Any regrets with 70-200 2.8IS

[ben_jamin]

I can't believe I just dropped a bunch of money to get the 70-200

F2.8IS today, have anybody regrets getting this lens? here's a list of

stuff I bought from bhphoto:

 

70-200mm f/2.8L IS $1599,

B+W multicoated UV $79.95,

1.4x II TC $284.95,

580EX flash $359,

Sto-fen Omnibounch $16.95,

4GB Sandisk Extreme II $214.00

 

Total: $2580.00 (Ouch!)

 

 

With the PSMAR code I save $100 on the zoom lens, and $20 on the

flash, I had them overnight the equipment so I can't wait to get them

tomorrow LOL I'll be using this zoom lens primarily for candid photo,

my 2 1/2yr daughter is quite energetic and I hope with this lens and

the 580EX flash I can capture some special moments both indoor and

outdoor, I'm not sure if the 1.4x II TC is worth getting but I wanted

the extra reach just incase I needed it. I shoot everything in RAW so

the addition of 4GB card should help as well. Here is what I have at

the moment:

 

Canon 30D,

BG-E2 grip,

2GB Sandisk Extreme II,

50 1.4 lens,

18-55 kit lens,

Kenko extension tube sets,

 

When the 17-55 f2.8 IS lens hit the street I'll be getting it to cover

the wide range as well.

[wingell]

No regrets here--in my opinion, worth every penny. For portraits, it can't be beat.

[dave92029]

It's a little late to ask about regets after purchasing the lens. LOL

 

I got mine with the 1.4 TC and the combo is awesome. Once you put the lens on the camera it's hard to take it off. The 70-200mm f2.8 IS is really spectacular when used on a tripod. I know it has IS and that is nice, but a tripod helps to bring out the amazing detail that this lens is capable of delivering.

 

I have also been using it for close flower captures.

 

It is a very expensive lens but once you start to review your pictures you will probably be like me and say that it is well worth it.

 

Enjoy!

[pete w]

Ben, You made wise choices and won't have any regrets.

[patricks]

less then what i paid for a spanking new 5D from the same firm last week, even after PSMAR and Canon rebate... ;-)

[steve torelli]

Love mine, it's by far my most used glass. My best pictures have been made with it. Lives up to its rep and more. Good luck with yours.

[carlos_miami]

I have the 70-200mm f2.8L IS on my 5D most of the time. The range it covers is used so frequently and the lens is so versatile that sometimes I carry only the 70-200mm and a wide prime like a 20 or 28mm lens.

 

It is defiently a "must have". Congrats on the new gear!

[iori]

I know the feeling. I just compiled a spreadsheet of all the photography-related equipment I purchased last year to submit to my insurance carrier. It was north of $4k, and that didn't even include purchases of a Canon i9900 printer, Photoshop, and computer monitor calibration software. :{

 

As for your lens, you will be glad you made the purchase after seeing the quality of images you will get. I just got through examining images from a Sunday afternoon classical concert that my daughters participated in. As is customary, no flash was allowed, and video/photographers were relegated to the far reaches in the balcony section. Seeing the images produced by this lens made it worth every penny.

 

Now, go take some pictures to take your mind off of next month's credit card bill!

[PuppyDigs]

My only regret is I don't have one. However I've been working out so by next year I should be

able to tote one of dem dar bazookas all day!

[andrew_certain]

While I have a couple of other lenses, the only ones that see much use are the 70-200 and

a 35mm prime. If I had to keep only one, it would be the 70-200 without hesitation.

 

Andrew

[les]

Ben, everything that is said above is not true. In fact, it is an awful lens (big, heavy, not-as-good-optically-as-everyone-believes).

 

It is so awful, that you should get rid of it immediately - preferably be sending it to me (free of charge, of course, since I would be doing you a favor taking it off your hands)

 

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[nels]

Yes, I have some regrets. <br><br>

For example, sometimes I just want to go out and shoot butterflies with it, and girls just get in the way.<br><br>

<center><img src="http://i.pbase.com/v3/35/596435/1/49801139.ButterflyGirl.jpg"></center>

<br><br>

The other day, I wanted to photograph some sand on the beach, and a girl got in the way.<br><br>

<center><img src="http://mishilo.image.pbase.com/v3/35/596435/1/49801131.BlondeonBlades.jpg"></center>

<br><br>

Then there was a time when I tried to photograph a seagull, and would you believe it, a girl got in the way.<br><br>

<center><img src="http://k41.pbase.com/v3/35/596435/1/49801166.Justgettingherfeetwet.jpg"></center>

<br><br>

Then I thought I'd peacefully photograph palm trees. And you guessed it who got in the way...<br><br>

<center><img src="http://mk23.image.pbase.com/v3/35/596435/1/49801147.CzechmateNaughtyorNice.jpg"></center>

<br><br>

What is it with this lens? I am about to return it!

[erin.e]

I think you should Nels, and change to Nikon. The bokeh is awful!

[shambrick007]

No regrets.<p><img src = http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/3529689-lg.jpg>

[whwhitejr]

Ben, the 70-200 f2.8L IS is the fastest focusing zoom I have ever used. If you are going to shoot fast moving things it is the best! As for the other stuff, they are OK if you need them. 4GB card? 2GB is plenty with the 30D. Regards,Bill

[m_barbu1]

2 GB is plenty? I run out of room with an 8 and a 4!

[dave_nelson___atlanta__ga]

My only regret about the 70-200 2.8L is not buying it much sooner. I should have stuck with a lower-end body and bought the lens instead!

 

For me this was a life altering lens.

[steve_dunn2]

<p>I regret to inform you that no girls came with my 70-200/2.8L IS USM, nor does it seem to have a magical ability to make them appear when I'm shooting. You may want to test your new lens and see if it also has this defect.</p>

 

<p>When I got home with it, I though I must have been stupid to pay that much for a lens. Then I started using it. Geez it's a nice lens! Fast, sharp, sharp, fast, better IS than the two other IS lenses I've owned, sharp. Oh, did I mention it's sharp?</p>

[steve santikarn]

like Nels said, it's a babe magnet. If you are already married you may have some regrets!

[ben_jamin]

thanks for all the replies, I'd received the package today and still trying to test the lens and flash light, will post some results later but so far I LOVE this lens, everything are brand spanking new as I do not see any finger prints or anything, BUT...I found about two pieces of dust inside the front elements, they're pin head size.... aren't these 2.8IS lenses suppose to be dust free? and should I be concern?

 

 

As for the 4GB card, normally I shoot about 500~600 per session, with the 2GB as backup they should be enough for one day shooting ;-)

[ben_jamin]

<p>Ok...I have some initial results, this is my first L glass so I do not know what you would consider sharp or not sharp, comment and critiques are very welcome, please check them here:</p>

 

http://www.pbase.com/ben805/70_200is

 

<p>All these are taken with the 580EX flash indoor earlier, had to trouble my wife to dressed up for me to test my new toys LOL I took the same shot at F2.8, F4, and F5.6, some position with only F2.8 and F4, I use the Omnibounch difuser then bounch off the ceiling. Shot them in RAW, and use the DPP to convert to JPG, the only thing being adjusted to the original pictures are 1)Brightness, and 2)change picture style from Standard to Neutral. All images I uploaded to pbase gallery are 50% cropped, with 85% compression to save webspace so image quality might not look as sharp as the original one, here's a few examples, all of them handheld at F2.8 wide opened:</p>

 

 

<p><img src="http://i.pbase.com/o4/21/662221/1/60038127.IMG_2240_f2.8.JPG"></p>

 

<p><img src="http://i.pbase.com/o4/21/662221/1/60038138.IMG_2270_f2.8.JPG"></p>

 

<p><img src="http://i.pbase.com/o4/21/662221/1/60038135.IMG_2259_f2.8.JPG"></p>

[nels]

That's a beautiful model. If you can send her over to me, I'll be more than happy to check for any dust spots on her...and I mean in more than just a couple of places.

 

Until then, you'll never know.

[nels]

On a serious note, the skin tones and details in the hair and eyebrows look good to me, though perhaps because of the size you posted these samples at, I'm not 100% sure if your processing works in my browser. What USM values (or PK sharpnener settings, if you use that) did you use?

<br><br>

Here's one at 200mm, f/2.8, no flash.

<br><br>

<center><img src="http://i.pbase.com/v3/35/596435/1/49801219.Singer.jpg"></center>

[ben_jamin]

Neil, thanks for the reply.....I left the Sharpness as default, it was 3 in DPP software, I don't think the picture style sharpness on camera work when I chose RAW. I just had my wife do the modeling for me again so I can take some more pictures with the 50 1.4 lens to compare to, will post some results once I'm done converting them to jpg. ;-)

[nels]

If you're using PS CS2, try either Smart Sharpen with a radius value not much bigger than 0.3, or better yet use the Photokit Sharpener plug-in twice - once for Capture, and once for web-output (without sharpening in RAW converter).