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View Full Version : New 70-200 f/2.8 L (yup, you heard right!)


Rudi
5th of June 2002 (Wed), 07:23
If you've read the thread about my 70-200 f/4 L, then you already know the story... if you haven't, read on:


Well, well, well! It seems that my 70-200 f/4 L was made on a Monday or something...

Just when I was willing to accept the fact that it had dust cemented in between the two front lens elements (at the better price), and maybe get it fixed under warranty later, I discovered another problem.

It's funny how things sometimes seem to happen for a reason - I recently bought the Canon EF Extender 1.4x II (teleconverter for us ordinary folk). As I was playing with it the other day, I noticed that the steel mounting ring on the lens was dinted hard, so hard that it actually deformed its flat surface with a small bump. It did not appear that the lens was dropped or bumped, but that the ring was damaged before the lens was assembled. A trip to the dealer resulted in my lens being exchanged - except he did not have any in stock! A phone call to Canon revealed that I could have a lens in two days...

Wonderful, I thought. A brand new lens at the special price that I got for the old "dust-price-reduced" lens. Except today (when the lens was supposed to have arrived) I got a call from the dealer. Canon don't actually have any f/4 L's in stock, they thought he called them about the f/2.8 version! CPS were willing to provide me a lens for the weekend (I am shooting a car race this weekend), but couldn't let me have it for the full two weeks (or more) before new stock arrived in the country.

Hmmm! Next week I'm going to be in the sticks (in the outback) and I really wanted to have my 70-200 with me! After a little soul-searching and a little arm twisting (me twisting the dealer's arm!), I got a good deal on the 70-200 f/2.8 L! I didn't get the IS, as that is even heavier, and this one is heavy enough! I can live without IS up to 200mm anyway... but I'm starting weight training tomorrow! :)

I always thought I might end up with the f/2.8 version of this lens. I just thought it might be later rather than sooner. I justified the extra expense on the basis that this one will replace several prime lenses. F/2.8 is fast enough to make most primes in that focal range redundant for me now (famous last words!).

It's funny how things sometimes seem to happen for a reason... :D

PS. I'll let you know how I get on with this one... (wish me luck!)

sudaplatov
5th of June 2002 (Wed), 08:28
Congratulation!
Canon 70-200 f/2.8 is a superb lens.

Rudi
5th of June 2002 (Wed), 08:38
Oh! No doubt!

I just hope I have better luck with this one than the last. :)

Photos taken with this "steroid enhanced" 70-200 L coming soon...

pigasus
5th of June 2002 (Wed), 11:13
And the desirable 300? Poor forgotten lens. :(

Seriously, enjoy your seriously great new lens. I'm seriously thinking I'm going to sell my new 70-200 f4 L. It's just not meant for me.

Sally

snapdog
5th of June 2002 (Wed), 13:28
The 70-200 f/2.8 L is my all time favorite lens, bar none including my Hasseblad lenses. Most all of my portraiture is done with this lens attached to my EOS 1, and A2 bodies. Still waiting for my D60 . . . I expect, from what I've read, my 28-70 f/2.8 L may get used more often once I get my D60.
Cheers,
Joe
www.snapdog.com

Rudi
5th of June 2002 (Wed), 18:57
pigasus wrote:
And the desirable 300? Poor forgotten lens. :(



Oh no! Not forgotten! :)

I'm still going to get it, just not until next month or so. I just can't stand the thought of putting a 2x TC on my 70-200! Everything I've seen online and in reviews shows that the 2x TC just isn't in the same league as the 1.4x TC (it's a pity, it could save me a lot of money!).

So to reach my "goal" of 400mm or longer, I will still need the 300 f/4 L. I want to get that one because buying it will in effect provide me with two lenses: a 300mm f/4 and a 420mm f/5.6. If I bought the 400mm f/5.6 L, I'd only have one lens for the same price...

The only thing is, the camera bag is already getting pretty heavy...

BTW, I'm sorry you and the 70-200 f/4 L aren't getting along... maybe you should request that Canon make an IS version of same. :)