New Canon 70-200L 2.8 MkII is fantastic! (Edit: £1890 at CameraWorld now!)

[HoppyUK]

I think we all wondered why Canon bothered to update their already class-leading 70-200L 2.8 IS lens, but I guess fluorite glass in the recipe promised something special.

The new lens is incredibly sharp As a standalone lens it simply sets new standards, and with a 1.4x telecon it beats the excellent 100-400L. Even with a 2x telecon it runs it damn close at 400mm.

Looking at that another way, you get a 70-400mm f/2.8-5.6 zoom, with four stops IS and weather-sealing.

It's almost worth the frighteningly high price - now selling for £2300 on CameraPriceBuster http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/prod1249.html

The-Digital-Picture have just posted their famous test chart comparison shots. This is their second sample of the lens and clearly they've had some problems and hence the delay presumably, but it seems worth the wait. You can load up whatever comparisons and lens setting combinations you like. Here it is against the 100-400L http://www.the-digital-picture.com/...p=113&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLI=4&API=3 Pixel-peepers fill yer boots

 

[Laudrup]

Still overpriced I think. Nice images though, is it far off the 200mm f/2.8 prime in IQ or better?

 

[HoppyUK]

Still overpriced I think. Nice images though, is it far off the 200mm f/2.8 prime in IQ or better?

That's a big ask - a zoom better than an L prime, at full aperture. But yes - it is! Easily - check out this comparison http://www.the-digital-picture.com/...meraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=3&APIComp=0

It's an amazing lens. And if you regard it as two zooms in one, such as a 70-200 2.8 and the 100-400L combined, it's actually a bit of a bargain - several hundred quid cheaper than the pair, only one lens to carry plus a little telecon in your pocket.

I'm guessing that maybe Canon might not bother to update the (now old) 100-400L if the new zoom/telecon combo lives up to that review. Which would be a shame - hope not.

Edit: here it is against the Mk1 version, at 400mm f/5.6 with a telecon. That's really pushing it to the limit I think. It just blitzes the old lens http://www.the-digital-picture.com/...meraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=6&APIComp=0

 

[Jayst84]

Looks pretty good wide open. Not a huge difference stopped down though, looking at the TC shots.

Be a long time before I buy one, if ever. Maybe when someone complains that they get a soft shot from my 70-200 I'll upgrade. I don't see that happening though.

 

[kevshore]

I can believe it. Nikon have done similar with the new vr II 70-200mm. I love mine.
I am yet again thinking of selling the 200-400mm because mine is so good with a converter.
The trouble is that now you leave yourself wide open for the negative comments to come out of the woodwork and none believers for making such a comment.
I tend to take the attitude now that i'm only interested in what I think of a particular lens and what it can do for me in real world shooting.
It's becoming quite clear though that the new generation of lenses across the market really are superb lenses. If we look at what has emerged over the last couple of years. Even converters are improving.


Kev.

 

[sleepo]

Wow HoppyUK, those results are surprising - particularly the new 70-200 @ 400mm vs the 100-400 @ 400...

Still, the price is insane!

 

[Canon Bob]

That's a big ask - a zoom better than an L prime, at full aperture. But yes - it is! Easily - check out this comparison

It certainly looks impressive at 200/2.8 and ahead of the prime by a noticeable amount. Interestingly, stick the 2x on both and the prime then takes it by about the same margin...especially in the corners.

Bob

 

[AndyElliott]

Looking at the tests, it looks to be a significant improvement on the old lens - but check out the results from the second sample - quite a noticeable difference.
Be interesting to see how that works on the 7D or the 50D. The Nikon is excellent on both the D300 and the full-frame. If the Canon can achieve something like that level sharpness on a crop body, then that looks like they have a very good lens.

Andy

 

[Freester]

Hoppy have you got one?

 

[Gel]

It's amazing, In my prime armoury I have the latest versions of the 35L, 50 (1.4), 85L, 100mm L macro IS and 135L

I won't say it's sharper than the above purely because my eyesight cannot spot such minute differences whereas with my Mk1 it was obvious.
So I guess yes, to my eyes, in lightroom zoomed in it's just as sharp as my primes are.

Yes some people may argue the point as to whether it's needed but when I sometimes take shots in the dark from 40 metres away every bit helps.

I sold my old one on ebay (3 months old) for £1200 (Paid £1194) , and bought the new one in from Hong Kong for £1780

Well worth the extra £700 as I expect the price of the old lens to fall at a faster rate based on this lens.

165mm ISO 100 - F5.6 - 1/125 sec - Raw -> Lightroom -> Resized (No processing)

Handheld IS on

100% crops from original:

 

[User Name]

^^^
WOW!

Now that's something you can't do with 12 MP

 

[HoppyUK]

Hoppy have you got one?

Haha! No! Much as I'd like one, it just wouldn't get the use for me. I've got the 70-200L 4 IS which I prefer simply because it's half the weight - that's the main downside of f/2.8 lenses for me, they are so damn heavy to cart about on spec for walkabout.

I might well hire one from StewartR - I'm sure he will have an orderly queue forming already. But for my odd birding forays I'm thinking the 300L 2.8 plus a 2x telecon is maybe the way forward. That's another amazing combo. I'll be hiring that though too - I can't justify having that kind of glass sitting around idle 350 days of the year. If I was a busy professional though, I'd have one in a heartbeat.

They are also raving about this new lens on other websites, with sample shots like those from Gel here - some birding pics, shot hand-held at stupid-low shutter speeds (four stops IS) with just amazing 100% detail eg on DPReview.

What I think is really interesting is what you can do with this lens and a really high-res sensor, and also with a telecon. Speed and reach like we've not seen before. I wonder how the AF performs with a telecon - I'm guessing that Canon have done something special there too

 

[Scarecrow]

From what I have read, the new 70-200 is a superb bit of kit, but at twice the price of the existing lens, which is no slouch, I'm struggling to justify the expense.

As a consequence, I've just ordered a Mk1 version. If the Mk2 should fall in price in a couple of years time, I may consider upgrading, but not until then.

 

[HoppyUK]

Get it here! Now!

CameraWorld are currently selling this lens at an incredible £1899.99. It's fully warrantied UK stock. That's the price of a HongKong import, with no warranty and tax to pay on top. http://www.cameraworld.co.uk/ViewPr...f2.8L+IS+EF+II+USM&CAT_CODE=2&SUBCAT_CODE=204

The bad news is that this is part of a deal they did with Canon for the Focus show. The lens is currently out of stock (1-2 weeks est delivery) and they only have a handful of lenses left as part of that allocation. When they are gone, the price will shoot up.

Time to call on your flexible friend sharpish

 

[Trixster]

That does look excellent. The Digital Picture test samples are very close to the 70-200 f4 IS ones.

 

[kissfoto]

I recently bought a 70-200 f2.8L none IS and love it. IQ is outstanding and the price is better. does what I need....great with 1.4 converter and hand holdable without a problem.

 

[Nick T]

Grr, I'm in the market for a 70-200 f2.8is and a 24-70 too, but not until NEXT Friday when I get my bonus

If that mkii price is still the same this time next week then it may just sway my cash away from kerso...