Canon 200mm F/1.8L

Someone I know bought the 200mm 1.8 and it accidentally fell the next day and broke. Talk about major suckage.

This other photographer I know will be having his 200mm 1.8 hood painted by a famous brazillian painter named Romero Britto. Now that will be one awesome custom hood.

Hi there, I have just bought one for $3600 in the USA, in mint condition. I live in the UK and thought this a bargain as one just sold in a camera shop for $5580, as new but second hand. Amazon have a brand new one for close to $7440. I hope that the value of the 200mm 1.8 doesn't drop too much if an IS version comes out, but they're the chances you take, its only money I suppose.

For a lot less money you can buy the Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L USM which is also very good and a lot lighter to carry around as well. I got one recently for about $400 at a second hand camera shop. Another lens that is extremely sharp is the Tokina AT-X 80-400 mm f/4.5 - 5.6 and that one cost me only $200. Go and browse at second hand camera shops and maybe you'll get lucky.
Happy hunting,
Julian

http://www.pbase.com/j​ulianht/

If you need that lens in August, you could buy a second hand version now and resell it in September when you're done. If you make a good bargain on your buy, you can even consider making a profit out of it when you sell it. Cheaper than rental.
On the other hand, if you break it, you're completely screwed!
And also, when you own a lens that good, the most difficult is to actually sell it

I agree that's a dream lens, but IMO its market value is waaay too high compared to its original price. I would buy a new 300 2.8 IS for cheaper...