Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM - Camera Lens Review

The lens offers best in class image quality and sharpness. Most of the time, images can be used straight from the camera with little or no sharpening. Distortion and chromatic aberration are rarely seen in the images taken with this lens. Bokeh is perfectly circular, and combined with the wide aperture of f/2.8, it can be used effectively to create shallow depth of field images without any distorted backgrounds. Below is a sample image and a 100% crop that demonstrates image quality.

click to enlarge

There is little to complain about this lens, as it delivers all-round superior performance. The USM motor makes autofocus silent and instantaneous. Although the lens seems to be heavy during initial usage, the efficient IS (image stabilization) helps in getting shake-free images in low light. The wide aperture makes shooting indoors easy.

The Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM scores well in all aspects of quality and performance.

Canon's suggested retail price for the lens is $1999. For the outstanding quality that the lens offers, the high price tag is worth every penny. However, for anyone other than professional photographers, the price probably makes this lens out of reach. Unless the photographer has a demanding need for quality, Canon's other variations of 70-200mm zoom lens will most likely provide better value for your money.