How Good Is The 2001 Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 IS Lens in 2023?
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Loading... - Murphy Trevor
- 03 Feb 2023
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The fleet of lenses I use is old. Actually old to the point where I am genuinely surprised how it still works. Nonetheless, the old Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8 IS is still a good choice for many photographers. Here is why I will be holding onto my copy of this excellent lens. I hate two things: learning a new piece of gear, and spending money when I don’t absolutely have to. There is a wishlist of gear that I want, but most of those things fall in the realm of grip and lighting modifiers. Sometimes, I do wonder if it is time to upgrade my camera setup, though. It is aging day by day, and the more I shoot the closer I get to its end. But for how long should you actually use your camera gear? Is it like a car that requires some checks after every X thousand miles? Or should I just use it till it dies in one way or another?
For example, my 24-70mm f/2.8 probably has at least a million actuations on it. Once, I fell on it, and part of the lens that holds the hood broke. Instead of getting a new lens, I simply taped it back together and continued work as normal. It does not look pleasing, but it works just fine. My 70-200mm f/2.8 is in even better condition: for starters, it is not broken. But there are a few more things going for it. Here are some reasons why you should consider getting this antique, but wonderful lens.
The Pros
Creamy Bokeh & Optical Quality
The lens is a king of bokeh, just like any 70-200mm f/2.8. In fact, a quick check online reveals that it packs creamier bokeh than the later versions. While I rarely use it at f/2.8, this is still good to know for someone who shoots sports or has a style of work that relies on bokeh. Read More…
