For some strange reason, the idea of a 70-200 zoom was not appealing to me for a while. "Why do I need that?", I thought - "I can manage with primes." Except when I started going to events where getting closer wasn't possible, or for landscapes where I wanted more perspective compression than my 100/f2.8 could afford. I knew I didn't want to go slower than an f2.8 aperture, but primes that fast were getting into stratospheric-cost territory - as well as requiring a dedicated Pelican case to haul them around. If I didn't want to have to train a yak to carry my lenses, yet have something to cover the focal length I was used to and give a little bit more reach for those situations, the 70-200 was going to require some reconsidering.
It's heavy, don't get me wrong, but this is a far easier-to-live-with lens than a 300/2.8 could ever be. With an RRS plate, it travels in my Think Tank shoulder bag with a minimum of fuss. The lens hood is the same style as the one that came on my 100L (i.e., the kind I prefer, with a confident locking action that lets you know it's not being knocked off by a well-meaning passerby in a packed venue). Great tactile feel for the buttons, and weather sealing that I've put to the test with some trips to the coast.
And the age-old primes vs. zooms image quality debate? The 100L has a reputation for being no slouch in the resolution department, and I honestly can't tell a difference with the IS II. Don't think you'll have to trade in your art cred or anything because you're buying a lens favored by professional PJs - anything you can do with a prime of similar aperture, you can do with this lens.
Just buy it already. But you might want to do some barbell curls in the meantime.
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