tell me if this 70-200 2.8 IS is ok or crap

My friend's father -in-law is a gear junkie. He's bigger on collecting gear than actually going out and taking pictures... which is the total opposite of me. He recently bought a 70-200 F2.8 IS and says it's a soft piece of crap and wants to get rid of it.

Since I have the same lens, he sent some samples and asked if they were good. I'm not much of a pixel peeper, but they seem to look decent enough to me...

Do you guys think this lens is a piece of crap too? or is it ok in your opinion?


http://yoonl.brinkster​.net/misc/7-2test/IMG_2440.JPG
http://yoonl.brinkster​.net/misc/7-2test/IMG_2450.JPG
http://yoonl.brinkster​.net/misc/7-2test/IMG_2461.JPG
http://yoonl.brinkster​.net/misc/7-2test/IMG_2465.JPG

Thanks

Yeah, it's a piece of crap. I'll give you $800 for it.

In all seriousness it looks to be fine.

Well, I opened up the first one in CS2 and sharpened it a bit, as it looked like it was unprocessed. Looks just peachy. Sharpen up a shot and show it to him and see if he's happy with it. If not, maybe he'd like to try the f/4 IS? Maybe he'd be happier with a 300 2.8 IS? One of the few lenses that I know to be noticeably sharper.

second that! I'll even give you $800.01 for it but honestly it looks fine to me, except for the last photo.... its probably because it wasnt metered right.

I offer $820.00

I offer, oh, I can't. I'm in negative numbers already.:o

The lens looks great. Don't sell it. Just play with it some more.

At 100% those photos look okay to me.

Theres nothing wrong with that.

Ronald S. Jr. wrote in post #2262737
Well, I opened up the first one in CS2 and sharpened it a bit, as it looked like it was unprocessed.

That's what I was thinking. 2 words, unsharp mask.

man its crap, eh.

OK, OK, you guys are tough.........$850 for the lens!

$875.01

they seem fine. but you can't really tell by just looking at 4 pictures. tell him to go out and do take some meaningful pictures in everyday situations. not just a picture of some bark and a brick wall. if that's all he has pictures of, he should sell it as he's obviously not using it.

$876

I say you put it in the garbage bag or if you really are convinced it is a piece of crap (please examine the physical properties of the lens closely, it is sometimes hard to determine if it was crap or not, especially if it fell in a puddle of mud or something), or flush it down the toilet.