hung_james_wasson

Brad is right on all counts (IMHO)!

<p>

In addition, the expensive glass (fluorite, etc.) & multicoatings not

only increase lens sharpness but contrast as well. There's much

more "snap" when you reach the pro series lenses. The R&D and

precision manufacturing expenditures that get passed on with the

purchase of these lenses are generally well worth it (if you can

afford them in the first place)! You also get lenses that were

purposely created to withstand more abuse than any consumer lens.

<p>

One caveat: Shooting an L series lens wide open (i.e. f/2.8) MAY not

provide as sharp an image as a much less expensive lens stopped way

down. But what you are paying for is better design, overall better

image quality, ruggedness, depth of field control & the ability to

shoot at higher shutter speeds or in lower light. If the type of

photography you enjoy doesn't require any of this, then you've got a

monumental waste of money, plus a truly big & heavy lens to lug

around. Always consider your needs before making a purchase.

<p>

If cost is an issue (when isn't it?), then seriously consider the 70-

200 f/4L or even the 100-300 L series lenses. The latter is getting

long in the tooth, with engineering (no USM, FTM, etc.) but both have

seriously good glass in them! The best thing to do is put some film

through your camera with each lens you are considering attached, and

see which lenses satisfy your needs at the right price.

<p>

If cost is not so much an issue, and I can further confuse your

decision making...have you seen the posts on this forum concerning

the newly announced EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM? :) Heh, heh, this

thing seriously has many of us drooling for a glimpse! Consider an

Image Stabilized lens 70-200mm f/2.8 that can become a 140-400mm

f/5.6 IS!

<p>

PS Back to your original question. :) I'm somewhat confused by what

your needs are. You already have a 28-80 & a 75-300. Are you planning

to upgrade your optics one piece at a time, starting with the

telephoto zoom -- or are you wanting to abandon the standard 2 zoom

setup in favor of having just one (albeit big & heavy) lens to carry

on your Elan II all the time? The "do all" 35-350mm is a wonderous

piece of engineering, but of course sacrifices needed to be made in

its design. You will get more distortion, vignetting, softness, etc.

with a superzoom like this than with smaller zoom ratio lenses. You

also give up some of the wide angle (huge difference between

24/28/35mm perspectives). You gain convenience of not having to

switch lenses. I'm truly curious why choices came down between the 70-

200 & the 35-350! The more common debate is between the 70-200 with

TCs & the 100-400 IS. What kind of shooting do you like to do?

Kurt may be closer to the correct price, but keep in mind it will

come with the lens hood, as well as all those fancy weather seals &

IS!

<p>

Has anyone spoken with a human being who actually knows when the lens

will arrive on shelves? I've tried several mail order houses and

local pro shops -- they were all clueless (to the point of not even

knowing that Canon had plans to release such a lens. Tsk, tsk...this

a week after the official company annoucement)!

<p>

Has anyone seen/heard any actual hands on reviews of the lens? I read

a disturbing rumor that the optics weren't quite up to the non-IS

lens, on a French web-site.

Canon just officially announced the awsome new lens on Wednesday,

August 1 '01 -- According to the press release the lens is due to hit

shelves sometime in September. I contacted several pro shops & mail

order outfits, and none of them even had a clue the lens exhisted!

Frustrating, but give it a couple of weeks. The non IS lens will not

be taken off the line-up, and the new one will of course be several

hundred dollars more expensive.

<p>

What differs from the non IS lens? IS...duh ;-) This is the latest

generation IS, which includes auto-tripod detection, 2-stage

(panning), now 3-stops handholding instead of 2-stops in previous

generations, & the stabilizers go online in .5 secs from shutter

press instead of 1 sec! Add to that weather seals to match the new

EOS-1V & new series Canon TC's, shorter focusing distance, improved

AF algorithms & focusing speed, AND it will come with the lens hood &

soft pouch rather than making you buy seperately! How's that for a

dream upgrade to an awsome lens? All that remains to be seen...some

real production lenses tested to see if the optics are just as good

or better than the non-IS version!

<p>

I want this lens! Imagine owning an 70-200mm f/2.8 IS USM that

converts to a 98-280mm f/4 IS USM that converts to a 140-400mm f/5.6

IS USM! Being able to AF in all configurations! Talk about

versatility! (Yes, I'm well aware that true focal lengths differ, but

close enough!)

<p>

Here is the link to the official Canon posting (The EOS Magazine

blurb was less than informative):

http://www.usa.canon.com/press/080101.html

<p>

If anyone catches wind of an actually hands on review, please post it

here! I'm sure we're all dying to know if this lens will truly live

up to our dreams!

I've heard that the 400 DO IS is currently be field tested by a

number of pros & has been spotted at numerous sporting events, etc.

Of course, I'm just passing along a web rumor. :)

<p>

I've been keeping a pretty close eye on the Canon websites for more

information on new lenses, & haven't seen any official postings yet.

<p>

Off subject: I have some reservations about DO. I understand the

benefits to be smaller size, less weight, less expensive to

manufacture super-telephoto lenses. However, we're basically talking

about a set of stacked fresnel lenses (concentric circles) -- how can

Canon create such a technically precise lens that would match the

edge to edge image sharpness, contrast, etc. of their prime lenses?

What about flare patterns, halo's, fresnel rainbow effects, etc.?

The Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM has been officially announced, as

of August 1, 2001.

<p>

link: http://www.usa.canon.com/press/080101.html

link2: http://www.eos-magazine.com/News_28_EF70-200ISUSM.html

Above 50mm, yes -- definately lens shadowing with or without hood

when using the built in flash.

In response to Steve's post: The EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM is no

longer a rumor. Canon announced on August 1 the new lens, to be

available in September, 2001.

<p>

Here is the official Canon announcement for the lens:

http://www.usa.canon.com/press/080101.html

<p>

Here is the EOS magazine link:

http://www.eos-magazine.com/News_28_EF70-200ISUSM.html

If you have the money to purchase the Canon f/2.8L, then you will

probably also have the money to purchase the new f/2.8L IS -- it

incorporates the third generation Image Stabilization mechanism that

will allow hand-holding down to 3-stops! Imagine getting sharp images

at 200mm @ 1/60 sec. without a tripod!

<p>

The question really comes down to cost. The Sigma lens is very well

rated (although picture color is slightly warm -- the optics placed

right behind the Canon in quality, the hypersonic motor is quiet but

not as fast focusing as USM and tends to focus hunt more), but the

lens goes for half the cost of the Canon. Are you willing and able to

spend $700 to $1000 more for a mechanically/technologically superior

lens?

Kay,

<p>

I own the Rebel 2000 & very much appreciate it's qualities, however I

plan to purchase an Elan 7E soon. I will keep the Rebel as backup

(other film type, etc.).

<p>

My reasons for purchasing the 7E are based on the shooting I

predominately do. I need the ability to instantly reselect focus

point based on camera body orientation & subject movement for proper

framing. You can not realistically do this with the Rebel 2k unless

your subject is stationary. Focus point selection on the Rebel

invloves taking your eye away from the viewfinder, and pressing down

on the focus point selection button & spinning the command dial while

watching the top deck LCD display -- although the camera does show

the focus point selection in the little display at the bottom of the

viewfinder, trying to do it at eye level is very awkward.

<p>

In contrast, the Elan 7 (& 7E) have dedicated arrow buttons inside

the command dial on the camera back that allow for up/down right/left

selection of the 7 focus points, AND the focus point selected flashes

red in confirmation. The 7E adds the ability to calibrate the camera

to your eye, and then simply look at the desired focus point to

select it! Both systems are far better than the implimentation on the

Rebel. In addition, the Elan has a glass pentaprism instead of a

mirror box, and so the viewfinder display is considerably brighter.

The Elan is more sturdily constructed, quieter, faster, and has 13

custom functions you can set to your preference. The two functions I

like best are the ability to decouple the autofocus from the shutter

button (you can use a button on the back to auto-focus, otherwise the

focus doesn't change when you press the shutter button), and setting

the rear command dial as your aperature selection (the default I

believe, on the Rebel you hold down a button while turning the the

shutter speed selection dial to change aperatures).

<p>

I agree with everyone else, don't get the kit if you can at all avoid

it. The lens is the poorest that Canon makes (although better than

nothing) & you'd probably be better off buying a 28-whatever lense

from a third party such as Sigma, Tamron or Tokina. I don't think

that you save enough money on the kit to justify a lens that you

would then be trying to replace later. Price the third party lenses +

Elan 7 body versus the kit, and you will see that you aren't saving

that much.

<p>

Finally, you jumped straight to the 7E vs. Rebel -- do you plan to do

a lot of action/dynamically changing scenes? This is where the 7E

(with its eye-controlled focus, high speed motor drive & faster AF

prediction) shines. However, you can save a lot of money if you get

the 7 instead of the 7E if most of your shooting is going to be more

sedate. You can still use the arrows on the back and the red LED

focus point selection indicators to quickly change your focus points

(you could then put the money saved towards the lens).

<p>

Of course, you may have already bought a camera buy now! Let us know

what you finally decided, and how you are liking it!

Has anyone seen any press, reviews, etc. on the newly announced Image Stabilization version of the 70-200mm f/2.8L? Canon only officially announced it last week (08-01-2001), and despite all kinds of net rumors, all of the pro shop marketing reps I talked to seemed taken totally by suprise (several said that Canon had no plans to update such a hot selling & awsome lens)!

<p>

Canon's ship date is supposedly next month, but B&H Photo, CameraWorld.com, & several local pro shops had absolutely no information to give on projected availablity or cost!

<p>

This is the link to the official Canon press release:

http://www.usa.canon.com/press/080101.html

Oops, on the last post, second to last paragraph, ID should read IS.

<p>

How does the camera automatically know to swith to tripod mode with

the latest series IS lenses?

With any marketing or technical decision, a trade-off occurs. Canon

has always been a market leader in innovation (as has Minolta), where

Nikon has always focused on an image of consistent high quality,

compatability & ruggedness. They kept the F-mount to maintain at

least limited compatability with the huge range of Nikkor lenses that

were still out and being used by a LOT of pros (press photographers,

sports, nature, you get it). I imagine that the idea of having to buy

a slew of expensive new pro lenses to go with new pro bodies would

have caused heart-attacks at many photography related companies!

<p>

Canon, on the other hand, really ticked off a lot of loyal manual

focus users when they completely abandoned the old line in favor of

the EOS mount. I think they made the right decision, but I'm sure

that there are still a lot of people out there that disagree. Canon

then had to work really hard to regain marketshare with pros who then

had to decide whether to stick with Canon or Jump to Nikon for top

flight gear. Nikon users didn't have to decide anything -- they could

just buy new lenses to work with their older bodies, & then step up

to an AF body when they felt they needed it -- and still not lose

their considerable investment in glass.

<p>

You bring up some very good questions in this post, but keep in mind

that Nikon is having to play catch up (& living with their original

decision to stick with the F-mount), and they have just started where

Canon is on to the third generation! Perhaps your questions would be

better asked to a Nikon rep -- then you could post the resonse

here! :-)

<p>

By the way, have you actually seen a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS

USM? Or a comprehesive review? Canon only just officially announced

the lens last week (http://www.usa.canon.com/press/080101.html)! I've

been trying everywhere to find more information on it! All of the pro

store reps I talked to believed that Canon had no plans to upgrade

the lens (boy were they wrong)! And by the way, how does the tripod

ID mode know to automatically switch?

<p>

I used both Nikon & Canon gear, and love both for their respective

merits. I gave the nod to Canon when it came to buying into an AF

system, and haven't regreted it. Despite all these years, the USM

ring type motor is still king of focusing speed & precision. Silent

operation & full time manual override is a big plus! IS is just

amazing, and keeps getting better!

You might try e-bay.com -- I was searching there last week & found a

half-dozen half-frame cameras (mostly Yashica Samurai's) up for bid.

I have no experience with the 28-105 offerings from Tamron or Sigma.

I like Sigma products. Price point is very much a factor here -- the

Nikkor 24-120 is supposed to be fantastic, but much more expensive

than perhaps what you're looking for.

Quick update: I checked with several mail order companies & local pro

retail stores -- no word yet on actual shipment arrivals or retail

pricing.

<p>

B&H Photo & Pro Photo Supply (Portland, OR) suggest calling back in 4

weeks

CameraWorld (Portland, OR) & CameraWorld.com suggest call back in 2

weeks, and the sales rep even hazarded a guess that the new lens

would be at least $300 more than the non IS version (for what that's

worth). :)

They did it! Canon USA has announced a September release date for the

all new EF 70-200 f/2.8 L IS USM! The lense has better weather seals,

improved IS system allowing 3-stops handholding, faster focusing &

more! No word on the announcement if the IS is two stage with

panning -- but it's got to have it! MSRP is $3,000 US, and it will

not replace the non-IS version of the lens.

<p>

Wow! I don't believe it! I've been to 3 different Pro stores since my

last post -- every one of them stated that Canon had no plans to add

IS to such a hot pro lens. Heh, heh...I guess Canon was keeping it a

surprise for everyone!

<p>

The link to the official Canon USA annoucement is here:

http://www.usa.canon.com/press/080101.html

<p>

My answer has been solved. I will save up every penny for the 70-200

f/2.8 IS & Canon TC's!

In answer to the very last post (an 70-200 f/2.8 w/ IS) -- maybe it

isn't so far away!?! As I was also contemplating the delema of 100-

400 IS vs 70-200 for use on an Elan 7E, I searched the CanonUSA

website in vain for ANY reference to the 70-200 f/2.8L USM. Nada,

zip, zelch! I only found a link when I went to Canon-Europa.

<p>

It seems to me that a revamp of the awsome 70-200 f/2.8 must be in

the works (although IS capability might be dreaming too far)!