For creative portrait work, especially outdoors, this lens is stellar. Size, compared with super versatile focal range and bokeh is the key here. Results are nothing less than stunning. I had the opportunity to try it out and I will very likely purchase it asap. And yes, for wildlife photography 200mm is mostly too short with no chance of adding a TE. This lens has its perfect niche but overall, its just not that versatile as someone might think. A 200-400mm f/4 would ve the natural extension lens to this, wouldn't it?

@DustinAbbottTWI

11 ай бұрын

That would be an amazing addition, though the last time Canon did a lens like that they charged $10K for it.

Again: An excellent weighing of all factors. Many thanks.

@DustinAbbottTWI

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot, Julian.

Once again Dustin.. you always deliver an honest and truthful review which will help many people out there who are quite ignorant in the important details of such lenses etc . You definitely are the go to man for honest help ! Congratulations on your reviews and keep them just that .. honest !! 👍👏👏👏

@DustinAbbottTWI

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Ross. I do my best.

@rhodesia1578

3 жыл бұрын

@@DustinAbbottTWI Dustin you always go way above the rest so that is more than your best .. always appreciated !

Great review Dustin. I use it on my R6 for ice hockey photographer and it’s a great improvement over my almost 8 year old Sigma 70-200 w/o IS. I had purchased the newest SIGMA 70-200, but it weighs a TON and is HUGE with an 82mm thread on the front. It’s results were great, but it’s way too unwieldy for shooting fast moving sports.

@DustinAbbottTWI

3 жыл бұрын

It's definitely a very good lens for tracking action.

Almost bought this lens a month ago, I guess I'll keep the EF II, 400gr and one extra space in the bag are not cheap 2850€, especially in these pandemic times. And thanks for your review, always the best !

@DustinAbbottTWI

3 жыл бұрын

Glad to help you make an informed decision.

Dustin, as always, this is a great review. That said the review doesn't really compare image quality to the EF version of this lens which is a big deal for those considering upgrading where optical performance is a criteria. Could you respond with your thoughts on sharpness, and contrast between the RF and EF version III of this lens? Many thanks, Tom

@DustinAbbottTWI

Жыл бұрын

Hi Tom, to be fair, I never actually reviewed the 70-200 III, so drawing comparisons to a lens that I hadn't reviewed didn't quite seem fair. The EF 70-200L III was released during a time that I didn't have regular access to Canon loaners.

The link to to image gallery takes you to the 15-35 gallery not the 70-200. Just a heads up. Thanks for another great review. 👍

@DustinAbbottTWI

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the catch. I've updated everything.

Thank you for a great review, Dustin! I wonder about your opinion of this lens vs Tamron 70-200 2.8 G2. Regarding optical performance, picture. Also, from earlier reviews I remember that Tamron is in fact more like 70-170mm, and Canon EF like 70-230 which creates quite noticeable difference of picture at longer end. Is this the case with Canon RF as well? I own Tamron for a few years, and this probably my favourite lens among all. Although, I use it on Canon R6 through an adapter (RF to EF). After some time I notice that heavy lens loses contact with mount in certain position. Probably, the adapter was not designed to handle such heavy lenses for long. I still use carefully, but then I noticed the same thing with Tamron 35 1.4. It causes error, might be issues with autofocus, might be error like the lens is lost completely. So, my thoughts now if it worth to switch to native Canon RF lenses or buy a new adapter. I am not professional, but I shoot street photo often, so reliability of camera and lens be ready to shoot quickly and accurately is important to capture the moment. Thank you!

@DustinAbbottTWI

6 ай бұрын

I wouldn't say that this lens negatively breathes the way that the 70-200mm II did. If you are tired of using heavy lenses, you will probably enjoy the size and weight of this lens and will enjoy getting away from the adapter.

Hi Dustin. I would like to know if you will review the Canon R6. And if you will put it to compete against other cameras. I want to buy this camera, but I would feel more confident after knowing your opinion.

@DustinAbbottTWI

3 жыл бұрын

I'll be looking at the R6 in a couple of weeks.

Hi Dustin, very nice review. One comment I don't understand about the teleconverter. Canon sells two that fit onto this lens. Is that what your referring too?

@DustinAbbottTWI

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Chris, they do not fit this lens. There is no room to physically match them.

Thank you for detailed review...please do a comparison between F/2.8 and F/4 that will be out soon. Thank you again.. I want to purchase one of them...

@DustinAbbottTWI

3 жыл бұрын

I hope to do that soon.

@jaekim5397

3 жыл бұрын

@@DustinAbbottTWI can't wait to view.. Thanks..

As always, I enjoyed your video. I am considering buying this lens or the Canon RF 100-500. I have looked for your review of that lens but cannot find it. Have you reviewed that lens and I have just missed it? Or, will it be reviewed in the near future? Keep up the good work.

@DustinAbbottTWI

3 жыл бұрын

I will review the 100-500 soon. For most of 2020 I had no source for Canon loaners, but fortunately I do have one now.

Great review again Dustin Are you absolutely sure that this lens does not work with the RF extenders ?? That would be a big downside of the lens

@DustinAbbottTWI

3 жыл бұрын

I'm 100% sure. There is no room for them to physically fit, and Canon makes no mention of compatibility with extenders.

@siegfriednoet

3 жыл бұрын

@@DustinAbbottTWI Thank you for the explanation, that's a real bummer though. I used to work with the EF70-200 f2,8 and sometimes the 1.4x extender attached, I guess I will be keep on working with the EF version of the 2.8 70-200 lens

Disappointed to hear it’s not as sharp as expected and the non Tele Converter is also a huge bummer for me. But I’ll probably still get it for the size and of course the rendering looks beautiful. It’s probably sharp enough for me.

@DustinAbbottTWI

3 жыл бұрын

The thing is that in the real world you aren't looking as critically as what I did, and rarely utilize the corners.

@sniperv

3 жыл бұрын

@@DustinAbbottTWI yes, the weight and size savings alone are what I’m sold on. I’ll be able to pack and have it ready when needed. When I usually have to make a hard decision wether to bring it a long and put up with the weight. I’m referring to even my Sony 70-200GM which is just as heavy as Canons EF versions. Thank you Dustin for the review as always, your images were beautiful so there’s no question of image quality.

@DustinAbbottTWI

3 жыл бұрын

I feel kind of bad about this review in some ways, as being honest about shortcomings is what I do, while trying to balance that with the full picture of the strengths. But people tend to just jump on the flaws and lose the nuance of what I'm trying to say.

We had the 36 min. Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS: Definitive Review | 4K on 2th of November in the snow ;-) ???

@DustinAbbottTWI

3 жыл бұрын

Yes - I do both a long format and a shorter format version of my reviews...often for two different audiences. The snow is gone, by the way :)

The least impressed I’ve been with the higher class RF lenses so far, but you can’t win em all. Not that it’s not incredible, because it certainly is, but the 50mm f1.2, the 28-70mm f2.0, and the 100-500 f4.5-7.1 really were out of this world.

@DustinAbbottTWI

3 жыл бұрын

I do think I may have gotten a bad copy of the lens, as others seem to have gotten better results.

Recovering the initial rf development costs results in these higher prices. Allegedly.

@DustinAbbottTWI

3 жыл бұрын

That's kind of hard to accept.

@StevenSampsonMedia

3 жыл бұрын

Dustin Abbott yeah agreed!

waiting for the RF 70-200 F4 review.... that would be a more popular lens due to cost and weight. With the R5,R6...going indoor could still work.

@DustinAbbottTWI

3 жыл бұрын

I'll definitely look at it soon.

Very nice review of a not so stellar lens!

@DustinAbbottTWI

3 жыл бұрын

It's a good lens...just not as good as what its price point suggests.

Maybe it is just me, but I find the RF70-200 way sharper, crispy and detailed than my EF70-200 mk2. But the sharpness is not what really makes it worth - it is the magic in the images the RF ver. delivers, as you already noted. It also has much richer micro-contrast, which results in much richer gradients and depth rendition. It is the micro-contrast that you pay for with this lens, which turns to be nowadays “luxury” in lenses. It is also worthy to note that it delivers almost the same truly gorgeous skin tones that one can find in the RF85/1.2 with its BR glass. And last, but not least, a key point that I’m missing in this review is mentioning the closer minimum focusing distance than the EF versions. Love your reviews, Dustin. I’m only sad that these are coming with a serious delay, long after most of the interested people have already bought it. Thanks and keep up the great work!

@DustinAbbottTWI

3 жыл бұрын

I definitely like the rendering from the lens (as I mentioned). I did spend more time with the MFD in my text review, by the way. I don't think it is a sharper lens than the MKII, but in many ways it is a better lens. www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=1417&Camera=1221&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=687&CameraComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0

@alexanderivanoff

3 жыл бұрын

@@DustinAbbottTWI, I see your point. However in the link they use 5DSR, which is *much* sharper than EOS-R. This is simply not a fair and reliable comparison. It should be mounted on a 5D Mark IV. I am sure you are well aware that most of these comparisons have nothing to do with the real-life performance of a lens. Mount these two 70-200 lenses on eos-r and you will immediately notice the difference. Cheers.

Canon lens prices sucks nowadays!😡😡😡😡👊

@DustinAbbottTWI

3 жыл бұрын

They are really pricey, for sure.

I 8 their Sony lookalike white hood 😶

@DustinAbbottTWI

3 жыл бұрын

I prefer it myself.

Canon tried to make the lens as small as possible then add an enormous lens hood to it! I really don't understand their idea there. That alone makes me prefer the Tamron design (black, small, discreet).

@DustinAbbottTWI

3 жыл бұрын

You're right about that. The lens hood doesn't quite reconcile with the design philosophy

Sigh... The temptations.. Damn u canon..

@DustinAbbottTWI

3 жыл бұрын

LOL - the plight of photographers.

Honestly, I can’t wait until Sigma and Tamron release RF mount lenses!! Canons prices are ridiculous and borderline thievery. I’ll keep my version II with the adapter.

@DustinAbbottTWI

3 жыл бұрын

I'm in complete agreement. The word I'm getting, though, is that thus far Canon and Nikon are being pretty protectionist with their new mounts.

It looks like a dust sucker. Sorry Canon I stick to my EF 70-200 2.8 USM II

@DustinAbbottTWI

3 жыл бұрын

I would say that looks can be deceiving. I used the 70-300L for years without any dust issues, and it is built almost identical to this lens.

@rc-wingman5719

3 жыл бұрын

@@DustinAbbottTWI come on, I have a lot of other external focusing Canon L lenses like the 24-105mm. They all suck dust like crazy. After 200 hours of use, you have to service them or take them apart by yourself. google it up, it's true.

@rc-wingman5719

3 жыл бұрын

@M TechRF lenses are too expensive for what they offer. You can get the classic EF lenses for an OK-price on eBay with almost identical performance. if people can't live with some 100 grams weight difference compared to RF-lenses they should better invest in a set of dumbbells.

@rc-wingman5719

3 жыл бұрын

@M Tech yes new lenses sales are bad for Canon and Nikon. I guess lens technology is almost at its peak now. The prices for old M42-Mount lenses on the other hand went up pretty fast. I have a vintage Zeiss lens that I bought 4 years ago that went up 300% since then. A very good store of value.

I was able to get it for $1600 brand new out the door after taxes. 😊 Worth it and yes it’s the RF 70-200mm f2.8

@DustinAbbottTWI

8 ай бұрын

Wow. That's a fantastic deal.

.... external zooms .... no thanks

@DustinAbbottTWI

3 жыл бұрын

A lot of people feel that way. I'm not one of them, actually, as I love the tradeoff with the more compact size, which really transforms the way(s) that I can use a lens like this.

Business expense here I come!

@DustinAbbottTWI

2 ай бұрын

Lucky you