Canon EF 70-200 mm F4L IS Reviews?

Canon EF 70-200 mm F4L IS USM lens -- I'm looking for reviews and owners

opinions of this lens. I've gone through this forum & googled my question but

opinions are sparse. What I'm primarily interested in is image quality, wide

open, at the long end.

Thanks.

<a href="http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=304&sort=7&cat=27&page=3"> Have a look here... </a>

First published reviews:

 

Photozone: http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/canon_70200_4is/index.htm

 

Pop Photo: http://www.popphoto.com/cameralenses/3855/lens-test-canon-70-200mm-f4l-ef-is-usm-af.html

 

I also own this lens and Canon 200/f2.8. My personal test shows that the zoom equals to the prime in resolution (both centre and edge) at every aperture, including f4. The only thing is the zoom suffers from vignetting at f4 but much less in f5.6. The prime has no vignetting at f4.

 

The zoom is also very friendly with Canon 1.4X. It is as sharp as the prime + 1.4X. The only thing is the zoom + 1.4X shows some CA (red) at extreme edge while the prime has none.

David, what camera are you testing the lenses on? Using a 1.6 crop camera won't show much at the edge.

I test the lenses on 5D. I have tried my best to get a reliable result: camera on tripod, IS off, manual exposure and use building at a distant to minimise focus error.

Let me post some testing results here<div></div>

Next<div></div>

Next 1<div></div>

Next 2<div></div>

Two Actual tests:

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=404&Camera=9&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=103&CameraComp=9&FLIComp=0&APIComp=2

 

http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/canon_70200_4is/index.htm

<a href="http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-70-200mm-f-4.0-L-IS-USM-Lens-Review.aspx">HERE</a> is another review.

I like the photozone tests. . .except that they test on a cropped camera. And the fact that their plan is to keep shopping for a 70-200/2.8L until they get one that they like (Are they up to three?)

Nice and helpful test , David,<p>

 

I see more CA with the zoom, though the sharpness between the 2 lens is about the same.<p>

 

There is also a sample shots of that lens I found on the net.<a href="http://www.pbase.com/lightrules/73v72f4is" >hyperlink</a>

I consider the 70-200/4 IS the best zoom lens in that range by any manufacturer. If it's not good enough for you, nothing else will be.

 

Fortunately, it just so happens to be superlative.

 

DI

Good site to bookmark, here's the review on your lens of interest:

 

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-70-200mm-f-4.0-L-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

Thanks everyone for your input -- I ordered the lens an hour ago!

Congrats JIM :)

 

And I wish you luck, that you get a good copy.

 

I also ordered a 24-105L IS USM 5 hours ago, so I hope you wish me luck that I also get a good copy :)