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Canon EF 70-200 mm f/2.8L IS II USM

Canon EF 70-200 mm f/2.8L IS II USM
3 November 2010
Arkadiusz Olech

1. Introduction

Originally posted 2010-09-27 on Optyczne.pl

Canon has had so far two 70–200 mm f/2.8 lenses – a device without stabilization, presented in 1995, and a stabilized version, launched worldwide six years later. Both instruments dated back to the period before the biggest digital boom; small wonder Canon, compared to its competitors, started to lag behind a bit in this category.

Sigma have done a lot in this field - this company has been experimenting lately with as many as three 70-200 mm f/2.8 models. The results were far from outstanding because the new Sigma lenses still haven’t managed to best optically the elderly Canons. Nikon, for a change, had in its line-up a 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR model, launched in 2003. That device was quite new and allegedly it didn’t need any successor. Still, not so long ago, Nikon has launched its new version. The Tamron 70 - 200 mm f/2.8 was, however, the lens which actually brought disgrace on renowned L- instruments. Launched in 2008, it featured neither an ultrasonic autofocus motor nor any stabilization, its build quality was undoubtedly shabbier, but it was 2-3 times cheaper than the Canons and optically better at the same time.


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Canon, most probably knowing that Nikon have been planning a revamp of their 70-200 mm model and Sigma have been thinking of launching the stabilized version of their own 70-200 mm lens, decided to make a move in that segment as well. On 5 January 2010 the company announced the launch of the EF 70–200 mm f/2.8L IS II USM model. Today, courtesy of the Canon Poland company, we have the opportunity to present a full test of this lens.

You are also invited to get acquainted with our test procedure, described in the article "How do we test lenses?" If you feel it’s still not enough, please go to our FAQ section where you can find some further explanation.


Canon EF 70-200 mm f/2.8L IS II USM - Introduction