Canon Telephoto EF 200mm f/2L IS USM Autofocus Lens

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 200mm f/2L IS USM Autofocus Lens:

My intended use for this lens is low light sports photography and environmental portraits. Fast focusing, moderate weight and superb resolution are all rolled up in this not so little gem.
Excellent Bokeh when used at 2.0

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 200mm f/2L IS USM Autofocus Lens:

Fast glass - yes, super shallow depth of field, an extra stop of light vs a f/2.8 lens. Claimed to be the fastest 200mm in production. Fast focus - yes but not as fast as the 70-200 f/2.8 II, or the 300 f/2.8 II. Of course the 220 f/2.0 is MUCH faster to focus than the 85 f/1.2 II. Buy the lens cap designed for the 300 f/2.8 II as it works much better than the silly leather boot that comes with the 200 f/2.0. Recommended.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 200mm f/2L IS USM Autofocus Lens:

This is one of those lenses people research for months and go back and forth on. The price scares folks, the "weight" .Really those are the only things I could imagine anyone could find to complain about with the lens, First off the price is totally reasonable to me, I cant imagine the millions and millions of dollars spent to develop this lens, Now im not saying you wont be shocked when you open the credit card bill, but come on, you cant fake what this lens does.And really the weight is not a factor at all if you ask me. bottom line the thing is as close to perfect as I;ve seen

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 200mm f/2L IS USM Autofocus Lens:

Use this for basketball shootin with my 5d mark 2. Awesome lens but ended up selling mine for more than what I paid for it and ended up buying a 7d and the 135 f2 lens that live together. Was able to pick up the 50 1.2 for the 5d. Digging this set up a lot. Smaller, lighter and got a bit more reach.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 200mm f/2L IS USM Autofocus Lens:

Fast focus, great sharpness, great overall image quality.
This is an absolute dream if you use it for Portraits.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 200mm f/2L IS USM Autofocus Lens:

Sharp, sharp, sharp! This lens is everything you have read about and more. My hit rate went up considerably compared to my 70-200 2.8 IS. F/2 at this focal length has to be seen to be believed. It gathers so much light that low light shooting is much easier. Focus is fast and silent on my 1DM4 and 1DM3 bodies although my 70-200 did focus a bit faster which surprised me. Tracking improved quite a bit over the 70-200 producing 9 out of 10 sharp images. I use this for sports and portraits mostly.

The down sides are the weight which is to be expected and the lack of a lens cap. I bought the AquaTech softCap made for the 300 f/2.8 since they fit the 200 f/2 which works perfectly. Also the $$$ lens hood is a bit tricky to get on and off but you get used to it. Overall this is a near perfect lens.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 200mm f/2L IS USM Autofocus Lens:

This lens is amazing and when used with 1.4 and 2.0 Extenders produces excellent results as a 280 f2.8 and 400 f4.0. Could have saved myself $4,000 on a 300 f2.8!

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 200mm f/2L IS USM Autofocus Lens:

Superb, top of the line, extremely clear, easy focus, great photos

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 200mm f/2L IS USM Autofocus Lens:

Just came out of the box last week, and so far I've only used it at a youth sports league to test its speed, AF accuracy, sharpness, and the legendary bokeh. It exceeded all my expectations. Despite the weight (easily mitigated by using a monopod), it is easy to maneuver quickly. At wide open 2.0 aperture, it's insane! From across the soccer field, the plane of focus even at 100 ISO was razor sharp. You'll see in the sample photo below that I was just a fraction off the correct focus even at that distance because it is so precise. I've not tested the IS yet because of the super fast shutter speed in full light, but expect to do so at an evening wedding in New Orleans next month. Worth every penny, and I'd recommend it without hesitation!

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 200mm f/2L IS USM Autofocus Lens:

Since you consider buying this lens, you probably have done some research already. Just to confirm what you already know:

Optical/electronic/mechanical quality: Absolute top class. No question about it.

Portraits: You are not anonymous using this lens, and it could easily frighten shy people ;) Its minimum focus distance is 6.23' (1.9 m). So, get the Canon extension tube EF 12 II.

To make it complete, also buy:
Canon 52mm Drop-in circular polarizing filter and
Canon ERC-E4M Medium rain cover.

The Canon EF 200mm f/2L IS is a beauty of a lens.
Enjoy!

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 200mm f/2L IS USM Autofocus Lens:

This & the Canon 135MM F2 are probably the best telephoto lens'on the world Eye popping images, sharp, rich colors, contrasty & the best bokeh in the known galaxy. A must have for sports or when you want to keep your distance at an event. Can get a little heavy so get some exercise before use!!

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 200mm f/2L IS USM Autofocus Lens:

...what a great lens. I shot a high school basketball game the other night. I was concerned about the crackerbox size of the gym.

It was the first time I had used it and the pics turned out stunning. Crisp on the subject with the background blur that's os typical of great sports pics. It's worth every nickel I put into it.

Best if using a monopod or tripod. It's a little heavy.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 200mm f/2L IS USM Autofocus Lens:

I mainly use this lens to take professional portraits which it really excels at in fact better then any other lens including my beloved Canon 85mm F/1.2L II that's if you have the room to use it. Even on a full frame camera you will be backed up a ways from your subject.

This lens WILL get you attention, I had it at the zoo the other day and a model shoot at the local park and lost count of how many people commented about it. I hear envy, lust, awe and attitude in their comments. But it also gets you respect people automatically think you are a pro.

Be prepared for a heavy lens too after a three hour hand held shoot I feel ready to sit down and take a break, feels over twice as heavy as my 85 but much faster to focus and sharper wide open.

Now for the best part, get back to your computer and be prepared for your jaw to drop when you see the images full sized. I can even at a glance tell from thumbnails which images are with this lens. Also when asked which images are liked almost always people pick out the ones taken with this lens from a shoot.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 200mm f/2L IS USM Autofocus Lens:

Outstanding in all areas..sharpness, color, resolution, low light performance with 4 stops IS..simply stunning bokeh

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 200mm f/2L IS USM Autofocus Lens:

My Uses- Portraiture

when used wide open, it gives a look that can only be achieved by very high speed super telephoto lens...it sets the shots apart from other lenses.

AF is lightning fast!!!!

IS works great.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 200mm f/2L IS USM Autofocus Lens:

Great quality lens, I am having so much fun with this lens, it is so fast!! B&H was fast also with their shipping and from their add, I didn't know that the lens came in it's own case, like a small suitcase that will protect the lens from any damage. I have not studied the CD that came with it but will enjoy that soon. The cost is steep but well worth the quality. No worries on B&H giving quick service of shipping.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 200mm f/2L IS USM Autofocus Lens:

I purchased this lens after a lot of research. I had high hopes and expectations of this lens and all I can say is that my expectations were not only met but they were far exceeded. This is THE best lens I have ever used. I cannot fault it in anyway whatsoever.

As has been stated before, its heavy but by no means is it unmanageable. The build quality is excellent, the focus speed and accuracy can only be described as insane. Once you have this lens on your camera everything just takes on a different feel, its is a pro lens in every sense of the word.

It is absolutely pin sharp wide open from edge to edge, even sharper that any of my other L lenses when they are stopped down. The color and contrast is fantastic but most of all, the bokeh that this lens produces is nothing short of amazing.

I was skeptical at spending so much money on a lens but after the first day of use I wondered why I didn't buy it sooner. Sure its a lot of money but you do get your money's worth.

An absolutely amazing piece of glass and the best quality I have ever seen. It blows away the other 7 L's I own by a long-shot. I wont ever part with the 200 f2

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 200mm f/2L IS USM Autofocus Lens:

So far so good .. really fast and sharp .... this is the dream lens for photographers ... expensive but worth every penny..

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 200mm f/2L IS USM Autofocus Lens:

sports,

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 200mm f/2L IS USM Autofocus Lens:

Canon Super Telephoto lenses are the flagship lenses of their EF range. Needless to say, they have no inherent weaknesses designed into the lens. Their biggest weaknesses are more so from an economical and practicality perspective. That is, cost, mass and size.

Cost:

You get what you pay for. If you want a fast lens which is close to optical perfection, unfortunately this is what it costs.
Is it expensive? Yes
Is it overpriced? Hard to say.
Is it good value? I believe so.

Value is a function of cost and utility. This lens costs a lot, but I also use it a lot. A lens may be cheap, but it is poor value if you use it for the occasional snap, such as a 50mm f/1.8 which is used every once in a while. I use my 200L almost every time I take photos, consequently, it is excellent value for me.

Mass:

It is unavoidable that a f/2 aperture lens at 200mm will weigh a lot. However, Canon has impressively reduced the mass of this lens substantially from its 0.3 stop faster predecessor, the 200mm f/1.8L lens.

Short of having a medical condition or injury, a typical adult photographer should not have difficulty carrying or using this lens. I never use a tripod or monopod with this lens and I can handhold it all day. To put it in perspective, the additional heft above a 70-200 f/2.8L IS is simply the sum of the mass of a battery grip and 580EX. Whilst not trivial, for me, mass has definitely not affected my usage of this lens. The lens is so good I force myself to carry it with me.

Size:

The problem with this lens is that it attracts unwanted attention. This attention will affect your ability to take genuine candids, and will make you feel a bit odd especially at public locations. Telephoto lenses have obvious negative connotations, so the need to avoid such associations may convince you to leave this lens at home for certain locations (e.g. the beach).

Image Stabilization:

Effective, but not a miracle worker. You can't have sloppy handholding technique and expect good sharpness. You will get A LOT of motion blur, even with IS, and even with shutter speeds of 1/100 and faster, if you don't have good technique or steady hands. It's harder to handhold than you think as the lens tends to jerk in your hands sometimes due to its mass.

Sharpness and Contrast:

This lens is uniformly sharp across all apertures until diffraction starts rearing its head. Please note Depth of Field is quite thin at 200mm f/2, and accurate focus is required to get top sharpness wide open. There is a very, very small improvement in sharpness stopping down to f/5.6. The improvement is virtually imperceptible if your focus at f/2 is correct.

In conjunction with a Canon Extender 1.4X II, there is a small but noticeable drop in performance. Performance is excellent stopping down one stop.

This lens is widely touted as being one of, if not the, sharpest Canon EF lens. I think it is difficult to assess this claim, as so many Canon EF lenses outresolve current sensors that it isn't likely going to be any sharper than say, a $80 USD 50mm f/1.8 II. However, unlike other lenses, the 200L is sharp across the whole frame, and furthermore, the "apparent sharpness" of the photo is enhanced by the incredible contrast and colours.

In my opinion, what makes this lens stand out from a sharpness perspective is the contrast wide open. Many Zeiss/Leica/whatever fanatics will wax on about how their lenses show incredible micro contrast and all that. To be honest, I don't really know what that discussion is about. But one thing is for certain: the "pop" and contrast hit you get from a well exposed 200L photo in great lighting conditions with this lens is unmatched compared to any other lens I have used.

The background blur attained at 200mm, f/2, as well as the natural vignetting of this lens, all contribute towards this jaw dropping effect.

However, it is important to note that the lens does not reward sloppy photography. Do not expect to point this lens and get a jaw dropping photo. It will require a lot of work from you as a photographer to choose the right scene, the right light, the right composition etc.

When I do my job right, I find this lens requires no post processing. What does one need to do when the colours, contrast and composition are all excellent? Well, I guess you need to convert from RAW, but sometimes I feel like I haven't done my job properly as I hardly need to PP (post produce) any of the images.

Chromatic Aberration:

The usage of a low dispersion fluorite element is generally associated with very well controlled lateral chromatic aberration (purple fringing at high contrast transitions). The 200L is no exception to this rule. The only scenario where I have ever noted chromatic aberration with this lens was when I took a test shot of a shiny/highly reflective metal object in harsh, direct sunlight. Even then, it was very well controlled. If you have used any Canon telephoto with a fluorite element (or two), you will be aware of the clean, chromatic aberration free look, which is typically the norm.

Vignetting:

This lens noticeably vignettes wide open, like all other large (for their class) aperture lenses. However, I LOVE this feature of this lens. Often I find that stopped down images do not "pop" as much as images wide open. Upon closer inspection, it is because of the lack of vignetting stopping down. For me, vignetting helps accentuate the subject, and adds a classical look to the image. I often associate the lack of a vignette with the photo being too "clinical" or lacking "feel". I love vignetting. I have never corrected vignetting in the thousands of photos I have taken with this lens. I actually wish the vignetting was stronger at times. Some people say that it is desirable to have zero vignetting in a lens, and then add it in photoshop if required. I disagree. I think it is very easy to remove vignetting by using Peripheral Illumination Correction, or stopping down past f/2.8, or using any post production software. But adding vignetting is time consuming, and I don't feel it looks as natural as lens induced vignetting. Notwithstanding this subjective debate, most photographers will agree vignetting is the least serious optical defect, and far from a blight on the 200L's optical performance.

Distortion:

None noted for my typical usage, however critical users may need to consult more objective lens tests.

Autofocus Performance:

Overall, very accurate and very fast. It is difficult to assess the autofocus performance of this lens as the camera, subject, lighting conditions and the photographer play a large part in determining autofocus performance. But here are some estimated statistics to give you an idea. These do not exclude photos caused by my poor technique, which is a big factor:
- With a 1D Mark III photographing tennis on AI Servo, in focus rate is > 75%
- With a 1D Mark IIN photographing a person running towards you, in focus rate is > 90% on AI Servo
- With a 5D Mark II photographing a person for a portraiture photo, in focus rate is >80% on one shot

Notwithstanding my results above, given that Canon utilises its latest and best USM motors in its flagship Super Telephotos, needless to say, no other current lenses are likely to be significantly superior in autofocus performance.

Please note, this lens is VERY hard to manually focus handheld using Liveview. You need VERY strong arms. Manual focus is excellent with liveview, but difficult.

Bokeh:

This will be controversial, but I believe the bokeh from this lens is nothing special. Don't get me wrong, you will be hard pressed to find another non Super telephoto lens that blurs the background as comprehensively and creamy as this one does. So what do I mean?

The issue is, you are relying on the long focal length, and the f/2 aperture, to get a blurry background. When you stop down the lens, or put your subject behind a busy background, you are really asking for the impossible from this lens. Whilst bokeh is about the quality of the out of focus areas, there is no doubt that our perception of it is affected by the depth of field of the image.

The lens is no bokeh miracle worker. As it is with any other lens, your selection of your background, your aperture and the distance between the subject and background play a pivotal part of the look of the out of focus areas. If you can get the above right, then yes, the 200L will obliterate the background for you. But don't go expecting to use some ugly shrubs for background and expecting creamy perfection, particularly when stopped down.

All that said though, the 200L is a bokeh machine. Put a clean background behind a subject, find some nice lighting, and you will get a jaw dropping, creamy background photo.

Best Uses for this Lens: Any.

Many lens reviewers will recommend lenses for particular purposes, e.g. wide angles for landscapes, telephotos for wildlife and sports. This lens is so good that I try and find any and all uses for this lens. I like to use this lens as my primary walkabout lens, so don't let anyone.

Do not get seduced by the background blur of this lens however. If you go onto any forum and have a look at "example photos" taken by users of this lens, a large portion tend to be of random objects in a boring rule of thirds composition, with a blurred background. Boring…

Portraits:

Amazing Portraiture results. Ever since I have gotten this lens, I no longer use my 85mm f/1.2L II where space is not an issue. The 85mm just feels too wide in comparison, almost like one is using a wide angle prime. I know this will be sacrilege to many, but it is my perception of the 85L for outdoor portraiture.

That said, the 85L is still king of the hill for me for indoor portraiture and indoor events.
Note that in my opinion, the 200L at f/2 blows out the background better than the 85L does at f/1.2 for equal framing. The 85 at f/1.2 has shallower DOF, but the 200L has the blurrier background. (Please research on focal length and background blur if this seems counter intuitive to you)

Group Photos:

Group Photos from this lens are amazing. You would not think to take group photographs at 200mm f/2, however if you are willing to put in the effort, you will get very nice group photos with naturally blurred backgrounds. Naturally, I use f/2 for all my group photos too. Too shallow DOF? Only if you aren't imaginative in how you can combat the problem (Focus Bracketing, Photoshop, row manipulation, angle manipulation, the possibilities are endless)

Many photographers use wide angle lenses for group photos. I think this is boring. Sometimes it is unavoidable due to space constraints, but where possible I always use longer lenses to get great telephoto perspective and a diffuse background.

Landscape:

Why not? The colours coming from this lens are special. However, note that if you are photographing distant scenes, atmospheric effects will induce loss of contrast, so use this lens with care. This lens probably isn't worth the load for most during a long hiking trip, but I love it so much I still carry it. Like other applications, I take landscapes at f/2. Generally the DOF is more than sufficient for distant scenes.

Wedding Photos:

Beautiful lens for wedding couple shots, and photojournalism. That said, it is a very restrictive focal length at a wedding, so you need to use with care. In my opinion, the ideal situation would be a 2nd shooter using this lens. I once photographed a wedding entirely with this lens as a second photographer, and the couple loved the output far more than main's output from a 24-70L and 16-35L. That said, I do not recommend this lens as a primary wedding lens for obvious reasons. Otherwise, you will miss shots.

How to carry gear:

For gigs, I use a Thinktank Airport Security v2. When I'm out and about, I use a Crumpler Whickey and Cox backpack which can hold the lens with hood and camera mounted. The lens will also fit (without hood) into a Lowepro AW75 toploader, backwards. There are many other cases available.

Lens Cap:

Many people buy expensive lens caps for this lens, but in my opinion, you don't really need this lens cap if you intend to store the camera with the hood on.

Cheers,
Dawei
Fotoholics - Melbourne University Photography Club