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

There is a reason why this lens is so expensive: everyone is prepared to pay the price. This is simply the best portrait lens available. It's fast - through the whole range from 70 to 200 mm it can operate at f/2.8. Wide open it produces a really great bokeh that rivals that of prime lenses. The AF focuses quickly, and very quietly (which, considering that this is a zoom lens, is not that important). Operating the zoom ring feels almost perfect, as it is positioned exactly where you expect it, and it is wide enough not to accidentally touch the focus ring.

The lens has an image stabilisator that is more than capable, and *very* helpful when trying to follow motion (the lens provides a special IS mode for this). The IS is nicely balanced, and does not jerk the image when activated (the slight oscillation it induces on the hand holding the lens takes some getting used to).
It's incredibly sharp at one stop above 2.8, and no discernible vignetting fully open (I'm using it on a 1.6 FOV body). Since the lens uses internal focusing, the front will not turn, making using circular polarizers much, much simpler than with other lenses that do not have this feature.

One thing that is of concern, and will always be, is that this lens is heavy. At almost 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs) it is by far my heaviest lens, and makes that camera/lens combination top-heavy. Luckily, the lens comes with a tripod ring that helps alleviating this problem (you do have a tripod, right?). One of the reasons that this lens is so heavy is the way that it is build: metal, and professional grade environmental sealing. It is safe to assume that unless you are using an equally professional camera (which i do *not*), the lens will outlast the body it is mounted on.

My lens came included with tripod ring, a hood, and nice bag (with it's own shoulder strap) - so stay away from any bundles that offer a carrying bag or hood. The only thing I needed to purchase was an UV filter (I use it to protect the lens) -- I recommend B&W filters -- and a tripod plate. I also got the 1.4x extender, but have found little use for it so far.

The reason I find this lens so good is that it produces excellent pictures -- especially for portraits. Since it produces beautiful bokeh (the blurriness behind the focused object) and operates in fairly low light conditions without a flash while still giving sharp images it will allow you to shoot incredibly beautiful pictures. And having a 200mm zoom allows you to give your model some space to relax, while the range of 70-200 allows you to quickly adapt to the situation without having to change the lens. The result many times are downright stunning. If there is a perfect portrait lens, this is it.

I wholeheartedly recommend this lens over its more affordable brethren (the non-IS and the slower variants of this lens). You get what you pay for. If there is one L lens you want in your lineup (or better: can afford to have) make it this one.

There are four models of Canon 70-200 L lenses. Two are F/4.0-5.6 and two are F/2.8. Each set of two has an imaged stabilized and non-stabilized version. The pricing starts at about $700 and moves up to this one that is about $1699.

After reading many reviews, it seemed to me worthwhile to invest in this one rather than the 4.0 versions. It is great to have constant F/2.8 all the way through the zoom range, and also to have image stabilization. I crank it up to ISO 1600 then shoot wide open at F/2.8 and people are amazed I can get pictures even in fading daylight without flash.

It seemed rather strange to read reviews saying that the color was great, but after experiencing it I now know what they mean. Wow, what great images and the bokeh (out of focus background) is absolutely wonderful. Not many told me about that great benefit.

If you think you can only afford the least expensive model ($700) then carry your lunch for a while and go all the way with the savings! Turn down your heat 2 degrees or turn up the temperature on your A/C by 2 degrees. Eat chicken instead of steak weekly. Car pool! This lens is worth making some sacrifices!

One caveat: some reviews I saw elsewhere have said that Canon optimizes this lens for full-frame SLRs (the expensive ones from about $2,000 (5D) to $8,000 (1DS), while Nikon optimizes its version for cropped frame SLRs. Therefore, I am not sure it will be as much of a "wow" on a cropped camera because I have not been able to try it. I have a 5D and have been lending out my 20D to my son-in-law for the last couple of months.

I am very happey with Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 IS USM , it's a great lens , very sharp crisp iamge

Many have already commented on how silent and "fast" this lens is. Agree that its heavy, but using a hand strap allows for greater stability. Build quality is excellent as it is for every other Canon "L" series lens. Some quip about the white color and it does attract a lot of attention.

A few things surprised me, the date code on the lens that I purchased was no less than two weeks old from where it was manufactured in Japan. This is a big lens that looks like a bazooka with the hood attached. Despite its size, it is very well balanced on my 1D Mark II. I've taken pictures for 2-3 hr stretches and it does cause some fatigue in your forearms, wrist, and hand muscles.

The bokeh is dreamy and the IS has allowed me to capture images that would have been less likely without the IS. Same image with and without IS and you'll see the difference -- especially in low light conditions or at shutter speeds less than 1/100.

Lastly, image quality and sharpness appears to be dependent on sensor size. Images from full frame sensors (1D series and 5D) are sharper and less soft compared to those images taken with APS-C sensors (Rebel, 30D, 40Detc). This has to do with pixel density and the "magnification" which exaggerates perceived softness.

This is every bit a professional lens -- great build quality, sharp, weather-sealed, and of course the price. There are many debates about IS or non-IS and 2.8L or 4L. Yep the 4L has better MTF graphs, newer generation IS system, and the images are stunningly crisp. But if you shoot in variable light conditions, the 2.8 won't let you down. Just ask the pros...

Prior to my purchase of the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM, I was torn between this one and another Canon lens, the 70-200mm f/4 IS USM. My research and reviews on the two lenses revealed that the lenses are identical in the same aperture ranges, though I think the larger fixed aperture of the f/2.8 has the bigger advantage when shooting in low light conditions, which I often do. The lens is a bit heavy, but can be handheld. Because of the weight, I opted to get the IS version instead of the non IS one. I have used the lens in live band shows and it reveals excellent images at 70mm up to 135mm, though I agree with most reviewers, that it is a bit soft on the 200mm range. All in all, It has big advantages over this other brothers (Canon f/4, or the non-IS) , though I cannot compare it with other third party lenses (Sigma, Tokina, Tamron). The only drawback would be it's weight.