Lens review

Canon EF 70-200 mm f/2.8L USM

11. Summary

• excellent image quality in the frame centre and at the edge,
• chromatic aberration well-controlled,
• negligible coma and distortion,
• slight vignetting on the APS-C sensor,
• low astigmatism,
• quick, silent and accurate autofocus,
• very solid casing,
• high build quality,
• rich accessory kit.

Cons:

• weak work against bright light,
• high vignetting on full frame.

One of the most interesting questions this test was supposed to answer was whether or not the model without stabilization is somehow optically different from its stabilized twin. Our measurements indicate that there are some differences but they are slight and very difficult to spot in real life pictures. Undoubtedly both lenses present a very high level of optics and mechanics as well. Is it really worth paying 500 $ more for the stabilization then? I think every Reader will have to answer this question individually.

Sample shots:

Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 73 mm, f/5.3, exp. 1/1000 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.1 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 140 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/3200 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.0 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 200 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/4000 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.1 MB
Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 93 mm, f/3.5, exp. 1/200 sec., ISO 400 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.2 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 70 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/4000 sec., ISO 400 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.5 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 190 mm, f/5.0, exp. 1/1000 sec., ISO 400 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 4.0 MB
Camera: Canon 5D Parameters: 200 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/640 sec., ISO 320 File: JPG, 4368x2912 pix, 4.0 MB	Camera: Canon 5D Parameters: 135 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/800 sec., ISO 400 File: JPG, 4368x2912 pix, 4.0 MB	Camera: Canon 5D Parameters: 70 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/800 sec., ISO 400 File: JPG, 4368x2912 pix, 4.0 MB
Camera: Canon 5D Parameters: 135 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/500 sec., ISO 400 File: JPG, 4368x2912 pix, 4.2 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 70 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/100 sec., ISO 400 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.9 MB	Camera: Canon 5D Parameters: 175 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/160 sec., ISO 100 File: JPG, 4368x2912 pix, 3.6 MB
Camera: Canon 5D Parameters: 95 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/160 sec., ISO 100 File: JPG, 4368x2912 pix, 3.3 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 70 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/200 sec., ISO 100 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.7 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 98 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/400 sec., ISO 100 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.6 MB