Late to the party: just got the RF 70-200 F2.8L

I've been hanging on to my trusty, and optically excellent, EF 70-200 F2.8L IS II, largely because I could use it with both my M6II and R. I used it with my M6II for shooting runners (track meets and road races), and with my R for indoor events mostly, and the occasional outdoor portrait. But once I got the R7, I knew I wouldn't need to use my M6II for action shooting, so the dual mount capabilities of the EF lens were no longer an asset for me. By selling my EF 70-200 and a few other lenses I no longer use (including the EF 2XIII converter, which I only used with the 70-200), I was able to cover about 2/3 of the cost of the RF lens, which arrived a couple of days ago. I'm now wishing I'd made the switch earlier. This is simply a lovely lens. It's quite a bit lighter than the EF version (about a third lighter when you take the adapter into account) and shorter (much shorter at 70mm, and still about an inch shorter at 200mm than the EF lens and adapter combination). But it feels very solidly built. The hood also seems better. I love the sliding door to access filters, even though I haven't used one yet. It's such an ingenious design feature. Typical of Canon. Another feature that I wasn't really aware of before getting the lens is how much closer it focuses than the EF versions. Its closest focus distance is about 27 inches, compared with 47 inches for the EF versions. AF is lightning fast, and it seems to be super sharp from my few test shots so far. I'm looking forward to using this on my R7 for shooting runners, and on my R for various portraits and events.

Here are the usual first shots, cats, wife, and a dog that was waiting patiently in the car of the fireplace service technician who was giving our gas fireplace its annual service. Notice the different colors of the dog's eyes:

Indoors with only natural light from the windows

Outdoors

Apparently, he always thinks he's going to be allowed to drive.

One brown eye, one white eye

So far I really like this lens. I think it's going to be every bit of the reliable and high-performing workhorse that its predecessor was, and more enjoyable to use, because of the weight and space savings. If you're wondering whether to get one, and can afford it, go for it.

Oh, and the IS seems to be amazing. With the R, which doesn't have IBIS, I can shoot consistently at 1/15 at 200mm, and with the R7, the combination of ILIS and IBIS is getting me sharp shots at 1/4, and sometimes 1/2 at 200mm. Without any kind of stabilization, I usually aim for 1/(FF equivalent focal length X 2) to get acceptable sharpness at the pixel level with a 30MP sensor, which would mean 1/400 on full frame for a 200mm lens, and 1/640 on crop.

Alastair Norcross wrote:

If you're wondering whether to get one, and can afford it, go for it.

+100

It's an incredibly capable lens.  The (much) lighter weight and smaller size are indeed an added bonus!!

Enjoy your new toy (you old dog!) 

R2

Yes, it's a great lens. The size and weight was reduced without really losing a single thing -  and actually gaining in some areas - a little bit better in terms of sharpness, focus and stability performance, and general "packability."

Congratulations on getting your new lens.

Congrats on the purchase.

Indeed, the lens seems very sharp. Did you process your raw files or are these JPGs from the camera?

Your wife has a lovely smile, but your dog stares at the camera!:-D

It's one of my two lenses. I love the RF 70-200 F2.8L! Congrats!

1. Yea Younes B wrote:

Congrats on the purchase.

Indeed, the lens seems very sharp. Did you process your raw files or are these JPGs from the camera?

Your wife has a lovely smile, but your dog stares at the camera!:-D

Thanks, yes she does have a lovely smile. I’m a lucky man to see that every day. The dog isn’t mine (the cats are, or rather I am theirs). He was waiting in the truck of the gas fireplace technician who was giving our fireplace its annual check.

I shot RAW and processed with DXO PL5.

Ephemeris wrote:

David Franklin wrote:

Yes, it's a great lens. The size and weight was reduced without really losing a single thing - and actually gaining in some areas - a little bit better in terms of sharpness, focus and stability performance, and general "packability."

Congratulations on getting your new lens.

What it does loose is why I stick with my EF II and that's the ability to fit an extender.

That’s true, and if I’d never bought a 100-400, I would probably have held onto mine. But once I got my first 100-400 (Tamron, since replaced with the RF 100-400), I never used my 70-200 with extender again. I used to use my 70-200 with 2X extender quite a bit. I definitely don’t miss the size and weight of that combination. The RF 100-400 is so wonderfully light and small. It’s quite liberating.

Alastair Norcross wrote:

Ephemeris wrote:

David Franklin wrote:

Yes, it's a great lens. The size and weight was reduced without really losing a single thing - and actually gaining in some areas - a little bit better in terms of sharpness, focus and stability performance, and general "packability."

Congratulations on getting your new lens.

What it does loose is why I stick with my EF II and that's the ability to fit an extender.

That’s true, and if I’d never bought a 100-400, I would probably have held onto mine. But once I got my first 100-400 (Tamron, since replaced with the RF 100-400), I never used my 70-200 with extender again. I used to use my 70-200 with 2X extender quite a bit. I definitely don’t miss the size and weight of that combination. The RF 100-400 is so wonderfully light and small. It’s quite liberating.

Same with me. I wanted the new RF 70-200 f/2.8 for its size and weight advantages- along with the expected great optics, etc. - but I was disappointed with the lack of extender capacity. But I had seen that the “roadmap” had included a modest 100-400 that could easily substitute for the extenders with at least as good or better optical performance. That helped me make my decision. Now, I’m very happy with both lenses and feel absolutely no regrets or second thoughts. Wonderful telephoto and portrait lenses for almost all uses.

Absolutely fantastic lens, Used some form of it in my photo business for too many years to count.  I now have the RF version, and it is great on the FF R5 as well as the new crop sensor R7.  Two great cameras, one great lens!  Congrats on your new addition.