My first L lens has just arrived!

My first L has just arrived, so many of you have crossed my path, giving me good advice over the past month regarding my purchase of a 70-200mm lens.
I eventually bowed to that little voice in my head saying, GO FOR IT!

So it arrived an hour ago, 70-200 2.8L IS.

Now can anyone give me any pointers/ tips/ tests to put this baby through its paces, if i paid this much then its going to get some use!!

Thank you all again for your help so far, i love this place hehe!- awe i am such a geek, but i am happy geek with no money haha!

Thanks, A.

Well done,you got yourself a superb lens,just go out and try it.

Congrats. super buy. Quite a versatile lens. If you pick up the 2X TC you can have a 140-400mm 5.6 IS lens!!!:p

congrats, not used the f2.8 but I have the f4 all I can say is practice holding the lens is good, I found for the first few days trying to hold the lens steady at 200mm was tricky but I now have it after hours of trying different methods. Enjoy your new lens and lets see some pics when you have time

Yes holding it is difficult, its trippled the holding weight of what im used to with my 50mm lol o well, small price to pay. Honestly i thought people were joking when they complained about how heavy it is.

if you're going out for extended period of time with that lens, a monopod might be a worthy investment.

You know i was thinking that, i have researched tripods and i knowthe one i want, manfrotto or however you spell it, 055pro- the carbon fibre one if i can afford it, but i dont know jack about mono pods, i have seen the benbo trekker monopod advetised for £24.99roughly $45, is this a good buy, and what head would anyone recommend for this, my next purchase is likely to be the 100-400L so i would like something that can handle this also-tho i suspect i will need my tripod at this point.
Thanks guys, A.

Disaster! upon examining lens in daylight there is a dust spec on the inside element!!
I cant believe it! i just cant!!! after all this its faulty, typical isnt it lol!

A dust speck on a lens element isn't going to show in any picture....unless it is the size of a small duck. Go shoot pictures and be happy.

Paying this much for a lens though, it should be perfect. And this is meant to be a sealed lens. I am sure if i wanted to sell this item on it would reduce its resale value.

My thinking is, that if there is dust on an internal element when its new, then what is to say how much dust is loose in there that will become attached to the lens later on its life?

Congrats have fun with it

It is only sealed when the rear lens cap is on,just go use it instead of talking on here lol.

Congrats! Go shoot us some photos we want to see!

just remember, f2.8 takes a while to get used to, as well as the weight of the damn thing. it'll be your favorite lens for a while to come

congrats...now go shot some ducks...