Canon EF 70 200 F2 8L is II Quick Review

It’s a couple of months since I hit the ‘buy’ button on eBay and waited nervously for my 2.8 mark II to arrive. Having considered various options including the non-is version and the mk 1 (which is now getting on for something like 9 years old technology) I decided to take the plunge and get the new version.  For Canon users, the 70-200 F2.8 IS has been the weapon of choice for many wedding photographers and it was probably due an update.

Having used the mk 1, the first thing I noticed was how much quieter the new version’s image stabilisation is. Maybe the mk 1 I used was showing it’s age, but it made a slightly alarming buzzy rattle when the IS kicked in. On the mk II the IS is hardly noticeable, much the same as the 24-105L with just a reassuring click and ‘floaty’ image to let you know you are getting some help from your expensive Canon kit. What you do notice is how effective the system is, now with 4 stops of compensation. Take a look at the images below, hand held at 1/10 and 1/4 second.

1/4 F32 140mm ISO 200

1/10th F32 85mm ISO 200

I have read in some reviews that the new lens’s bokeh isn’t quite as good as it could be, judge for yourself in the images below. Some of the shots I have taken, the background doesn’t look as creamy as it might, but I think that sometimes you can look a bit too hard. Overall this isn’t an issue for me.

1/1000th F4 200mm ISO 200

1/1250th F2.8 170mm ISO 200

How sharp is it? Super sharp, even wide open. Even looking at 100% crops. Nothing more to say about that really.

Low light photography is an area where this lens excels. It doesn’t matter how many reviews you read that tell you the benefits of the wide 2.8 aperture, it’s not until you actually get to play with it yourself and find yourself shooting a 800 ISO instead of 1600, that you appreciate the difference, and the weight – it’s a bit of a lump!

1/200th F2.8 200mm ISO 1000

Overall, this is an expensive piece of kit, but if you are serious about your photography its money well spent. In the right hands, this produces stunning images. You will not be disappointed.

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