Excellent all around performer.

Well, it is a bit heavy and expensive, but it is very useful.

Superb lens, flawless performance, very useful all-around optic. Can also be used with 1.4X extender II, extension tubes, close up lens 250. (The Swiss Army Knife of zoom lenses.) Image stabilization will help the new photographer, but note that as you gain more experience you can use IS to obtain an even higher level of technical excellence.

Customer Service

Never needed.

Similar Products Used:

70-200 L non IS.

Very sharp, great focusing, IS works great, nice tripod ring.

Heavy, and all four switches are too easy to accidentally flip when taking in/out of your bag. You got to keep an eye on them, or you'll find yourself in the wrong IS mode with AF off. They should make these harder to flip.

In contrast to the last review, I have also used three copies of this lens (one rented, one borrowed, one purchased), and so far all three have been flawless. I can anecdotally corroborate what others have proven scientifically: This lens is indeed sharper than many primes, even when wide open. And so far as the notion that the IS, doesn't work... well, it works fine for me. I've been hand holding this sucker for 45th and 90th second exposures. My favorite shot for appreciating these qualities of the lens is a relatively boring podium shot I took a month ago in Prague, but it's a nice illustration when you consider that the DSLR was set to 800 ASA, the lens wide open, with an exposure time that could've been blurry in absence of the IS feature. See for yourself: http://icpc.baylor.edu/dmt/view_image.asp?i=5776&size=reg

Customer Service

Haven't had to use it for EOS.

Similar Products Used:

Older non-IS versions of same lens, Nikon 2.8 equivalents.

- Sharp - IS works perfectly

- Weight - Expensive - attracting (white body & unique hood design)

The best zoom lens you can afford from Canon line up. Must have for everyone who loves low light photography.

Customer Service

none

Similar Products Used:

- EF 70-200 mm f/4L (sold)

Excellent image quality, blazing fast AF, IS!!!!!!!!!!

price and weight, but hey if you want the best, then get ready for it.

I purchased this lens because I found so many good reviews of it around the Net. Frankly speaking I said to myself that even half of the rumors are true then it shell be a good lens to work with. After shooting my first test series using a Canon 10D, I knew right on the spot that all the rumours were absolutely right. I've compared picture quality to my EF180/3,5L macro optics which is among the top five primes when it comes to picture quality, but the 70-200IS was able to match it!!! When I stepped it down to f8, the two lenses' results were very much the same. The 70-200 is a brilliant performer from f5,6-f22, at f32 it's picture is a little bit dark and soft, and under f4, it is dim and soft. But take this info as I compared the lens to one of the best primes. IS is wonderful, I was able to shoot at 1/15 sec handheld.

Very Sharp IS works miracles F/2.8 provides sharp picutres

IS button can be accidently turned OFF. This is just terrible drawback of a lens which costs big $$$. Now, I use scotch tape on the IS switch.

Super sharp for a zoom lens. Not too big for having IS incorporated in its body. Super build quality.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

Nikon, Tokina, Sigma

quick, accurate, quiet (a little vibrato from the IS but that's like your baby son who wakes you up in the morning - you still love him), 2.8, 200mm, takes TCs and tubes, great lens.

give me an affordable (under 3500) camera with pro features (like spot metering, voice recording, 5 frames/sec, ISO 1600 (with low/or no noise), and 6+ MP, et al) to put it on.

Music. I shoot concerts. And this lens paid for itself with one shot (out of 400 that I took on the first night). So, it's great, and heavy and attracts attention and hey you're a photographer you have a camera and you attract attention. This lens is phenomenal.

Customer Service

Could have offered a filter for paying that kind of money. I think that every retailer should offer a filter for a lens that you purchase from their store. After all what do they pay for filter?

Similar Products Used:

none

Fast in AF. IS (of course). Built quality.

White in color, catch too much attention. Easy to accidentally push the AF button to MF (happened severally times). A bit expensive (although it worths),

Excellent lens. Absolutely no regret in paying the money for it. I can use it to shoot at 1/8 s handheld!! and the slide still comes out very sharp. Contrary to some people's view, flare is not a problem (remember to put on the hood). I can forget the rule of 1/focal length rule and always shoot it at 1/30 or 1/60s. Some said heavy. Not really when using it, but carrying it around all day with other equipments can be tiring.

Customer Service

Not required.

Similar Products Used:

70-200L (use only for one day, difficult to keep the "safe-shutter-speed" in cloudy day)

Autofocus: As the Canon blurb states, this lense can respond in as little as 0.5 seconds. It seems faster than that, focusing quickly even in low light. Build quality: Exactly what you would expect from a Canon L series lense. This is built to withstand the abuse of professional photographers, and it has certainly taken everything I can throw at it. Image stabilization: IS truly has changed the way I take photographs. The ability to take photos at 1/8 second is invaluable to me. However, don't misunderstand IS: it is no use for action photography. You still need a fast shutter speed for frezzing the action. TC compatibility: sharp images are produced with both the Canon 2x convertor and the 1.4x convertor. There's probably more that I could list, but I don't have time...

Autofocus and IS switches: they're too easy to accidentally toggle. Could do with being a bit stiffer, or placed somewhere else on the lense. That's all I've noticed.

Firstly, I am puzzled why some people have given this lense low ratings. From their comments, it seems they have given it a low rating because it brings no "significant improvements" apart from IS. Rubbish. The Non IS version was fantastic; this lense builds on that success. It should have a higher rating, not a lower one! Also, some people have complained that it is too heavy (this or the non IS version). These people don't seem to know what they're buying - a superb, L series zoom lense, with a fixed 2.8 aperture and IS technology. If you want a lighter lense, pick up this lenses' littler brother - the f/4 version. Also, somebody else said (about this or the non-IS version) that it gains too much attention. They also don't know what they're buying into... --- I use this lense with my Canon EOS-10D and my EOS-1D. The results produced on both cameras have been exemplary: sharp, good colour, good contrast... More below.

Customer Service

Not used for this lense, but turnaround and service has always been fast and excellent (Canon UK)

Similar Products Used:

Canon 70-200mm f/2.8, Non IS Sigma 70-200mm Canon 300mm f/4 IS

The IS actually says what it does on the box Sharpe images Colours and contrast looks good

Heavy, but what I would expect for such a lens The hood can come away when the camera is strung over shoulder and rubs against body Attracts odd looks from people when taking shoots in built up area, still, nice to pose now and again.

Boy ho boy, what a lens, I was looking to purchase the Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 EX APO IF HSM lens (£600 in the UK). Then I thought about the Canon EF 70-200 4.0L USM lens, so I went to my local dealer to run a test on my 10D. After taking a few test shots with the above I was shown the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens, I popped it on the 10D, took a few shots and I fell for the fat tube straight away.

Customer Service

Using Canon right now for my G3, still waiting for it to be returned.

Sharpness and general image quality. Build Smooth quick autofocus

Weight Price Attracts attention

Lots of the reviews said 'buy it, you won't regret it'. Well it was alot of money but i did buy it and yes, they are right - I don't regret it..... not one bit. Yes it's heavy and attracts attention but the quality of the lens and the results I have been getting make it more than worthwhile! An excellent lens.

Customer Service

Not needed

Similar Products Used:

Canon 75-300IS