Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

Incorporating Canon's second-generation Image Stabilization technology, this 70-200mm telephoto zoom responds in as little as 0.5 seconds while providing up to three stops of correction for camera shake. As a result, you can easily capture the far-off action of fast-paced sports or zoom in for an intimate portrait with a blurred background. The lens's autofocus (AF) system, meanwhile, has been refined for better response time and tracking speed. And photographers will love the new eight-blade circular aperture, which offers a more pleasing out-of-focus image. Constructed to pro standards, the EF 70-200mm lens is highly dust- and moisture-resistant and carries a one-year warranty.

* Focal length: 70-200mm
* Maximum aperture: 1:2.8
* Lens construction: 23 elements in 18 groups
* Diagonal angle of view: 34 to 12 degrees
* Focus adjustment: Inner focusing system with USM
* Closest focusing distance: 4.3 feet
* Zoom system: Rotating type
* Filter size: 77mm
* Dimensions: 3.4 inches in diameter, 7.8 inches long
* Weight: 3.24 pounds



Customer feedback:

1. My copy of this lens is very sharp at all focal lengths. Color and contrast are excellent. I really don't have a single complaint about this lens. Some people find the weight objectionable, but it hasn't been an major issue for me. Unless you need to be physically running around to capture your images, or unless you have to hold the lens to your eye for lengthy periods (isn't that what tripods are for?), I don't see that it would be a problem for most average-sized, healthy adults. I often carry my 20D in a shoulder case with this lens, the 24-70mm L and a 580EX Speedlite. Hours of carrying this bag around does require transferring the load from shoulder to shoulder periodically, but it's a price I'm willing to pay to get quality photos.

2. This is the best lens you can get in this zoom range for the Canon EOS. It's not the cheapest and it's not the lightest, but it's the best. This lens is fast, it has excellent optics, the build quality is very solid and the image stabilization (IS) feature works wonders for hand held shooting. If you shoot hand held in marginal light, this is the lens for you. If you always use a tripod, you don't really need IS -- take a look at the less expensive non-IS version of this lens. If you always shoot in good light, the lighter and even less expensive 70-200mm f4.0 may do the job for you. But for me, the extra stop of light and the IS make the difference between unusable images and great images. This is an awesome lens.