EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM
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Unbelievable
Absolutely an unbelievable lens. My previous Canon 70-200 was the f4 non-stablized - I liked it but didn't use it often because it needed a high shutter speed (at least 1/250) and the results weren't quite as sharp as I had hoped (date coded as 2005). Eight months ago I upgraded to the stablized version (date coded as 2011) and I fell in love with this lens. A much, much sharper image combined with the stabilization allows a shutter speed as low as 1/15 of a second.
This is an incredible lens and results in truly fine pictures - at any aperture there is virtually no distoration or CA and bokeh is also as nice as one can expect.
This is generally my go-to, general use lens and it took that designation away from my 17-40 "L". I use a crop sensor 7D. I will also use the 1.4 Canon extender and am able to still get great pictures.
Don't hesitate to buy this lens over the 2.8 - saves a lot of bucks!
June 12, 2013
Superb telephoto lens
Already owing the 70-200 F/2.8 IS mark II, i bought this lens as a lighter alternative to the big gun, to go to my second, lighter bag along with the 24-105 IS. And i was very surprised by its performance from day one.
First of all, it has half the weight of the 2.8 version. It is so light, you can't believe it is all glass and metal. The build quality is true L but it is so much lighter than the bigger brother... All controls have a very positive feel to them. The zoom and focus rings are so nice.
Then its the image quality. I am so pleased with this glass... It is really sharp, very contrasty and the colours are super. And the image stabilizer, a life saver when needed. I have very steady hands and have managed steady shots at 200mm and 1/5 of a second easily... The bokeh is very pleasant and gives good seperation. Not much difference from the 2.8.
Don't get me whong here, i really adore the 2.8 IS II and i think it is the best 70-200 ever made by anyone, but that lens had two downsides. Weight and price. This one has none. So, if you don't use F/2.8 all the time and want the best 70-200 for your money, go buy this one. You will not regret it, that's for sure! But if you need that extra f stop and can handle the weight, the IS II is the absolutely Best
January 19, 2013
My go to Lens.
Simply put this lens is crystal clear, lightweight and a perfect go to lens when only a quality print will due. I am totally happy with the addition of the 70-200 L. I also have the 24-105 and 100-400 L's to compare from.
October 8, 2012
A Classic lens in EF-lineup.
This is my first L series lens and it took a couple of days for me to get a handle of it. Once we get used to the weight of the lens and feel comfortable, this glass soon becomes our friend. The AF is very fast and quiet, and the IS is very handy. You can actually see that the IS is operational through the view finder. The image tends to become more stable. There is a slight noise when IS is operational. The IS is still on for about 1-2 seconds after pressing the shutter button completely. This is a good feature when you want to quickly capture another shot of the same scene.
I used it mostly for portraits and I am very much satisfied with its performance. At 200 mm and f/8, it gives some amazing results. Additionally, under good lighting conditions, the image quality in terms of colors and sharpness is so great that you cannot stop shooting!
Wide open at f/4, with APS-C body, the image is slightly soft, but that is because of very sharp and narrow DOF, and any slight moment will become visible at 100% crop.
This is a good lens for landscapes too. The color quality is exceptional. Overall, this lens is a valuable addition, and definitely worth the dollar you invest.
August 16, 2012
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