So Excited! Finally-70-200 2.8 IS Canon

[WilsonFlyer]

Well sort of...

At the recommendation of Tom and several people here, I've decided to rent my first lens next week. Some lenses make more sense to rent first and make sure before purchasing. I've been drooling over this lens for 5 years and just won't pull the trigger so this seemed like a nice compromise to find out if I really want to buy one.

I'll be down all next week and Ron of Kingdom Camera has already called me and arranged delivery.

Any ideas for getting the most out of this behemoth would be greatly appreciated. I want to give it every opportunity to "sell me" so if anybody has any ideas where this lens particularly shines at WDW, please lend a hand and let me know.

Thanks to Tom for the great review of Kingdom Camera on his blog. That was the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back. Thanks a lot bud.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

I am not a Canon shooter, but a proponent of the 70-200 f2.8 at WDW. I use it for the shows in front of the castle, indoor shows when I don't have the best seats, Beauty and the Beast show, AK Safari ride, parades both night and day Fantasmic, etc. I use it anytime I need more than the 70mm max of my walkaround. Yes, it is heavier than my kit 50-200, but the lowlight capabilities and improved sharpness of a better lens overcome that for me. For me, its an indispensable lens. At home, its always on one of my bodies!

 

[wiigirl]

Awesome!

 

[mom2rtk]

I rented one for my son's graduation last year.

Prepare your arms for a workout. Then be prepared not to care once you see the images.

We are considering a helicopter tour over Canyonlands this summer. If we do, I know what lens I'm renting!

Please be sure to post some images here when you get back.

 

[photo_chick]

I've rented it for shooting dance. I ultimately went with the f/4 for the lighter weight when I purchased, it made sense for me. But the f/2.8 sure is sweet.

Have fun!

 

[jimim]

I have used it too in the past. Major workout! Sweet lens! It's my next lens purchase. Would have had it if I didn't end up buying the sigma art 35mm and canon 85mm. I am on a prime kick.

 

[boBQuincy]

A couple weeks ago I received my micro 4/3 version of the 70-200, Panasonic's 35-100 f/2.8. The f/2.8 is nice and the 12.7 ounce weight is really great!
This was taken from a moving boat on the Potomac:

 

[SkaGoat]

I've rented it for shooting dance. I ultimately went with the f/4 for the lighter weight when I purchased, it made sense for me. But the f/2.8 sure is sweet.

Have fun!

I was in my local camera store the other day, and was trying out the f/2.8 mounted on a 5Dmiii, now that was a heavy combo!

 

[photo_chick]

I was in my local camera store the other day, and was trying out the f/2.8 mounted on a 5Dmiii, now that was a heavy combo!

The 5D3 is a heavy beast all by itself. The weight is part of why I chose the 6D over it. I have used 70-200 f/2.8 on a 50D and a 6D... both way too heavy for regular use with my girly hands and RA.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Thanks for ALL the great advice, folks. I am SO excited. Please keep it coming!

 

[sporadic]

I have the 70-200 2.8 IS mkII and love it. I use it for shooting sports with my 7D and it's amazing. However, I couldn't imagine toting it all over the world due to the weight. You have a good strap yet? I'd recommend an Optech Utility sling. Best $22 I ever spent! Prefer it over the Black Rapid slings.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

I was in my local camera store the other day, and was trying out the f/2.8 mounted on a 5Dmiii...

First, let me start by saying how jealous I am that you have a local camera store that carries this gear. The nearest real camera store to me is a good 3-4 hour drive. Anyway, I digress...

... now that was a heavy combo!

The 5D3 is a heavy beast all by itself.

A 5D3 with a grip (and both batteries) would be 99.6 oz with this lens. Oh, let's just say you have a hand-strap, too, and round up to 100 ounces. That's 6 1/4 pounds! Wouldn't take long to start looking like Popeye carrying that around.

That's about 1 1/2 lbs heavier than it is with the 24-105 I use as a walk-around, today. Given the sharpness and speed of the 70-200 II, though, it's still on my wish list. (If a 24-70 2.8 IS ever shows up on the lineup, it'll go right on my wish list, too.) I wonder how long I'd last carrying all that around in the parks?

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Sorry, off topic...

Just curious, has anyone ever used this lens with a 2x extender? The 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS is a little soft at the far end of it's range, and I'm wondering how that compares to a 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II with an extender EF 2x III?

 

[SkaGoat]

The 5D3 is a heavy beast all by itself. The weight is part of why I chose the 6D over it. I have used 70-200 f/2.8 on a 50D and a 6D... both way too heavy for regular use with my girly hands and RA.

I wander around with a 7D so a heavy body doesn't bother me . (5Diii is only 50 gram heaviers, 900 vs. 950).

But the 70-200mm f/2.8L is literally 1000 grams heavier than my normal walk around lens.

It is nice thing to have a good camera store. They are actually a fairly large chain called Henry's here in Canada.

When I was looking into getting my Black Rapid strap, they took a 7D off the shelf, put a 17-50mm f/2.8 lens on it, attached the strap, and let me wander around the store so I could see how I liked the strap... just try that in Best Buy.

 

[bob100]

Sorry, off topic...

Just curious, has anyone ever used this lens with a 2x extender? The 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS is a little soft at the far end of it's range, and I'm wondering how that compares to a 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II with an extender EF 2x III?

it's going to be worse with an extender (AF and sharpness) and not as good as the 100-400. do a search on POTN, someone has done 70-200 2.8 II comparisons with extenders / teleconverters

My copy of the 100-400 is pretty sharp at 400mm

60D
Canon 100-400
400mm
f5.6

 

[wekhogan]

This lens is the most magical lens ever made. I love mine and it's always on one of my bodies. Enjoy - you're not going to want to give it back once you see your pics. It is heavy - for me it's most often on my 5dMIII, which is gripped, even, so that is a heavy combo I'd probably not carry all day. I'm usually on a monopod this days, for my main diet of sports, sports and more sports. Have a wonderful time with it.

 

[whoiscliffwang]

I use the Nikon version of this lens. Also great for parades. I used it on the first day of the Festival of Fantasy parade with great results.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I fell in love with he lens. No surprise there. I wanted to when I rented it. So much so that I ordered one 3 days into my trip.

You're right. It is THE lens for parades, even without cropping. My God!

I really do plan to get organized from my trip in a few days and to post a few pics.

This lens ought to be on everybody's "dream list" that has a Canon DSLR. It is the bomb.

I have to give a shout out to Kingdom Camera. They are THE nicest and most professional couple you will ever meet. An absolute JOY to work with. I have never rented lenses before but I will again now. I have several other lenses I want to try as I plan to transition to a FF in the very near future. I will use them over and over again now without hesitation. Can't wait to rent something from them in July so I can end up spending even more money I probably shouldn't.

 

[jiminyfan]

I recently made the purchase of this lens and I haven't been disappointed one second. Even when I had to shoot my son"s performance at Downtown Disney while extremely sick and accidentally had the stabilization turned off I got a large number of quality shots at night. Yes, it is expensive, but I would highly recommend it to anyone who can afford it.

 

[Tdisney]

We take pictures of our kids sports team with this lens and we have people "ordering" pics from us. i have a 5dmrkiii however this lens worked great with a 50d. Its like it was match made in heaven.