Canon 70-200 f/2.8 IS II USM Review

[Victorious Secret]

 

This won't have me talking about MTF charts or shooting a grid for sharpness or whatever else reviews have (mainly because I have no freaking idea what most of that means anyways) 

 

This is just perspective from actually using it on a daily basis and its strengths and weaknesses. 

 

The Good:

 

• AF is fast as hell and never skips a beat
• Panning is a dream with this, 2 mode stabilization isn't a gimmick
• Could probably beat up a zombie with this because its so well constructed
• Focus and zoom rings are right and accurate and never "breath", they stay where you put them
• Infinity to close focus is very fast, as is very close to infinity. This lens won't miss much

 

The Bad: 

 

• Expensive. Expensive. Expensive.
• Expensive.
• Exceptionally heavy, this is not kind for run and gun use even with a Black Rapid strap
• Tripod Mount is sometimes clumsy, but you need the thing for balance so I left it on
• 77mm front filter = crazy expensive filters, but this is par for the course with glass like this
• Expensive.
• Maybe an issue with my lens, but you could audibly hear the IS motor when you'd half press the shutter. I'm too lazy to go send this into CPS for now, but it hasn't ruined the shooting at all
• 70-200 is a brilliant but at times constrained focal range

 

I shot this lens on a 7D, as shown above, and the size comparison is absurd. This lens is not light, it isn't childish; it means all the business. Two handed use is highly encouraged here, just to balance the bloody thing out. Or a monopod. 

 

I only stopped down to f/11-f/16 when doing panning shots. Everything else I was at f/2.8, and this lens SHINES at f/2.8. Non-existent aberration and glorious bokeh, with a excellent hand on flaring.

 

I harped on about his this is expensive, and it is. Its $2,499 and it won't be seeing the underside of 2 grand for quite some time. But it is worth it. Worth every last penny. If you are a casual shooter it might be harder to justify, but this is the zoom lens that all kits ends up with and for good reason. Its a master of certain trades, the jack of everything else. Highly recommend this 70-200, Nikons 70-200, and hell even the Tamron and Sigma 70-200s. Its a lens that should be in every kit.  

 

The following photos were pulled from Facebook, so excuse any compression and other weirdness you see. OOC shots with this lens were amazing, and most of the time I simply applied Lightrooms profile corrections and left the image alone. 

 

 

 

 

[Nineshadow]

May I say expensive again?

 

Expensive.

Very expensive.

[Victorious Secret]

Such expense.

Very glass. 

Wow.

[DoubleY]

I've been looking at pulling the trigger on a 70-200 f/2.8 VRII. But it's, as you said, expensive expensive expensive. 

[Naty722]

I have a friend with one and yeah, he does everything with it. This plus his 24-70 really allow him to get just about any picture he wants. Doesn't hurt that he has a masterful eye for pictures as well. I don't do near enough photography or video to justify it though. I'll just borrow it if I ever really need it

 

As a side note, those pictures look like they came out of Project CARS. I really had a hard time telling the difference. Shows not only how good PCARS looks, but also how good your pictures are, matching environment and angles that profession marketers manually create for themselves.

[Victorious Secret]

I have a friend with one and yeah, he does everything with it. This plus his 24-70 really allow him to get just about any picture he wants. Doesn't hurt that he has a masterful eye for pictures as well. I don't do near enough photography or video to justify it though. I'll just borrow it if I ever really need it

 

As a side note, those pictures look like they came out of Project CARS. I really had a hard time telling the difference. Shows not only how good PCARS looks, but also how good your pictures are, matching environment and angles that profession marketers manually create for themselves.

 

Thanks! I do try

 

Here are some more shots with the lens from the same track day