Camera Lens Help

[Masterpiece1x]

Hi Guys,I just joined this group.
I really Would appreciate if you help me out in buying a Camera for my brother,He always want to buy a Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 ii but cant afford it..I wanna give him as a gift although its expensive for me as well but he is a good brother So the Problem is that I have zero clue about camera's Im looking online used ones as they are a lil cheaper..I found one online for about 1400$ Aud and it says on box( Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 is USM).
Is USM is same as ii?I dont know I dont wanna get tricked while buying Please assist in how to recognizing the right one

[RobertTheFat]

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@Masterpiece1x wrote:
Hi Guys,I just joined this group.
I really Would appreciate if you help me out in buying a Camera for my brother,He always want to buy a Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 ii but cant afford it..I wanna give him as a gift although its expensive for me as well but he is a good brother So the Problem is that I have zero clue about camera's Im looking online used ones as they are a lil cheaper..I found one online for about 1400$ Aud and it says on box( Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 is USM).
Is USM is same as ii?I dont know I dont wanna get tricked while buying Please assist in how to recognizing the right one

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Let's be clear: you're asking about a 70-200mm lens, not a camera body to mount it on, right?

Evidently the lens you're looking at is the older, non IS version of the lens. As such, I don't think $1400 sounds like a great price. The lens your brother probably wants would be designated as "EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM". The even newer IS III version has recently been announced, for availability, IIRC, in early September. So around that time or maybe a little sooner, good used examples of the IS II might start to show up at slightly lower prices than they go for now. Keep in mind that the most consistently good used lenses (and cameras too) are the refurbished units sold at the Canon online store.

[Masterpiece1x]

Yeah Exactly what you mentioned The EF one,Yeah i was just talking about lense,Thats a good advice to buy around that time..But the question I got is How would I know that the Delivered Canom is the EF 70-200 2.8 ii Usm....is there any marking on lens etc?

[RobertTheFat · Accepted solution]

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@Masterpiece1x wrote:
Yeah Exactly what you mentioned The EF one,Yeah i was just talking about lense,Thats a good advice to buy around that time..But the question I got is How would I know that the Delivered Canom is the EF 70-200 2.8 ii Usm....is there any marking on lens etc?

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Yes, it will say it on the lens. And note that there are both an "IS" version and a non-IS version, depending on whether the lens has image stabilization (which tries to minimize the effect of camera shake) or not. Also note that the "L" in "f/2.8L" is important (although I don't believe there is a non-L version of the 70-200).

[Masterpiece1x]

Thanks man

[ebiggs1]

OK now for the direct skinny on these lenses of which I have had all of them.  There are 7 versions if you add the f4 variant.

All are great lenses in their own right.  You really can't go wrong with any of them.  The IS is where the most improvement was made.  The newest version 3 has a new lens coating.  Supposed to be fantastic.

I will say the first version sold for less than $1400 so that is a not a good price if it is version 1.  It would be a good price for version 2 with IS.  Version 2 is about $1800 new. It has dropped in price because of the impending availability of the newest one number 3.  Keep in mind that makes number 1 worth even less, maybe $700.

[diverhank]

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@Masterpiece1x wrote:
Hi Guys,I just joined this group.
I really Would appreciate if you help me out in buying a Camera for my brother,He always want to buy a Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 ii but cant afford it..I wanna give him as a gift although its expensive for me as well but he is a good brother So the Problem is that I have zero clue about camera's Im looking online used ones as they are a lil cheaper..I found one online for about 1400$ Aud and it says on box( Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 is USM).
Is USM is same as ii?I dont know I dont wanna get tricked while buying Please assist in how to recognizing the right one

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Just to supplement what have already been said - there are 4 versions of Canon 70-200 f/2.8 out there (if you count the new version III).

• f/2.8L IS USM
• f/2.8L IS II USM
• f/2.8L IS III USM
• f/2.8L USM

The version f/2.8L IS USM you are talking about is fairly old.  Canon does not sell that anymore, I believe and $1400 is not that great of a deal for it.  If you look hard enough, you can buy the version II used for that.

[coachboz68]

Hi.  FWIW, I owned the EF 70-200mm f/2.8 IS USM for about 10 years and it was great.  Then I recently upgraded to the EF 70-200mm f/2.8 IS USM II and I was surprised at how quickly I noticed a difference.  The contrast and sharpness were noticeably better in portraits.  They came out with the mark III within a few months of my buying the mark II, but given the coating was the only major difference, I did not feel bad about it.  You're a good brother as this is a great gift that he will enjoy for MANY YEARS to come.  

[ebiggs1]

"... but given the coating was the only major difference,..."

Don't under estimate that new coating.  I agree it isn't enough for me to jump on board, as of yet, but it is a good upgrade.  One of the main differences between the Siggy S and C 150-600mm zooms is the coating on the front element.  It is nothing short of amazing.  Ten times better than the C.  I hope Canon's new coating is just as amazing.

[RobertTheFat]

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

"... but given the coating was the only major difference,..."

Don't under estimate that new coating.  I agree it isn't enough for me to jump on board, as of yet, but it is a good upgrade.  One of the main differences between the Siggy S and C 150-600mm zooms is the coating on the front element.  It is nothing short of amazing.  Ten times better than the C.  I hope Canon's new coating is just as amazing.

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Sure, but don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. The OP is trying to find an affordable way to buy a new lens for his brother, and the f/2.8 IS II would fill the bill nicely. It would be almost silly not to take advantage of the price drop that will result (or is already resulting) from the imminent release of the IS III version.