see also:

• Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L lenses
• Canon EF 200mm f/2L lens
• Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L lenses
• Canon EF lenses

• this lens comes in the lighter, less expensive non-IS version or the IS version
• this is a staple lens of the Canon pro photographer but it is big, heavy, expensive and white
• the non-IS version was introduced in 1995 to replace the 1989 80-200mm f/2.8 lens while the weathersealed IS version was added in 2001 and has slightly faster AF
• the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L II released in 2010 to update the version I lens:
  • upgraded IS to “3-4EV”
  • improved optics for more detail on newer higher resolution sensors (version I not sharp enough)
  • improved AF
  • improved mechanical design
  • closer focus but image quality at these distances not as good
  • BUT bokeh said to be not as nice
• a version III was added in June 2018 but this was mainly cosmetic plus new coatings and surprisingly did NOT add the enhanced features of the concurrently announced vII of the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L lenses such as closer focus to 1m, 9 rounded blades and 5EV IS.

• introduced 1995
• 70-200mm f/2.8 full frame
• 8 blades
• 18 elements in 15 groups incl. 4x UD
• 77mm filter
• internal focus and internal zoom
• close focus 1.5m giving 1:6.25 magnification
• USM AF with fulltime MF
• 85 x 194 mm
• 1370g with tripod collar (removable)
• ET-83II lens hood
• partly weathersealed - no seal at mount!

• introduced 2001
• 70-200mm f/2.8 full frame
• 8 rounded blades
• image stabiliser “2-3EV”
• 23 elements in 18 groups incl. 4x UD
• 77mm filter
• internal focus and internal zoom
• close focus 1.3m giving 1:5.9 magnification
• USM AF with fulltime MF
• 86 x 197 mm
• 1470g with tripod collar (removable)
• lens hood
• weathersealed

• introduced 2010
• 70-200mm f/2.8 full frame
• 8 rounded blades
• image stabiliser “3.5EV”
• 23 elements in 19 groups incl. 5x UD and 1x flourite
• 77mm filter
• internal focus and internal zoom
• close focus 1.2m giving 1:4.8 (0.21x) magnification
• USM AF with fulltime MF
• 89 x 199 mm
• 1490g with tripod collar (removable)
• ET-87 lens hood
• fully weathersealed

• announced June 2018
• same as the mark II except cosmetic changes and adds new coatings:
  • Air Sphere Coating (ASC) technology helps to reduce flaring and ghosting, and suppresses the reflection of light.
  • fluorine coating on front and rear elements helps to reduce smears and fingerprints

• http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/lenses/70-200mm-f28.htm
  • nice bokeh wide open at 200mm but not as good at 70mm
  • image gets larger as focused more closely
  • some barrel distortion at 70mm and some pincushion distortion at 200mm
• Photozone.de
  • 0.6EV vignetting at 200mm
  • sharp wide open but sharpest at f/4-5.6
  • 0.6px lat. CSA at 70mm improved at 200mm
• http://slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/72

• http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-70-200mm-f-2.8-L-IS-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

• http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/lenses/70-200mm-f28-is-ii.htm
• dpreview
  • “relatively harsh rendition of out-of-focus areas of the image”
  • “somewhat susceptible to flare with direct light sources in or close to the frame”
  • “inconvenient design of tripod mount ring (can't be detached without taking lens off camera)”
  • “relatively unimpressive image quality at close focus distances”
• Photozone.de
  • 1.3EV vignetting at 200mm
  • very sharp wide open but sharper at f/4-f/5.6 much better than version I esp. at 200mm
  • 0.7px lat. CA at 70mm less at 200mm
  • bokeh not as nice as a prime and some cat's eye in corners wide open
  • good long. CA