[Click the star to watch this topic] Canon EF200mm f/2.8L USM for astrophotography

[kostas75]

Hello everybody

Yesterday I tested the sharpness of my new Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L USM lens.
As you know this lens I will use mainly for widefield astrophotography.

I used a Coca Cola can at a distance of 3 meters.

First this is a test shot with my other lens Canon EF 24mm-85mm f/3.5-4.5 USM.
For these shots the lens was used to maximum focal length 85 mm.
http://www.albireo.gr/temp/ef-85mm-focus-comparison.tif
The images are cropped and are at 100% size. No other processing has been done.

The same shots now with the Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L USM lens.
http://www.albireo.gr/temp/EF-200mm-focus-comparison.tif

As you can see both lenses are sharper to f/11 aperture...

This is the photo of Coca Cola can captured with the Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L USM lens at f/11.
The image is cropped and is at 100% size. No other processing has been done.
http://www.albireo.gr/temp/ef-200mm-f11-coca-cola.tif
This is the photo of Coca Cola can after Richardson–Lucy deconvolution has been performed.
http://www.albireo.gr/temp/ef-200mm-f11-coca-cola-LR-Deconvolved.tif

And these are some morning shots with the Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L USM lens.
No processing has been done. I just wanted to test how sharp is this lens with distant objects about 4 km away..
I tried to focus as best as I could.
http://www.albireo.gr/temp/IMG_1437.TIF
http://www.albireo.gr/temp/IMG_1440.TIF
http://www.albireo.gr/temp/IMG_1442.TIF

What is your opinion now about the sharpness of the Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L USM lens?
Do you find any problem with the lens sharpness or I can feel reassured?

Thanks, Kostas

[kostas75]

Here are some first photos testing the lens outside..

http://www.albireo.gr/temp/IMG_1584-2.jpg
http://www.albireo.gr/temp/IMG_1561-2.jpg
http://www.albireo.gr/temp/IMG_1479-2.jpg
http://www.albireo.gr/temp/IMG_1502-2.jpg
http://www.albireo.gr/temp/IMG_1513-2.jpg
http://www.albireo.gr/temp/IMG_1557-2.jpg
http://www.albireo.gr/temp/IMG_1559-2.jpg
http://www.albireo.gr/temp/IMG_1560-2.jpg

I think this is a very good lens. I am longing to test it in the night sky!

[MintMark]

From everything I have read, this is supposed to be one of the best lenses for astrophotography. I hope to buy one one day!

Looking forward to your pictures...

[swag72]

Do you think this lens would give a better moon shot than the 100-400?

Interested in the loss of 200mm and quality of the lens would outweight the 100-400 at 400mm with less cropping?

I have just bought a 70-200 F2.8 - What does it do so very well in the world of astrophotography?

[VIGER]

Hi Kostas

My 200mm outperforms a Takahahsi FS78! My 70-200 ... I also have the cahance to own a 100mm and a 400mm prime. What camera do you use it on? On a 5D I can tell you it's alomost perfect.

[kostas75]

Hi Viger

I have used the Canon EOS 450D..I want to test the astrophotographic abilities of this lens in Greece under a dark sky..

[VIGER]

Well I did tested it under the semi dark sky of Canada and it's a bang! Flat field. Almost a perfect lens like it's big sister 400mm. You will alos find that the 1.4X doubler from Canon adds almost no degradation. The 2X starts to degrade the picture however compares to most pictures out there. I just love mine. Same goes for the 400mm ( I think everyone know this by know ; ) )

καλημέρα

michel

[PM01]

For what they are, the 200 2.8 is a decent starter in astrophotos. But then I mainly shoot with Takahashi FSQ106 and Astro Physics gear. Worlds of difference in field, sharpness, contrast, etc.

Before I bought the telescopes, I shot mainly with the 200 1.8 (vignettes heavily) and the 85 1.2, lots of edge distortions and CA, even when stopped 2 stops down, especially with the brighter stars.

70-200 2.8 and 200 2.8 are actually comparable in optical quality, but the edge goes to the 200 2.8 prime. Less glass to get in the way.

I have YET to find a Canon telephoto that will render stars as perfect round pinpoints and have a less than 5% distortion in field flatness. Not even the 200 f/2.0 L EF IS can do that. Shot with many of them. 300 2.8, 400 2.8, 500 f/4, 600 f/4 and the 800 f/5.6 lenses. The gear does look nice on a Astro Physics AP1200 mount though!