Anyone upgraded a 70-200 f2.8 IS I to a II?

Photogaz

Photogaz

Suspended / Banned
Messages
445
Edit My Images
No
I'm seriously considering this now. It's been a year since it's release and every time I get out my 70-200 f2.8, i want more sharpness at 200mm 2.8.

The II is available at it's lowest for £1500. I'm hoping to sell my Mark I for 1k but may not get that much (what you reckon?)

Do you think £500 is too much to spend on an upgrade for that extra sharpness? Have you done this yourself and are satisfied with the result?

My need for sharpness came when I bought a 135L a year ago. That sort of sharpness was just mind blowing.

I also have the following on my new or upgrade list:

Canon 100 f2.8 IS Macro
35L f1.4
300 f4 IS

So am debating what's next.
 
Photogaz said:
I'm seriously considering this now. It's been a year since it's release and every time I get out my 70-200 f2.8, i want more sharpness at 200mm 2.8.

The II is available at it's lowest for £1500. I'm hoping to sell my Mark I for 1k but may not get that much (what you reckon?)

Do you think £500 is too much to spend on an upgrade for that extra sharpness? Have you done this yourself and are satisfied with the result?

My need for sharpness came when I bought a 135L a year ago. That sort of sharpness was just mind blowing.

I also have the following on my new or upgrade list:

Canon 100 f2.8 IS Macro
35L f1.4
300 f4 IS

So am debating what's next.
Click to expand...

Not upgraded myself, but you will not match the sharpness of a prime, esp. as the 135 is an amazing lens for sharpness.

Don't know your style of shooting, but maybe if sharpness is critical and your style can accomodate then you may want to look at some primes.

an 85, 135 and 200 would give you sharper images, but obviously they are all fixed.

Reprts on the MK2 say it is an improvement, but reviews I saw said many would not bother with an upgrade.
 
I had a mk1 and was never that happy with it @ 2.8, so I bought a 135L which as we all know a fantastic lens, I used it all the time quite often with a TC, really sharp and quick AF, then last year I sold my mk1 70-200 and put the money to a 85L which again I loved.
Anyway I had a wedding to shoot and I didnt really want to go with all primes as I hadent had time to see the church/venue as I was booked just two days before, so I borrowed a mk2 70-200 off a mate who kept going on about how good it was, it just blew me away, at f2.8 it was as sharp as my 135L had ever been, just fantastic, i'm a prime lens lover and I thought I would never go back to zooms but after the wedding I just had to buy one, I have now sold my 135L because for the last 6 months its sat in my loft doing nothing, the quality of the mk2 70-200 is amazing, ten times better than my old mk1 which to be fair was never really that bad until you started to compare it with primes....
If you can and your thinking about buying one see if you can hire it first and give it a test drive....
 
Hi Photogaz

FWIW, I swopped over from the 70-200 f2.8 IS mk 1 to mk 2 a couple of months ago.

To be honest, I think the biggest benefit of the mk 2 is the improved IS. The sharpness at 200f2.8 is better in the latter case but if you stop a decent mk 1 down to f3.2 or 3.5 it can be hellish sharp.

OOI, I sold on 200f2.8L mk2 and 135f2L primes in the recent past I think the zoom mark 2 does such a good job.

Just my 2p worth.

Good luck with your choice.
 
As a suggestion you could hire one for a weekend and decide if its worth the cash to you ?
 
Thanks for the replies. Renting one is a great idea and may just do that.

I don't think I could ever part with my 135L. I was recommended one and the moment I got it its now my lens of choice for portraits. I do have the 1.4x extender and must really try it with the 135L again.
 
I haven't had the money to even consider it, but a good friend has replaced his for a new MKII at the beginning of the year, and he was really raving about it, mostly the sharpness of the shot's he's getting. Have to say, looking at his shots, it could now be the sharpest lens out there!
 
I have the mk2 and it is awsome and find everything about it way better than the mk1.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top