[Jon L]

Canon 70-200 f2.8 II arrived.  This baby is huge and heavy as expected, and I am very happy to report that it works GREAT with Kenko C-AF 1.4X Teleplus Pro 300 extender, yielding very sharp photo's at effective 448 mm reach on crop body.

The 4-Stop IS is amazing, and I can get sharper photos in dim indoors at 200mm with IS compared to Canon 135mm L without IS.




Canon 70-200 f2.8 II by drjlo1, on Flickr





Canon 70-200 f2.8 II by drjlo1, on Flickr

[Jon L]

While the Canon 70-200mm is not a macro lens, its excellent 4-stop IS really helps with hand-held macro photography, of course with macro extension tubes.  To satisfy my curiosity, I took the following photos (in dim indoors) with different extension tubes for magnification comparison.



Macro Extension Tubes by drjlo1, on Flickr

 
"NIMBLE" letters are 5/16" high in life.
Pro Optic Extension tube set
 
1. Canon 70-200 mm f2.8 II at 200mm and minimum focus distance (0.21x).
2. 21 mm extension tube
3. 31 mm extension tube
4. Total of 65 mm extension tubes

[Pez]

2.8 through and through? if so that's a damn fine lens. I need something like that for my nikon. My 18-200 lens SUCKS for low light situations as it is f5.6 at 200. 

[Jon L]

Canon isn't exactly giving away this lens!  Fortunately, B&H Photo had this on sale for almost 17% off (ended 12/5) which forced my hand. 

[jeffreybehr]

The new 70-200/2.8/IS lens is indeed VERY high in quality, and I wish you good health and happiness in your use of it.  Fortunately for my bankaccount balance, my 'need' for fast and long (equals heavy)...

...lenses is long gone, and I'm thrilled with the quality I get from Canon's 70-200/F4/IS lens.  It's lite enough for me to always carry it in the bag, which was not true of heavier lenses.  And, after all, if the lens isn't with you when you need it, it makes little sense to own it.   

The lens in the pic* is the world's fastest, commercially available** 200mm lens, the Canon 1.8, here with a Canon 2X on a 1Ds.  I now shoot a 5D.

The new Canon lens that fascinates me is the 24 TS/E Mk. II.  I have and love the original and use its lateral shift for panos (stitched by Photoshop) of about 2.3:1 aspect ratio, but we always want more sharpness, right?


* taken by my goodbuddyfellowfotog Charles Richard Boone, who claims he is better at portraits than landscapes.  He certainly took my favorite pic of me.   

** to my knowledge, at least.

[Jon L]

Well, since Canon has announced new 300mm and 400 mm primes with the new Fluorite lens element, you will get a chance to splurge when the desire returns 

BTW, is that the Arca Z1 ballhead?  Which tripod is that (carbon?).  My old "budget" Chinese ballhead and tripod is actually doing a good job holding up the 70-200 f2.8 by the tripod collar (really helps with balance), but a little more peace of mind at decent price would be nice..

[shokunin]

My Markins ballhead on a CF Gitzo seems to hold the 70-200 MKii just fine along with a 5D2.  I did swap out the quick release with an RRS QR system and L-plates.  I don't use the tripod as much since I mostly do portraiture, however, this one was taken on the tripod, remotely fired via my iphone as I was walking to reposition a strobe.

[Jon L]

... this one was taken on the tripod, remotely fired via my iphone as I was walking to reposition a strobe.

Cute girl!  Can you explain how you used iphone to remotely fire a strobe?  Is there an ap for true wireless trigger, or using iphone's flash to optically trigger a strobe?

[thunderbrick]

2.8 through and through? if so that's a damn fine lens. I need something like that for my nikon. My 18-200 lens SUCKS for low light situations as it is f5.6 at 200. 

Once you go 2.8 all the way, you'll never go back.  I have the Nikon 70-200 2.8 VR that I have beaten the hell out of.  It was even in a bag that a truck drove over, and was the only piece if gear that survived.  Bulletproof.

Edit:  The best value I've seen in a ball head was/is a Velbon, but I've seen the identical unit sold under the Canon label.

[Pez]

Oh I have no doubt. It's the buy in that scares me. 

[shokunin]

Cute girl!  Can you explain how you used iphone to remotely fire a strobe?  Is there an ap for true wireless trigger, or using iphone's flash to optically trigger a strobe?

When the camera was on the tripod, I tethered the 5D via USB to my laptop, which is on my wifi network.  I can use my iphone or ipad and view the liveview screen.  I can then remotely control or adjust the settings (ISO, shutter speed, aperture, etc) as well trigger the shot.  i used OnOne's DSLR remote app for this.  after each shot the photo will appear on the iphone which is great if you're doing timed photos or a self portrait.

The strobes unfortunately aren't triggered by the iphone.  Someone could make some good money making an app that could somehow wirelessly trigger a pocketwizard, radio popper, or cybersync system.  The strobes are still triggered via whichever wireless system you're using on your hot shoe.

[PeteG]

I sold a 70-200 f/4 IS to help with the cost of my 70-200 f/2.8 IS II, it makes a nice combo with my gripped 7D. The AF is very fast and the lens is so versatile.

[Jon L]

I sold a 70-200 f/4 IS to help with the cost of my 70-200 f/2.8 IS II, it makes a nice combo with my gripped 7D. The AF is very fast and the lens is so versatile.

The 70-200 f4 IS is a legend in itself. I would think at f4 and higher, IQ should not differ much..?

[PeteG]

The 70-200 f4 IS is a legend in itself. I would think at f4 and higher, IQ should not differ much..?

Yes, I would say IQ is close but mkII is a tad better to me, IS has been upgraded and the AF seems a lot faster to me. Most people would go for the f4 IS just because of the weight of the mkII.

[Goosepond]

I went from the 70-200 F/4 w/o IS to the 70-200 F/2.8 IS MkI. The little F/4 was a delight, so small and light.
But the F/2.8 is a relative monster.
I had had the 300 F/2.8 IS with its creamy bokeh wide open and that's what I was after with the 70-200.

Gene

[Jon L]

Practicing studio lighting with manual control.  Shot with 70-200mm MkII.
 
Alien Bee AB800 strobe in PBL umbrella softbox high camera left
YN467 speedlight with diffusor camera right, both wirelessly triggered via RF603.


Dream by drjlo1, on Flickr

[PeteG]

Love those primes!

[Jon L]

70-200 is sharp!  This one was heavily cropped.


IMG_7076 by drjlo1, on Flickr



This dog was kind of creepy..


What you looking at? by drjlo1, on Flickr

[Jon L]

Snow after the rain, at 200 mm.  Playing with exposure fusion.


IMG_7180Merge by drjlo1, on Flickr

[Jon L]

Caught the last ray of daylight.



IMG_7081PtxAdj by drjlo1, on Flickr