stupidly cheap compared to the UK. So if you eBay for the lens, you'll most likely see their listings. A few people on this forum can vouch for them. Seriously the best company i have ever dealt with. Ah... someone who thinks along the same lines, I bought my EOS 40D off them.. they were a life saver, they wrote down the value of the camera as being ?135 instead of the ?600-700 that it should have been - saved me a fortune on customs tax! I would consider buying my lense(s) off them also Nice shots Brandon, they really sell the lense. Any post production or are they straight from the camera (JPEG/RAW?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 Ah... someone who thinks along the same lines, I bought my EOS 40D off them.. they were a life saver, they wrote down the value of the camera as being ?135 instead of the ?600-700 that it should have been - saved me a fortune on customs tax! I would consider buying my lense(s) off them alsoNice shots Brandon, they really sell the lense. Any post production or are they straight from the camera (JPEG/RAW?) Cropping was it. I had everything set up beforehand, so... heres another of my favorites.... the ball is in focus. Its pretty baller (no pun intended) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gigapixels Veteran Posted September 12, 2008 Veteran Share Posted September 12, 2008 Aw man, I wish I had money for that lens. Go for it if you can, it's an amazing lens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highonsnow Posted September 12, 2008 Author Share Posted September 12, 2008 I'm putting money aside for it every day :) It's only a matter of time before it rests in my hands - I'm glad I got such positive feedback because an investment in a lense like that, you just gotta be confident you're making the right choice.. I guess there's no question about the results is there? Would anyone have any comments on the Canon Extender 1.4x or 2x, and it being used with the 70-200mm f2.8 L IS USM, good, bad, indifferent? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giga Veteran Posted September 12, 2008 Veteran Share Posted September 12, 2008 Any Canon 70-200 can take an extender very well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 I'm putting money aside for it every day :) It's only a matter of time before it rests in my hands - I'm glad I got such positive feedback because an investment in a lense like that, you just gotta be confident you're making the right choice.. I guess there's no question about the results is there?Would anyone have any comments on the Canon Extender 1.4x or 2x, and it being used with the 70-200mm f2.8 L IS USM, good, bad, indifferent? I have the cheap tamron 1.4x teleconverter and used it on that football shot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highonsnow Posted September 12, 2008 Author Share Posted September 12, 2008 no apparent reduction in quality or anything of that sort? I should head off, it's bed time for me, Irish time 01:50! Talk to ye tomorrow. Thanks for the advice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giga Veteran Posted September 12, 2008 Veteran Share Posted September 12, 2008 no apparent reduction in quality or anything of that sort?I should head off, it's bed time for me, Irish time 01:50! Talk to ye tomorrow. Thanks for the advice Slightly, but nothing excessive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yusuf M. Veteran Posted September 12, 2008 Veteran Share Posted September 12, 2008 I wish I had the money for it. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazzy88ss Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 Makes me want to grab a nikon version! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodcase Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 I had a chance to play with it on a 5D body at work. It was my co-workers camera and thus i could leave the store with it. I took it outside around the plaza and played with it. It was a really fine lens, the autofocus is super super fast and its a sharp lens. I'll be buying the Nikon 70-200 2.8 vr in the next couple of months and I'm sure I'll love it just as much as i did the canon one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highonsnow Posted September 12, 2008 Author Share Posted September 12, 2008 I must pop into a big camera shop and see if there's somebody kind enough to let me try it on for size, the extender and the lense would be my eventual aim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
o0moonman0o Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 great lens if u need the focal length :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prince Charming Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 All Canon's 70-200Ls are stunning lenses and very capable at all kinds of different applications (including use as a blunt instrument). The 2.8L IS is the largest and heaviest of the bunch, but you're not going to find a light f/2.8 IS lens with this focal range. Buy one and you'll never look back :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highonsnow Posted September 12, 2008 Author Share Posted September 12, 2008 I'm so tempted to take out a loan and just buy one NOW! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highonsnow Posted September 12, 2008 Author Share Posted September 12, 2008 Pandya, you have some very nice shots.. what processing are you doing, I see some vignetting on some of the shots, that is deliberate I presume, or how is that achieved? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phono Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 I use (loan) time to time the IS version and I love it. Wish i had money to buy my own... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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