Canon EF 200mm f/2L IS USM

[ChrisPBacon]

Anyone here have the lens?  How does it compare to the EF 200mm f/1.8L USM?

I’m thinking of purchasing it.  Can anyone recommend the lens?

[wq9nsc]

Chris,

I never used the F1.8 but I have the EF-200 F2 and love it.  It is lighter than the 1.8 and I doubt if you will miss the 2/10 of an F stop in terms of depth of field.  I bought it primarily for indoor sports where it is better suited than my EF-300 F2.8; both are incredibly sharp and fast focusing glass and worth their lofty price.

It is tack sharp and just works well. The image below was when I was checking the AF fine adjustment on my 1DX 2 and no fine tuning was needed.  Like your F series, it is a master at making a very sharp image pop out of a beautiful background blur.

Rodger

[ebiggs1]

I would not buy the Canon EF 200mm f/2L IS USM Lens because there is a way more versatile lens that preforms every bit as well.  I have a pro friend that has the Canon EF 200mm f/2L IS USM Lens and he just loves it. We go round and around about which is bestter or best. Here is the truth. The fact is, Canon has the best in class Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM Lens at four grand less, that's 4 with three zeros after it, it makes way more sense. Canon must price it, the 200 mil prime, by the pound because it is nearly twice as heavy too.

Well, you say the prime is a full stop faster.  And, yes, it is but in the world of photography a stop is a lot ... and it is not. If you need it I guess it is a lot. However most of the time it is not because you don't need it.  And now for the huge disadvantage to the 200mil prime, it doesn't have 70 to 199 mm available.

[ChrisPBacon]

The stop difference IS a lot and might make the difference between getting the shot and not — where a tripod is too difficult to carry and a flash totally ruins the shot.

[ebiggs1]

"The stop difference IS a lot and might make the difference between getting the shot and not ..."

Actually it is not a lot.  As a person that has used both, the times when you just absolutely have to have every bit of aperture is so tiny, it is not a real factor. That makes it, "not a lot".  And, certainly not a 4 grand factor. With today's DSLR's a one stop higher ISO is way more sensible.

[ebiggs1]

Addendum;

Guess what?  That same friend has the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens.  Just sayin'.  Actions speak louder than words.