New 70-200 2.8 IS vs Original

Yamaha451 wrote in post #9824317
Just use Live View. That way you know you are dead on.

How does Live View affect focus? I actually had the 7D in Live View during the tests. Didn't know that had an adverse effect.

ocabj wrote in post #9824030
No, none of the lenses were microadjusted. I just slapped them on and shot. Maybe I can ask my coworker to bring in his 70-200 MK I again so I can retest.

Looking at the comparisons I don't doubt the mk2 is spot on (maybe just luckily 100% calibrated to the 7D) the mk1 is soft, and I know for a fact it's way better that that.

The MK2 does look to be very sharp. I would definitely pick one up if I had to buy all over again. However, the MK1 does look soft in that comparison. I hope the new lens is consistent in performance from sample to sample.

Here is my MK1 on the 30D. Shot RAW and no sharpening at all. Focus was on "IS".

FYI, this is another couple of photos I shot the same day I shot the newspaper test.

Conditions: 200mm focal length @ f/2.8 on the 7D, shot outdoors on a tripod with a wired remote trigger. RAW, no sharpening in LR. IS turned off.

70-200 f/2.8L IS:

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More than the sharpness, the CA is much better on the MK2 in the above comparison.

Hey Jonathan, I think this new test you just did is better but still shows the amazingness of the new lens over the original. Haughtdam!

On another note, on another forum it was mentioned that in my servo running test part of the reason for the lower amount of in-focus shots of the original compared has 2 new factors:
- better glass (already mentioned)
- better/faster/accurate autofocus (already mentions)
- *new* The new IS, although not affecting sharpness at 1/4000s, could affect tracking ability (less shakey, more consistency in keeping the af point on target)
- *new* that the brand new lens might communicate better with the brand new 1D Mark IV (its likely that this particular combination was used a lot in internal testing)

So its possible that performance with this lens, outside of static newpapers and ISO test charts, comes down to more than just class and af speed, all very reassuring in my new purchase!

JG Photography wrote in post #9824556
So its possible that performance with this lens, outside of static newpapers and ISO test charts, comes down to more than just class and af speed, all very reassuring in my new purchase!

I was just hoping the 70-200 f/2.8L IS II performed close to my (now sold) 200 f/2.8L II @ f/2.8. It does. So I'm happy. The $2500 stinging will gradually subside in the next several days.