70-200/2.8L IS --- Least sharp of the three 70-200s?

[pcasciola]

If the 70-200/2.8L IS is indeed the least sharp of the three Canon 70-200s, I can't even imagine how sharp the other two must be.

This was my first weekend with the lens. I shot three lacrosse games with it today, and I had more keepers than ever. Focus is fast and accurate. My only complaint would be that it's damn heavy. Heavier than my 300/4L by quite a bit.

Here's a sample that I shot from completely across the long end of the field, because I just knew the kid was going to score. When I opened it in Photoshop I was thinking, oh well, this is never going to work. After I cropped it, I was pleasantly suprised to say the least. I shot it with my 20D at f/2.8 and had to crop it down to 100% and level it to get the framing I wanted. It's not my sharpest shot of the day by a long shot, but I couldn't believe how sharp it was after cropping it all the way down.

Here's the 100% crop, aRGB RAW conveted with ACR 2.4 and run through Noise Ninja. No other tweaks to this one.

http://www.casciola.com/pics/lacrosse_crop.jpg

Here's the full shot that I cropped it from, just converted and resized in Photoshop:

http://www.casciola.com/pics/lacrosse_full.jpg

I posted a few more from one of the other games here:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=490219#post490219

[ssim]

Great shots Phil and awesome color as well. I have the same lens and it is indeed tack sharp. I've never had the occasion to use any of the other variants of this lens but I certainly don't hve any complaints on my issue. Me thinks you don't either.

[raylks]

I wonder if it is really EF 70-200 IS L is the least sharp among the three 70-200mm L.

I cannot tell the difference between the three from my bare eyes.

[Skip Souza]

I checked out the posts in Sports. As any one can tell your new lens is really soft & fuzzy ;-) ;-) ;-)

[tim]

That's pretty impressive performance all right :)

[thomasrhee]

IMO, there is NO discernible difference in sharpness or for that matter in overall image quality between the 3 lenses. The extra price you pay is only for the larger aperture and for the "IS".

[Todd Jacobsen]

I don't know, pictures look kinda crappy...

Tell you what, how about you sell me that "fuzzy" lens...say REAL cheap...and then I'll have to live with those crappy pictures...yeah...I just KNOW you'd be happier with one of the "other" 70-200 lenses...yeah...sellin me that lens is the answer...

[kawter2]

WOW i cant believe you got that much detail from that intense of a CROP!!!

Great call on that lens, your collection seems to be making me envious!!!