70-200 2.8L non is buying tips

Going to buy my first L lens today!! super excited (: anyways, I found a few lists of things to look for, mostly obvious, but I was wondering if there is anything in particular I can look for when making my first expensive lens purchase?

http://www.lightstalki​ng.com/buying-a-used-lens

Any other points to add on that? If nothing else then wish me luck, i'm very excited ^_^

Congrats. Buy a 77mm circular polarizer and practice hand holding it. That's all you need. You'll love it.

alright, thanks! CPF, definitely a good idea! Do you have any recommendations on which filter to get? I don't want to lower the sharpness of my lens by buying a total dud of a filter! I have a hoya for my 28-135, not sure which one, it came with the lens.

I use a Hoya Pro1 CPL. I don't know how it compares to others. I don't use it much, but the next one I buy (for different filter size) will be either Marumi or B+W so I can compare. All 3 of these brands are meant to be pretty good.

A circular polarizing filter is nice, but I wouldnt consider it a must have. Be sure to keep the lens hood on it though, for protection. If you do go the CPF route, get a B+W or Hoya. Anything else has a good chance of degrading image quality too much.

Tapeman wrote in post #15768691
.....Buy a 77mm circular polarizer.....

No. You don't need this.

Out doors, especially when shooting reflrctive surfaces or water a polarizer is very useful and makes blue sky/coluds look better also. You cannot simulate the effect in PS or Lightroom. (At least the reflections part.)

If you are shooting sports a polarizer is of little benefit and reduces light by about a stop and a half.

I have had good results with B+W filters. Buy a quality filter as the 77mm size is common to a lot of good lenses.

Tapeman wrote in post #15769481
Out doors, especially when shooting reflrctive surfaces or water a polarizer is very useful and makes blue sky/coluds look better also. You cannot simulate the effect in PS or Lightroom. (At least the reflections part.)

If you are shooting sports a polarizer is of little benefit and reduces light by about a stop and a half.

I have had good results with B+W filters. Buy a quality filter as the 77mm size is common to a lot of good lenses.

The 70-200mm is a pretty tight lens. Occasionally I shoot landscapes with it, which is about the only time I use a CP filter. Even then, the sun has to be at a 45 degree angle to really need it. Sunsets and mid-day sun, it won't have much of an effect.

No clue why you would use it for sports. The shutter should be used to control light when shooting action, and not a filter. More light is better, unless your shooting with sync speed in mind. A higher shutter and lower ISO will give you sharper photos. Please reconsider your advice.

Trent Gillespie wrote in post #15769497
..........Please reconsider your advice.

x1,000,000,000,000,000​,000,000,000,000,000,0​00,000,000,001

I don't know why a thread went off into taking about filters when the OP was asking about tips for buying used lens.

Anyway I remember that the OP recently started some shooting motorsports. A CPL can be handy to cut reflections on wind screens/visors/windows for things like seeing the driver inside that car. ND filters are also handy so you can get those sub 1/60 shutter speeds for pano shots when f22 doesn't cut it or is undesirable. Sports isn't always about about stopping actions but yes in those cases when it is highest shutter and lowest ISO is best and filters can go against this.

Anyway that link pretty much covers it, good luck with the new lens.

A CP filter is a very useful addition to your bag of tricks.
Unkown to some, you can put it on when it is needed!

I have been shooting SLRs/DSLRs for over 40 years and I always have one that will fit any of the lenses I have with me.

Clearly, depending on the subject/type of shooting you do will determine how much you should use it.

Well I believe the CP can be useful in certain situations, I used it at the races recently to use a slower shutter speed (1/60-1/160) to capture background blur while panning. Not sure if my exif data in on my flickr but without the CP, I would not have gotten the same effects, I think its something to certainly consider having in your bag. Obviously there is a time and a place for the CP and I am learning when that is, so having it is valuable to me.

Anyways, back on topic, the guy was great, had a good chat with him and exchanged information, hes going to get me some work(added bonus!) and he gave me a background cloth free of charge as well! great guy for sure! The lens is ABSOLUTELY fantastic, I am in complete awe, I brought it to the skatepark today for some action shots, and oh my... I am very impressed, with my 28-135 it felt like it lagged getting focus and lagged getting shots off for whatever reason, but with this 2.8L, I was able to rattle off shots and grab focus with ease. The background blur is incredible on this lens and the bokeh is wonderful! This lens is certainly my new favorite and I now know what it feels like owning an L. The big white canon cannon certainly grabs attention of everyone around, not sure if thats good or bad yet, but in the setting I was in, capturing extreme sports it was great!

And to end my small rant, whoever said this lens is excessively bulky and too heavy for them needs to hit the gym! I am no gym buff either @ 6'2 165.. I was pleasantly surprised actually(even though i've shot a 2.8L is ii before) at the size being smaller than I remembered or from seeing it in pictures. It fits right in my lowepro sling attached to my gripped 50D and 28-135, 50mm snugly next to it.

can't wait to get out and shoot with it more, a wonderful lens and well worth the price!