Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

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Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 5.3 inches ; 2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item can only be shipped to the 48 contiguous states. We regret it cannot be shipped to APO/FPO, Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico.
• ASIN: B000053HBB
• Item model number: 2529A004
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 13, 2007

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description
Zoom in on a favorite subject from a distance with the Canon EF 200mm telephoto lens. Offering a long focal length that lets you effectively compress the distance between the subject and camera, the lens lets you easily capture the details and feeling of a far-off scene. The lens is distinguished by two ultra-low-dispersion (UD) glass elements and a rear focusing system to correct aberrations, producing extremely sharp images. The lens also offers a natural-looking background blur and comes with a dedicated, detachable hood. The lens carries a one-year warranty.

• Focal length: 200mm
• Maximum aperture: f/2.8
• Lens construction: 9 elements in 7 groups
• Diagonal angle of view: 12 degrees
• Focus adjustment: Rear focusing system with USM
• Closest focusing distance: 4.9 feet
• Filter size: 72mm
• Dimensions: 3.3 inches in diameter, 5.4 inches long
• Weight: 1.7 pounds

Product Description
200mm f/2.8 is ideal for concerts and sports and candids and many other types of pictures where a telephoto lens may be required Filter Size - 72mm Max. Diameter x Length - 3.3 x 5.4 Unit Weight - 1.7 lbs.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for what it is, but look elsewhere for versatility, January 29, 2008

By	David Indech (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The grand appeal of this prime is that offers the telephoto reach and fast f/2.8 aperture of Canon's 70-200/2.8 professional lenses, but at far less cost and size. In practical terms, the 200/2.8 is fast enough to shoot nighttime football games that would have slower f/5.6 consumer zooms struggling to reign in motion blur.

Unlike consumer zooms, it also takes well to a 1.4X teleconverter, giving the equivalent of 280mm at f/4. The USM autofocus system is quick, silent, and sure in almost any lighting, and because it's essentially a longer version of Canon's legendary 135/2, this 200/2.8 is plenty sharp all the way from f/2.8. Finally, because it's small and black, the security at sporting venues is far more likely to let you take it inside.

It's not all roses though. 200mm on a 1.6X crop body is a 320mm equivalent. That's a lot of lens to handhold without stabilization. Pure sharpness doesn't stand for much when the whole frame is blurred by handshake. Despite the fast f/2.8 aperture, it takes a lot of light to keep the shutter speeds up, and this lens isn't all that forgiving below 1/400; good technique and proper bracing are essential. My copy suffers further from chromatic aberration (color fringing around highlights) and loss of contrast in sunlight to a greater extent than any other lens that I own. Shooting into the sun, or with the sun just outside the frame, is not a forte. I'd dock a star for this if Amazon would let me.

If you want versatility, there are also better choices than the 200/2.8. Framing options are limited, and you'll rarely find the composition afforded by 200mm exactly matches what you intended. While the 70-200/2.8 series are no stronger optically than this lens, they'll get the shot every time purely by the ability to track an object at 70mm, and rapidly zoom to 200mm to take the picture. The addition of IS (image stabilization) alone doubles the number of keepers on the 70-200/2.8 IS. If your livelihood depends on your results, that's worth the price of admission.

But if you're not molting fifties, and you just want a sharp and fast telephoto that'll manage better shutter speeds, sharpness, background blur, and contrast (in most circumstances) than a consumer zoom, this 200/2.8L is a great choice.

43 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An "L" Tele for a reasonable price , January 22, 2005

By	F. Ehorn (Marana, Az USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Canon L lenses are known for their great optics and priceyness. This fast tele is an excellent value. Some pictures I took at the Phoenix zoo with this lens are superb. Use your tripod and get tack-sharp images. The only thing that would improve this lens would be the addition of the image stabilizion feature found on a few Canon optics. Of course, the advantage of large aperature lenses is that you can set a fast shutter speed and still have enough light for a shot. This lens is surprisingly compact, (as long focal length teles go). The autofocus is very fast and quiet. Comes with a hood, too.

40 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Super "L" Lens, Price not too Bad Either, April 9, 2005

By	Zachary Hackett (Reno, Nevada) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

There is nothing like a telephoto to bring boats at anchor up close when you're halfway up a mountain. I got a great shot in Tahiti just that way with just this lense and a friend of mine used it on the cover of her romance novel. It's true the lense is heavy. Canon says it weighs 1.7 pounds, but it seems heavier. No matter though, because you won't have to go to the gym if you heft this baby around for awhile, and as a side benifit, you'll get crisper, sharper photos then you would with any other 200mm out there today. Just think of it as body building and photo shooting both at the same time. Also this one won't break your wallet.

Serously, this is one darned fine piece of glass, you just simply cannot go wrong with a Canon "L" lense, just can't