Cheap Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras and Digital Camera Reviews

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

Great Pictures 2008-10-05

I was tired of looking through my camera with the lens that came on it and seeing the subject close up;then when you actually print it they are not as close as they looked. This lens is great. The quality of the picture is wonderful. I can take pictures of my grandchildren's football games from the stands and get pictures that look like I was right beside them. I can also take a close up of a flower and the quality is perfect and very close up. It is great.

very nice lens 2008-09-22

very nice lens: light weight, excellent quality, close to the f/2.8 but better price = excellent value

Canon 70-200mm f/4 L USM Lens 2008-09-01

One of Canon's best in quality... This lens exceeds my expectation, though I did my homework prior to purchasing and it's performance is awesome... It is quick in focusing and produces spetacular photos...

This is a non-IS lens, so unless your very steady, it is advised to rest lens on a bean bag or brace yourself against something... I like bird photography so I use a tripod with this lens with a 1.4x Tele-Conveter connected and it produces really sharp photo's... Ultrasonic Motor is quiet and very fast...

For the price this can't be beat... It's an L lens which is Canon's best line.. Excellent build and the telephoto is conceled within the lens and does not extend...

Good lens but-- 2008-09-01

I purchased this lens and have taken about 300 photos. I also have the Canon 28-135 f3.5 IS lens that came with my 40d. To tell you the truth the difference is really minimal. It's very well built, sharp and fast to focus. I'm sure that if you are looking for a zoom lens in this focal range it's a pretty good choice but in terms of clarity, sharpness and contrast, I do not see a great deal of difference. I have taken many wedding photos, mostly with film cameras -- Mamya 645 equipment. I just started using the digital format ( I'm using the Canon 50 f1.4, the 28-135 several other lenses and now the 70-200L F4) all these lenses performed very well but I was hoping to see a big difference with the 70-200L. The photos are great just not that big of a difference that I was expecting and read about.

Extremely Over Rated 2008-08-28

I purchased this lens with high hopes, thinking that because it is an "L" lense and only $600, it was a great deal. On the contrary, the images that it took were no better (and in fact worse) than my 85 mm and my 50 mm Canon prime lenses. Before spending $600 on this camera (if you need a zoom), I would suggest checking out the 70-300 IS zoom (by Canon). It takes far superior pictures (I owned one for over a year).

Makes me want MORE "L"ness 2008-08-18

If this is one of the cheapest "L"s I cannot imagine what the more expensive ones can do.... if only I were rich.

Make your camera worth the investment. 2008-08-04

I was a bit disappointed with the 18-55 mm lens that came with the Canon XSi. But for the price (about $100, they say), it got me started. I read the reviews on various 200mm zoom lenses and this one really seemed to fit my needs.

Although I have not taken a lot of shots with it, I am very pleased with the handling and the interface to the camera. You won't be disappointed in the quality and if you are an experienced photographer, you will love the feel.

Quite nice. 2008-07-30

It would be better if Canon provide a tripod mount ring, like 70~200mm F/2.8L. Of course, I know it's not a fault of Amazon.

canon ef lens 2008-07-28

I purchased this lens for my wife. The pictures that she has taken with this lens areof profeesional quality.

great lens 2008-07-24

THIS LENS ROCKS!!!!have used this lens for a couple of months now and i have been very pleased with the pictures.still learning the camera and lens but i would highly recommend this lens for someone looking to upgrade to a proffesional qualitylens,but with a more reasonable price than the f2.8L lens.the f4L lens is great.

Absolutely gorgeous 2008-06-14

The optics on this lens are out of this world. The daytime photos I've taken with it have been excellent. The colors, sharpness, and contrast with this lens make it worth every penny. When shooting with it, I rarely have to do any post processing because the photos come out gorgeous almost every time.

Buy This Lens!!! 2008-06-09

If you're considering this lens, it means you are hoping the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras version of this lens and the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras version of this lens are unnecessary. Let me tell you, I was in the same position: I really wanted the f/2.8L IS version, but didn't know if spending the extra $1K was worth it or not. I got this lens (f/4L, non-IS) and am COMPLETELY happy with my decision! This lens is about as light as an L lens gets, and f/4 is completely acceptable for this level of zoom, I've found. I'm really glad I saved my money (and put it towards the amazing Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Ultra Wide Angle Zoom Lens).

This lens isn't as white as I thought it would be. It seems to be more of an off-white, but that doesn't bother me. This is my first L Series lens, and I'm completely hooked! Everything about it is well-made! Even the surface of the lens is easy to grip and adjust, and it comes with a lens hood, as does the 16-35mm f/2.8L, so you don't have to worry about purchasing one separately. I got a good CP filter and an ExpoDisc for the lens, and that's really all you'll need for a modern camera. I've learned that modern digital cameras don't even really see the UV wavelengths that the UV filters used to protect your shots from, so unless you want to spend money on a little bit of lens protection by buying a UV filter, don't bother.

In summary: If you're considering this lens, get it! Don't waste your money on the f/2.8L or IS versions unless you really need it and can afford it, in which case, you probably wouldn't be considering this lens! Keep in mind a couple things: The other versions of this lens will be heavier and larger, so will be more difficult to carry. Also, a 70-200mm on a 40D or Rebel will actually be 112-320mm, as most Canon digital cameras will have a 1.6 "crop factor" compared to the more expensive 5D or hyper-expensive 1Ds Mark III, which are full-frame cameras.

I am completely satisfied with this purchase and would make the same decision again! If you get this lens, you won't be unhappy!

nice lens! 2008-06-05

this is the cheapest L lens you can buy! most people say its a must have in this focal range!

Love it. 2008-06-02

I love this lens. I bought it for my Canon 20D in the end of 2004. It is a nice choice.

L SERIES NICE 2008-05-30

VERY NICE LENCE CONSTRUCTION AND VERY LIGHT WEIGHT, BEST L SERIE TELEPHOTO FOR THE PRICE.

Best lens for the price 2008-05-27

This a great lens that is sharp and fast. The quality is far better than the other non "L" lenses. Can't get an "L" for much less.

2nd best canon zoom lens 2008-05-26

2nd possibly only to the image stabilized (IS) version, the f0-200mm f/4 should be every Canon owners 1st "L" lens. Image quality is excellent: sharpness, color, and contrast. Build quality is excellent: yes it has the "look at me" white Canon paint job, but it is sturdy and yet light and manageable.

There are no "cons" with this lens. There is simply nothing better in its class and price range. Some folks will need help deciding between this and the image (IS) stabilized version. Simply put, the IS version can do everything that this version does, and more. The IS version will allow you to handhold the camera at much slower shutter speeds that you normally could. For instance, whereas with the non-IS version you'll need a shutter speed of 1/200 or better to get sharp images, the non-IS version can be hand held down to 1/40.

This comes in handy when the light is low. However if you use a tripod or you shoot sports (in which case you need a fast shutter speed anyway) then you might want to go with the non-IS version and save a few hundred bucks.

No regrets 2008-05-20

I bought this lens to fill in the gap in my focal range until I could get a better lens. It's an economical L series lens so it was easy to afford (among the pro series lenses). I was quite surprised to see the quality of the images. Truly the only difference between this and the 70-200 2.8 IS is the 2.8 aperture and the lack of IS. For the apertures that it has available it produces nice sharp images at every f stop and focal length. I've had no regrets in buying it. I will likely upgrade one day, but I'm in no hurry. It's filling the gap just fine. When combined with my 200mm 2.8L I have quite a pair. I can take whichever I like and either is smaller and lighter than the 70-200 2.8L as well as I could split the lenses between myself and a friend out on the same trip or send one in for repairs while using the other.

quality lens for a low price... 2008-05-17

This and the 17-40 f/4 L USM lens is probably the two lowest cost L lens in the Canon lineup. The 70-200 set of lens are probably the most popular due to the great versatility offered by the available focal range. I use this lens for candid wedding, birthday and other social gatherings. The constant aperture is also a nice feature to have. The zoom & focus rings are surprisingly smooth especially considering the length and size of the lens. The rings operate just as smooth, if not smoother than my 24-105 f/4 IS USM lens.

The only thing that could be better than this lens are the Image Stabilization versions of the 70-200. I think the 70-200 f/2.8 L IS USM is next on my list of lens to buy, most likely to replace this very piece.

Smitten! Gives Photos Something Extra ... 2008-05-10

This is my first "L" lens. (I'm an intermediate beginner.) Indoors at lower apertures (4.0 or 4.5) it gives some photos a soft, halo glow. Outdoors, if I set the camera to f 4.0 or 4.5 in Av mode, it forces a high enough shutter speed that I can snap away at (hand held) action shots and the subject stays in focus, but with a softened backdrop that makes it dramatic. I've seen pleasing bokeh even at f/9.0. It takes nice close-ups if you stand back a bit. The barrel length is fixed, i.e. it doesn't get any longer when you extend to 200mm, and focus is smooth and quiet. Obviously heavier than some lenses, the weight feels balanced on a Canon 40D body; I suspect it might overwhelm a Rebel XT or XTi. Bottom line: This lens can take an ordinary picture and make it extraordinary. I am totally spoiled.

Almost Perfect 2008-05-06

So I'm starting to get more serious about my photography. I went out and bought this as my entry to the "L" class of lenses. I mounted it on my 40D at home and I didn't really see what the big deal was. It wasn't until we went out for an Engagement shoot that I found the magic of this lens. The Bokeh was wonderful for my portrait shots. Absolutely wonderful. Very crisp pictures.

Almost perfect because of the f4 - it didn't do so well in the shade. But, I can't really complain since the 2.8 is almost twice as much and the 2.8L IS which is almost unreachable for the amateur. But one day it will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine.

I don't mind the white paint either, makes it look "professional". We were out on location and as soon as we took it out bystanders got out of the way of our shoot.

So in summation, it's a great price to try out the "L" lenses. This and the 17-40L. But remember that it's an f4 and that it's white if that makes a big deal to you.

Wonderful 2008-05-04

I very rarely switch off this lens, I have been taking all kinds of nature pictures and I am very pleased. I am totally new to photography and I am drawn to the wildlife, so for me as a beginner this lens has been a wonderful experience.

Bargain L Lens 2008-04-29

I recently replaced this lens with the hugely expensive f/2.8-IS version, with the intention of selling the f/4. After thorough testing, the f/4 is definitely the sharper lens, in the centre of the frame as well as at the edges - also at all apertures. Obviously the more expensive lens has better features and is more versatile, but I have decided to keep the f/4 after all. Its a bargain.

Incredible performance 2008-04-28

This lens provides incredible sharpness, clarity, and awesome bokeh throughout its range. Great when used outdoors!

So far, so good... 2008-04-27

I'm a beginner "photographer", if you can even call me that. :-) I am still figuring out all the right settings for different situations. I purchased this lens to shoot at my kids' sporting events. A lot came out okay, but I think it had more to do with operator error than the lens. As a matter of fact, any shot that didn't come out, I'd attribute to operator error.

A solid lens, and I look forward to learning about it as time permits.

Canon EF 70-200mm 2008-04-19

Great lens, I just love, not to small, not to big, just perfect, and great pictures for a great price.

Almost perfect! 2008-04-14

Love this lense but the only problem is that once you buy it and used it some months, you will wish to buy the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras!

HEY, IT'S AN 'L' 2008-04-07

some people may think that spending $600 on a 70-200 zoom lens is crazy but this is one of Canon's 'L' lenses. It's probably the cheapest 'L' lens they offer but the quality is super duper. I use this on my EOS 40d digital camera and the results are top notch. With the 1.6 crop factor of the 40d the lens is actually a 112-320mm lens. Not exactly a walkaround lens but a great addtional to your lens arsenal for when you need some reach. Excellent for outdoor portraits. And the lens is fairly light.
If you have the cash and are looking for a top qaulity zoom lens give this bad boy some serious consideration.
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Exceptionally good quality reasonably priced but heavy telephoto zoom 2008-03-20

I have owned this lens for two years since selling of my Nikon gear to switch Canon. I had over a dozen supposedly high-quality Nikon lenses. I was very surprised to see the picture quality possible with this lens was far better than I achieved with any of my Nikon lenses. I wanted a mid range telephoto zoom but could not justify the extra price of the f/2.8L. At the same time I had read that the lower priced consumer grade Canon zooms left much to be desired . After doing a lot of reading, I saw that reviewer after reviewer raved about the quality of Canon "L" glass. It's true, it is that good, believe the hype.

The lens is large and heavy; with the included lens hood it become enormous. Solidly constructed and massive to hold, it makes cheap consumer zooms feel like junk by comparison. Autofocus with my Rebel 400 was surprisingly fast and accurate. On a whim I took a photo of a commercial jetplane in flight far overhead. This would have produced a blurred blob of color against a blue sky with my Nikon gear. On later review I was pleased to see a razor sharp photo of the underside of the plane with the markings clearly legibible. I haven't used it very much compared to my 17-40L f/4.0. That lens has accounted for 90% of the exposures I've made since switching to Canon. But when used it has not failed in terms of function and quality.

Highly recommended, a bargain for the price given the quality of construction and images.

2 words!!! 2008-02-29

Freakin Awesome!!!

DOF is perfect, Color and contrast is amazing! Build quality is second to none. The only thing I would caution a user on is if this will be for indoors, or low light you would want to step up to the IS version. but thats only because I am partial to my IS lens for low light situations when I cant use high shutter speeds to control the shake.

This Lens is perfect.

My Favorite Lens 2008-02-28

I bought this lens about 2 years ago, and it barely leaves my camera. It is by far my favorite lens to use. It takes sharp, colorful images that are perfect for blowing up to large sizes to hang and display. I honestly can say that I haven't had a complaint with this lens. It's fast and quiet when focusing, not too heavy (though when you start going into telephoto L lenses, you have to expect a heavier lens); and to get an L at this price is fantastic!
Pictures always help me in making a choice in a lens, so feel free to go to [...] to see my pictures taken with this lens. Most of my zoo shots are taken with this lens.

Very Sharp Lens 2008-02-27

At first when I got the lens and started to useit, I thought all the reviews I had seen before buying it were all lies. But after learning how to use the lens, the fact is that it's a gem. I have taken a lot of pictures of birds with it and almost all of then handheld with a Canon Digital Rebel XT, it renders great sharpness. The thing is, you have to take pictures with shutter speed of at least 640. Sometimes you can get by with less and it seems to be at it's best at 5.6 aperture.

canon ef 70-200 telephoto zoom 2008-02-26

I am not knowlegable about cameras or lenses. Friends suggested that I purchase this lens for outdoor animal shots and running events. I have had it a month and have used it several times. I agree that it is a great tool for sports action and for catching wildlife. The zoom is great. What would normally have been too far for detail, now I can actually get a better shot.
Since I have absolutely no technical knowlege I can only be so helpful with this review.

canon lens 2008-02-17

OUTSTANDING!!!!This lens is as sharp and as clear as you can get.There are lots of 'good' lenses on the market, but this one is the best of the best.

Best bang for your buck. 2008-02-08

This is my first "L" zoom lens without breaking my bank.
The image quality is just simply amazing compare to my kit lens.
I use this mostly outdoor, very sharp and great color.

Simply Beautiful 2008-01-14

Simply the best entry level 'L' lens from Canon and the price to make you drool.

I have been very happy with this lens and would highly recommend it to anyone who has not tasted the 'L' honey..,

The bokeh is creamy and smooth!

Very sharp at all lengths.., go get one! you won't regret it!!!

Exceptional 2008-01-09

Great lens. I find I rarely take this lens off my camera. Exceptional for shooting all the kids sports. Only draw back would be indoor sports. A 2.8 lens or faster is needed for indoors.

Best "Value" telephoto zoom lens 2007-12-31

I used to have the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM lens and it was a heavy tank! I still wanted a nice telephoto L glass but rarely needed it above 200mm (especially because I use a 30D and 40D with 1.6x FOVCF). Image stabilization wasn't that important to me as I mostly use my tele glass during the day when I can use faster shutter speeds.

This lens was the perfect choice for me!

PROS:
- lightweight
- travel friendly
- L glass quality
- comes with the hood and carry bag
- non-extending zoom!
- TACK SHARP!!!!
- two focus range modes

CONS:
- no tripod ring. Canon makes one for this lens, but it's rediculously priced @ over $150 !!!! WHY? Knock-offs on eBay are $25 and more than sufficient!
- only 67mm barrel. Would be nicer to have a 72 or 77.
price is JUST right!

Deseption 2007-12-31

If you think that you will have an exceptional teleobjetive not, it's only a normal and expensive lent

A great lens for the money !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2007-12-18

I purchased this lens with lots of though and am EXTREMELY happy with it. The color is spot on could not be any better. There is only one thing that I dont like but it was my fault and you cant fault the lens for your mistake and that is the that it is only a f/4 and no IS at the least I would like IS if not F/2.8 with IS but if you primarily shoot outdoors and in good light it wont be a problem but it is those few occasions that I dont have good light that is a bother but you cant fault a lens for what it does not have.

-_-__-__-_-this is for the people whew are using the crappy lens that came with there lower end DSLR and cant justify the coast of this lens, WAKE UP if you want to get the great color and pictures that your camera can offer just bit the bullet and get it already. If you ever want to take GREAT shots you cant be using a cheepy (unless its the nifty fifty) just a little FYI._--___--_--__

The original price listed for this lens in incorrect 2007-12-05

The suggested retail price is extremely misleading to people considering purchasing this lens. You are not saving 60%, but are instead paying the NORMAL competitive price. Don't buy this lens because of the HUGE savings, buy it because it is an excellent lens at a medium price. (Amazon is aware of the problem but does not wish to change it.)

The F4 70-200m lens is an excellent, sharp lens and an excellent value. It is the least expensive version of 4 similar lens made by Canon. The 3 similar lens are all more expensive. They all are 70-200mm, but one has the same aperture F4 but with the feature of Image Stabilization. Another has the aperture of F2.8 (allows more light to enter the camera more quickly), and the last is F2.8 with Image Stabilization again. All 4 lens are excellent with excellent sharpness, and your decision on which to buy should take into consideration size, cost, what F-stop and whether image stabilization is needed. This f4 version is the lightest and least expensive. You get professional quality at a medium price. The other 3 lens are even better and the key features of a 2.8 F-stop and/or image stabilization are really useful if you can afford them.

I hated this lens at first!! 2007-12-02

When I first got this lens I didn't know any thing about cameras. I thought 200mm would get me close to what I wanted. I was sorely upset when I first looked throuhg the lens. I immediately wanted the 400mm. My ignorance made me discard the lens. My neighbor is a professional photographer and he schooled me on the error. This is a fine lens for the price and stays on my camera 65% of the time. Keep in mind I am amateur!

Worth the price 2007-11-26

Image stabilization would be nice but this is a great price/performance lens. Just needs a tripod for lower light applications.

wow wow wow 2007-11-14

this is my first L glass... and wow am I impressed!!! I use a lot of great prime glass... and I wanted to get a good zoom telephoto.... this lens does all I want it to! Sure it is not as fast as my 85 f1.8, but I do not plan to use this in low light... the build is fantastic, the focus is soooo fast and ultra smooth... you will look like a pro with this mounted to your camera! It is a great buy! if you have the cash just laying around.... sure get the f2.8... but for those who are like me and want a quality L glass at a great price.... get this one!

Excellent, but wish I had gotten IS 2007-10-30

This lens is excellent and sold at a great price for L series. I can see how the IS would have been very nice, but the IS version costs almost double. If used with a tripod, get a VERY sturdy tripod, and image shake is greatl minimized. Without a tripod, great shots are still possible with this lens, but steady your hand as much as possible at longer focal lengths.

Also, it's not very good in low light, as you would expect from an F/4.

UPDATE: about 6 months into ownership....Amazon won't let me change the star ratings, so I'll just type it....this lens is 5 stars!!! Each time I take it out, I come home with shots that are incredible. Colors are great. Details are great. Contrast is great. Price is great. As good as it gets, without breaking the bank.

FIVE STARS!!

Worth every penny 2007-10-28

This is Canon's least expensive L lense but the pictures you'll get are anything but cheap. Excellent build quality with fast and quiet performance. Try not to cut yourself on with your pictures because they'll be sharp. Other people have already covered the technical things about this lens so I'll just say that it blows all of Canon's consumer zooms out of the water. It works well with the 1.4x extender for the few occasions when I need more reach.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras 2007-10-02

I just used this lens at a youth football game last weekend and from the middle of the bleachers on top of a hill I got great pictures of the kids on the field. I have a Rebel xti ... the lens that comes with the camera is dreadful. It may be too early to tell but from the 150 pictures I took ... the lens is well worth the money. I DID notice that it is noticeably heavier than the lens that came with the camera! I plan on purchasing a Canon UV protection filter for it right away. A monopod would be nice. The lens hood is in the box with a nice soft lens case. The "L" lens is definitely a nice lens!

Definitely NOT a walk-around lens 2007-09-29

Disclaimer: I am an amateur photographer, and lots of people have commented already on the qualities of this lens, so I won't be making a review on that. I got this lens yesterday, and I am using it with a Canon 40d.

Here is my review: if for some reason you are considering using this lens as your walk-around lens, don't. For all the things a walk-around lens should be, this one is not (save for being relatively affordable, and having great IQ). It's conspicuous in both size and color, heavy, and IMO the focal range is not flexible enough for walk-around duties.

This is probably pretty obvious to most people, but for some it might not be. So, there you go. It is GREAT for me though, and agree with others who say this is a very good value lens.

Reveal the value of your DSLR 2007-09-22

If you took the next step in digital photography from a 'point and shoot' to a DSLR and have not yet seen a "dramatic" improvement in your printed photos, this lens is a must for you. I used a really good camera from Panasonic, the DMC-FZ20, before buying a Canon 30D. The Panasonic produced great pictures. Indeed, at times the photos from the Panasonic looked as good as what I was getting from the Canon.

Purchasing this lens saved me from buyers remorse; the remorse that was starting to build in me after spending well over $1K on my new Canon 30D. After pairing it with the 70-200mm f/4L, I learned the true value in upgrading to a DSLR. Many of my pictures now receive that instant "wow" response from friends and family. The lesson here is simple; when it comes to image quality, the lens contributes even more than the camera.

The thing that stands out to me most about the 70-200mm f/4L lens, beyond the obvious such as image color and sharpness (outstanding, both counts), is how quickly and quietly this thing focuses. It is incredibly FAST! I've included a photo here to show what this lens can do. One more thing to note is weight; the lens is a bit heavy compared to what some might be accustomed to; this will not be an issue unless you try walking around all day with it. I've spent a few hours in the field lugging it with a 30D + battery grip; trust me, weight can become an issue...

This lens has the best function/cost ratio 2007-09-19

I have been using this lens with Canon D350 camera for 2 years. It's my favorite lens and is so dependable. The sharpness, color saturation generated this lens are superb, better than my Canon 24-105mm L.

I use this lens mainly for sports and wildlife pictures, and 90% of time, I use it with Canon 1.4 extender. The degrading of picture quality with the extender is unnoticeable. It gives me 280 mm reach, if times 1.6x factor, it's 488 mm !

To overcome Non-IS, I use this lens mostly with tripod or monopod, and also keep the shutter speed higher than 1/200. I haven't find this is a significant limitation. Of course, for indoor sports, it has its limitation.

For comparison, I have only another L lens: Canon 24-105mm L. I did detailed comparison, and the conclusion is that 70-200mm L beat 24-105mm. I even sent the comparison with my 24-105mm back to Canon for a recalibration.

Overall I think this lens is the best one $600 can buy.

Blows the stock lenses out of the water 2007-09-15

I recently discovered that photography was my gift after using taking some amazing shots with a point and shoot digital camera. I have a 35mm Canon SLR I recieved as a college graduation gift. I did some research on Canon lenses knowing that they were interchangeable with different cameras. I decided to begin saving up for a Canon digital SLR. I started doing research on lenses and found this L lens had nothing but good reviews. I chose it and purchased it when it was on sale in the summer of 2007. Once I got it I attached it to my 35mm Canon and started viewing through it around the house. I was immediately amazed at the difference the view was from the stock lens my 35mm Canon camera came with. I showed it to my wife and she was equally amazed. I then took the lens attached to the 35mm Canon camera on a day trip to Letchworth State Park in Western NY. What resulted were portfolio-quality photos from just two rolls of film. Usually I have to take dozens of photos to get one great photo worthy of going in my portfolio, but with this lens I was able to get at least 6 portfolio-quality photos which are in fact now in my portfolio. This lens blows the stock lenses that come with the camera bodies out of the water. I would highly recommend the L series anyday over any other type of Canon lenses. It smoothly and quickly focuses without any outside lens movement and isn't that heavy to carry around all day. It comes with a nice lens hood. I would recommend a tripod mount ring for this lens to make it balance easier on the tripod. This lens is by far the best thing I've ever bought camera-wise so far. It takes incredible photos. I would show people my photos...all of them, not just the portfolio-quality ones...that I took with this lens, and people would comment, asking what I used to take the pictures, saying they were amazing. It definitely was an attention getter as well when I was shooting with it. I had a few people come up and comment on how impressive it looked. I am definitely hooked on the L lens series now and won't go with anything less. In the fall of 2007 I was able to purchase a Canon 10D digital SLR from a co-worker and have taken a lot of amazing photos of the Western New York area. I even took this lens on a cruise to the eastern Caribbean and got some amazing shots. I've gotten so many excellent shots with this lens in just a few months that I have enough to start selling them. I plan to start going to some of the festivals in WNY to sell them. To see all my photos go to www.myspace.com/davidscrwriter and view my "pics." All of them (except the "My Photos" album) are for sale. All of the WNY photos were taken with this Canon F4 70-200mm L lens. I'm currently saving up for the Canon 17-40mm L lens now for those wide angle shots.

canon lens 2007-09-04

I love this lens, it gives you great photo's, crystal clear and it is easy to use without a tripod.

telephoto zoom lens 2007-08-24

I jumped the gun and bought a Canon 30D and the EF 70-200 lens. I wanted to get something worth having.
I am a beginner and it is completely a fantasy for me to take great pictures.
I have been using the lens every spare moment trying to make my fantasy come true. (I need lots of lessons and time)
With the limited knowledge that I have, I have already taken some great pics and I would only imagine that in the right hands this is an awsome lens, especially for the sale price.

Best value Canon lens ever 2007-08-18

Basically what I am saying about this lens here has already been agreed upon by all users of this superbly built lens. As far as Canon lens goes, this is I think the best value lens in the whole EF line-up. The 50mm is good but the build quality is dreadful when compared to this one and is not as versatile this one.

I really want to stress the importance of value because I think many of us here cannot afford the best lens possible. So being able to get the best of what you paying for is really important. There are some lenses are sharper and many more faster than this one, but all about doubling the price and with certain limitations, such as the 85 F1.2. So if you are shopping for a lens with a limited budget, you have to consider this lens first!

Sharpness wise this can be regarded as one of the sharpest telephoto zoom lenses ever made. Again I don't deny there are lenses sharper than this but once you consider the whole package the choice is a no-brainer.

Build quality is equal to most of the L series lenses, metal finish, solid and durable. If you never own or use an L lens before, make sure you pay a visit to your local photography shop and have a feel. It will beat all those cheap plastic lenses easily.

This lens is not terribly fast but definitely usable in most general conditions. In a bright day it can capture sports action photos as well as general wildlife. Because of the zoom range you will unlikely use this lens in a very confined space (room, bar) so those bad-lit rooms are off the range of this lens naturally. Or if you want more light there is always flash to use.

This lens can be used in so many situations and there is basically endless possibility. One thing I want to stress is that many people only regard this lens as a portrait lens whereas this is perhaps the best landscape lens as well. First of all it is sharp, sharper than most of the wide zoom lenses. Second it is light so you can carry it around hiking all day without getting sore shoulders. And since landscape photography doesn't require fast aperture, F4 is perfectly suitable for most conditions. I have been on few treks by carrying this lens only and it is fantastic in capturing beautifully compressed landscape photos. Also I have talked to some professional landscape photographers and many of them carry this lens on a hike.

The range of this lens fitted on a cropped sensor cameras such as my 350D or a 30D is slightly too long for some classic wide landscape photos but again if you are able to change your positions and create different perspectives the results will surprise you. Do not limit your creative imagination by thinking only ultra wide angle lenses can do the job.

Last thought:

If you are considering the IS version of this lens, I suggest you go for the F2.8 version. Don't waste money getting a F4. F2.8 allows twice the light than the F4. With ISO 400 or 800 you don't really need the IS anyway. Or you can go the IS version of the F2.8 instead of getting a F4 which in the future you will want to replace anyway with a 2.8.

Top Lens!!

This lens makes you look like and be a pro 2007-08-17

Took my rebel xti with 70-200mm to the July 22, 2007 Phillies v. Padres day game at Petco Park. Sat one row behind the photographers on the field third base. Shot on sports mode 230 photographs all sharply focused. Got Phillies short stop Jimmy Rollins hitting a triple. Took 21 burst shots he was perfectly sharply focused with the first shot with ball coming off his bat and last sliding into third with gravel flying in his face. No unipod and I was standing up. Printed 13x19 photo of his slide and framed in my office. This one photo was worth the price of this lens. Padre fan behind asked if I was a photographer with the Philles. Also,the Phillies' president asked me to email my photos to him.

canon EF 70-200 f/4L USM Telephoto zoom lens 2007-08-15

This is an excelent lens for the money. You can clearly see the difference
an L lens makes in your finished pictures. Also was purchased at a fantastic price. item was recieved in 3 days.

Canon EF-200 lens 2007-08-07

I bought this lens and it does exactly what i i wanted it to do and that was to take good pictures with lots of color and it's lighter that i thought it wood be when combined with my Canon 30-D .I wood recommend this lens for a beginner and would move up to even bettercanon L series lens.

Fantastic zoom lens. L quality at an affordable price. 2007-07-28

I would not hesitate to recommend this lens to anybody. The lens is super sharp and the colors are fantastic. I am shooting with a Canon Rebel xti and this is my favorite lens thus far. Highly recommended.

Awesome Lense 2007-06-28

I couldn't be happier with the purchase of this lense. The transaction through Amazon was flawless and it was delivered a 1 1/2 weeks earlier than expected.

This lense is so sharp you could shave with it. I now understand the image quality of an "L" lense. If you are looking to upgrade your kit, don't hesitate on this one!!

Mark H.

This is a great first professional lens for the Canon XTi camera. 2007-06-26

More and more it is apparent that the better Canon lenses are the way to go, especially the "L" series. If this lens were a little shorter in addition the long end it would be a superb walk around lens, despite its weight and size. It's a fast focus and sharp. If money is not an object, I would say get this lens or its improvement the IS version for double the cost, and skip the kit lens. Save up for a good wide angle lens to complete the most useful range for lenses.

not fast, but good 2007-06-26

this is not a fast lens. but if you are outside and have alot of light, worth the price of admission.

Its a great lens 2007-06-11

I have the 18-55mm that came with the XTi and that lens is junk. I got the canon 70-200mm non is L/4 f stop lens and its sharp I really like it

Great lens 2007-06-11

It is just everything as expected: fast focus, sharp and good color & contrast. In fact, I found it to be particularly good for portraits. I like its bokeh better than the ones from 50/1.4. I used it on 30D and it is equivallent to 112-320 on full frame cameras. I think it would be even better on full frame cameras as it covers almost all portait focal length.

Sharp and a good value 2007-06-11

I highly recommend this lens. This is probably one of the best L series telephoto lens deals for the money. It is a bit slow at F4, but you get what you pay for. It is sharp, fast, usually accurate in focusing, and light weight. I use it primarily for nature shots and architectural details. I am amazed at the detail that is recorded on the pics.

I'm a long time user of Nikon from the film days. I had 1 bad experience w/Nikon digital (a bios update ruined my camera due to bad Nikon software). I will eventually go back over the Nikon line when they get their electronics on par w/Canon. Therefore, I don't want to spend a lot of money on Canon lenses but I do want some quality. This cheaper L series lens is perfect for this waiting period.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras 2007-06-09

Very good lens. Amazing photos.

Great Value - Great Lens 2007-06-08

Can't say much more than others have on this lens. Reasonable performance, L series glass, fast auto-focus. I'm very happy with it and Amazon on the purchasing process.

I'm using this on a Rebel XTi (EOS 400D), and I have no complaints.

BTW - the lens comes with the hood and lens bag in the box.

Tim

Get the one with IS 2007-05-25

This is a good lens, but get the one with the IS...now, that's an awesome lens.

Amazing Pictures 2007-05-12

I take a lot of action shots from a distance, mostly siblings sprots events, i couldnt be more happy with the color i get form the pictures i think its amazing. I love the price too as an amature this lens doesn't break my budget.

Incredible value with high image quality 2007-05-12

This is the sharpest and most contrasty zoom lens I own, beating out several other L zooms. It's actually sharper than my Canon 180mm macro lens!

The price is very economical for such a high-quality lens, and it is light enough to be reasonably portable, though the size and color will still make non-photographers gasp. It is the best bang-for-buck among any of the L lenses (the non-L 50/1.8 prime is the most bang-for-buck in the entire Canon line).

Disadvantages are the attention-attracting size and color mentioned above, and the lack of image stabilization. If you're shooting from a tripod, the lack of stabilization won't hurt you, but many people will want to use this handheld, and they won't get full advantage of the lens doing that.

The biggest disadvantage of the lens is the annoying filter size--One of only a couple of Canon lenses to use this size.

If you want to shoot it from a tripod, this lens can't be beat. For those who won't use a tripod, I recommend the 70-300 IS lens instead (not the superexpensive "DO" one, but the one that costs around $500). This will give a little more focal length, but it will have image stabilization, which is needed desperately at 200mm in all but bright harsh light. Of course, that lens doesn't produce as nice-quality images as this lens. You give some things up for the convenience of not using a tripod!

It's worth trying a L lens at this price 2007-05-11

The reason I rate it as a 5 star is not because it is the best lens on the market. Canon makes more advanced lenses like the f/2.8L lens, but not for this price. For what this lens is, it performs beautifully. The auto focus is fast and it's built like a tank. The optics are great. If you know how to work your camera, you can work around the f/4L. I've even done some indoor work with this lens.

A zoom for those who don't like zooms. 2007-05-10

I don't like zooms. Sure, they are covenient. And you don't need to carry alot of lenses with you. But I never liked the excessive distortions, poor sharpness, muddy contrast, and limp colors that tend to go along with the package. Yes, you can use post-processing to deal with some of this to some extent. But let's face it. Post-processing will NEVER beat an image that is great to begin with. And that brings me to this lens. Simply put, it is not like any other zoom lens I have ever owned. I can honestly say that this one is equal to some of Canon's better, consumer-grade primes (although slower). And for a zoom lens, this is somewhat of an accomplishment. Then again, this IS my first L-series lens. So maybe this is what I have been missing. Regardless, I would take this les over ANY Canon consumer zoom. Alot, for instance, has been said about this lens vs the 75-300mm. But this is how I look at it. Image stabilization is a high cost option on ANY Canon lens. Do you REALLY think that the optics on an image stablized lens that is the same price (and with a wider zoom range) as a non-image stabilized lens is going to be as good as the non-image stabilized lens? I don't think so! The fact of the matter is that there is simply no other Canon lens out there that provides this kind of combination of quality, versatility, and price. This lens is a must-have.

Great Lense 2007-04-28

I'm using this particular lense on a Canon 350D ( Rebel XT ).
I originally started with a Canon 70-200 F4.5 USM III and was sadly
disappointed. I returned it to Amazon ( which was a breeze, very pleasant experience, kudos to Amazon ). I bought this lense to replace it
and I have to say .. its wonderful .. great price . smooth, fast , quiet operation. Most importantly .. NO CHROMATIC ABERATION .. and the images are a great deal more sharp and clear compared to the USM III under the
same conditions. It even came with the lense hood ..

Greate Lens 2007-04-26

The build quality is solid and the aesthetics is nice. Super fast and accurate focusing. Along with the Canon 50mm 1.4 or 1.8 a must have lens.

L Lens is worth it 2007-04-03

This product has been extensively reviewed, and I don't have much to add. It is much less $$ than the 2.8L at the same zoom range. It does not have IS, which may be an issue to some but I don't have any IS lenses so maybe don't know what I'm missing. The optical quality is as good as advertised. On an APS sized sensor (like my Rebel XTi) the lens is equivalent to a 320 mm on a 35 mm film camera. It is the longest lens I own. This is good for "urban" birds and squirrels that let you get reasonably close, and may be good for larger wildlife. It is borderline for, say, small wild birds that will not let you get close enough to reasonably fill the frame even at 200mm (but I have gotten lucky here and there).
I would guess it is good for sports, but you need enough light to allow a reasonable shutter speed at f4.I have used it for macro closeups, and you get great bokeh.
You can get creative with it. Why use a lens this long indoors? Well, why not?
There is an optional tripod collar. The lens weight is at that borderline where you should use some lens tripod mount to avoid damaging the lens mount. I wish this collar were included, or at least cheaper and more widely available (it seems to be about $130 for a metal ring with a tripod socket -- come on, Canon!)
It comes with a lens hood, so don't order an extra.

FIRST LUXURY LENS 2007-03-31

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS LENS! THIS IS THE FIRST LENS I PURCHASED AFTER MY REBEL XTI PURCHASE AND I RESEARCHED FOR WEEKS TRYING TO DECIDE WHICH ONE TO GET. IT WAS BETWEEN THE 70-300 IS AND THIS ONE. I WOULD HAVE LOVED THE IS FEATURE AND THE 300 ZOOM RANGE, BUT AFTER CONSULTING WITH A SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHER, HE RECOMMENDED THIS ONE. I TAKE LOTS OF GOLF SHOTS AND THEY ARE PERFECT. I AM IMPRESSED WITH THE PHOTOS SOMEONE INEXPERIENCED LIKE MYSELF CAN TAKE. I CAN'T WAIT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MY CAMERA'S FEATURES AND MORE ABOUT THIS LENS. THE QUALITY OF PHOTOS I GET MAKES ME WANT TO TAKE PHOTOS ALL THE TIME. TAKING SHOTS OF MY SON'S JUNIOR PROM TODAY. THIS LENS GIVES BEAUTIFUL PORTRAIT SHOTS ALSO. I WOULD HAVE LIKED THE IS FEATURE AND THE 2.8F BUT THOSE WERE MUCH TOO EXPENSIVE FOR ME. PERHAPS I'LL UPGRADE IN THE FUTURE, BUT ALL YOU WHO GAVE SUPER REVIEWS FOR HIS LENS WERE RIGHT. ITS WONDERFUL. THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT. ALL MY PHOTOS HAVE BEEN TAKEN WITHOUT A TRIPOD.

WOW! Great lens for a lot of situations. Not great for low light but you know that going in. F4 is max. aperture. 2007-03-21

I have been using this lens for almost two years now. Sure, I would like the 2.8 version but I don't want to carry around such a heavy lens all day. This lens is not that heavy. I never get tired of carrying it. It comes with a lens hood, which is nice.
This lens is fantastic for daytime shooting. For indoors, you will need to crank the ISO to 1600.
The auto focus is very fast and accurate.
So far, this is my favorite lens. It really is worth paying a little extra. The quality is very noticeable and appreciated.

quality 2007-03-20

This is my first L lens which I got 2 months ago. After extensive study on reviews I came to the conclusion that is would be the right lens for me.I was immediately impressed with the quality of images that this lens produced, colurs were better and bolder and the focusing is very fast. I hear some owners say that the hood looks awful but I think it looks just fine. I highly recommend this lens Great for price, sharp images and flawless build quality. A pleasure to use. Once you buy an L lens you be hooked

Good lens itself, excellent lens for its price 2007-03-11

Now I have some update.
1. My copy of this lens back focusing 2 inches on Canon 5D and Canon factories cannot find the problem. 2. Give the IS version of this lens comes out, I would say go for that. One star is removed.

It is an entry level Canon L lens. A few points,

1. Very sharp, essentially better than those non-L canon lenses, even the 70-200 F2.8L, at F4.

2. F4 is good for most out door applications, an 1.4 extension tube will make it 292mm, without lost much in image quality.

3. The price cannot be better for the performance.

4. It is not good for indoor stage shooting - you need F2.8 one in that sense.

5. It is not good enough for bird shooting, sports shooting, etc, even with 1.4x extension tube. You will need at least 400mm in that sense.

6. I do not think you need to spend 400 more for the IS version of this lens - it doesnot really worth - go for the F2.8 IS, or stay for this one.

Outstanding lens!! - - - - - Do not buy the Lens Hood 2007-02-13

This is a great lens. I won't get into much detail because there is already so much information readily available about this lens. I do, however, want to warn potential buyers. DO NOT BUY THE LENS HOOD it already comes with one. It appears that a few of us have already made that mistake. I personally have 2 lens hoods now.

Lens Comes with Accessories 2007-02-10

This lens automatically comes with a hood, storage bag and lens cap. (The way that the accessories options are formatted on the web page may mislead some to think that they need to purchase these items separately.) As for the lens itself, the body is quality built and the glass is top of the line. It does lack Image Stability but is a great L lens for the price!

WOW! 2007-01-31

Great Lens! I haven't had it out of the box long, but I was very impressed with it's crisp, clear images and it is not a heavy lens, if you are used to carrying around more than a point and shoot, this isn't going to wear you out. It will take up a good bit of your camera bag, but it's worth it! If you are thinking about getting it, do it! I did and I am so pleased, it is worth the price!

Canon's Affordable All-Purpose "Stud" 2007-01-22

Like many aspiring amateur photographers I've "climbed the ladder" of Canon lenses in search of the lens (or set of lenses) that best fit my shooting needs. I've been leaning toward sports and nature, with only a sprinkling of portrait and macro photos, thus I've bought and used the range of Canon's telephoto zoom lenses. You can almost compare them as if you were shopping for a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), where type of use, speed, price, and durability will be your deciding factors. Here are my summarized thoughts on three of the more popular telephoto zoom lenses:

70-300 IS - (Ford Explorer) - Big zoom, least expensive of the bunch, handy Image stabilization, great for outdoor sports, but slower AF than the rest. May be "sharp" enough for your needs, though discernibly less so than an L series lens.

70-200 F/4 - (Honda Pilot) - Pro grade build and optics, fast and quiet AF, lighter and much cheaper than the F/2.8. Great all purpose lens that is light enough to be a carry-around lens for trips and hikes.

70-200 F/2.8 - (Porsche Cayenne) - Impressively sharp and fast. Can handle lower light conditions such as indoor sports, but heavier and more expensive than those above. My left bicep is discernibly larger thanks to hoisting this lens.

Advantages - In the 70-200 F/4 Canon has created a harmony of features making it the all purpose middle of the line lens that is almost as affordable as the 70-300 IS, yet with the weather-proofing, durable build, optical performance, and tack sharpness close to the 70-200 f/2.8.

The 70-200 F/4 focuses very fast, very quietly and very accurately thanks to Canon's excellent Ring USM (Ultrasonic Motor). FTM (Full Time Manual) focusing is enabled. The focus and zoom rings are very nicely sized and turn very smoothly. The lens does not extend during zooming and thanks to its inner focusing system the front element does not rotate allowing easy use of a polarized filter.

Drawbacks - If you're shooting indoors without a flash (concerts, some sports), the F/4 may not be fast enough for your needs. Also, the F/4 does NOT come with a dedicated tripod mount but it is available as an option ($60+) either in black or white.

Overall - This is the affordable all purpose stud of the Canon Telephoto zoom lens line that should find a nice home in most photographers' bags. Unless you have low light or specialized uses, this lens should be high on your list of "To Buy" items. Highly Recommended!

Canons to the left of me.... 2007-01-20

This lens is simply a fantastic piece of kit at a fantastic price! For its spec its still quite light and in use it is ultra fast compared to my 350D kit lens.

All in all a perfect step into the world of top quality lenses...

Worth the money 2007-01-14

As with all Canon L lens you expect quality and this is perhaps my favorite lens in the bag. I didn't buy it for portraits but have been using it almost exclusively for my head shots.

great lens 2007-01-13

I have went to numerous camera shops and have tried the 70-300is and all though the IS funtion helps,this lens is great. I love it. Takes great photos. If you can't afford the 70-200 2.8 IS and I am on a tight budget this is the way to go.

Value for your Money! 2007-01-12

This is my very first "L" (for "Luxury") lens and I'm just elated with my purchase. It's below $1000 (which most L lens inversely cost) but the quality of the shots I've taken looks so professional. Only drawback is its f/4 maximum aperture. But as long as I'm taking pictures outdoors, the f/4 opening is just fine. I did try taking pictures with it indoors, I just have to push the setting to ISO1600 and sometimes pop up the flash and the pictures also turn out well. For an amateur like me, this lens is a very GOOD buy!

Simply superb 2007-01-11

I'm having a lot fun with this lens.
It is surely worth the price.

Great! 2007-01-09

This lens has worked great. It produces sharp colorful images, havnt had any problems with it, I would recommend it.

Amazing lens quality in sharpness, color, build quality, great price. 2007-01-09

Photography has been my hobby for the past few years. I own the Canon : 17-40 f4L, 17-55 f2.8 IS, 24-105 f4 L.

This is my first zoom lens, and it has surpassed my expectations. It is the sharpest lens that I own. This is my first lens that really makes colors come alive. I do not like to spend time post processing (photoshopping) my pictures. The pictures from this lens are very good without additional editing.

As a reminder, because this is a zoom lens with only f4 aperture rating. It will only take superb pictures in adequate lighting. This lens indoors would be limited, and you'd have to increase your ISO to 800 like any other f4 aperture lens. Outdoors on a regular sunny day, pictures from this lens cannot be beat.

I was debating this lens over the Canon 70-300 f4.5-5.6 IS. With such good image quality, I have no regrets picking this lens. I paid less than $500 for a Canon L lens.

Get it! 2007-01-08

This was my first "L" Lens. Wow! It truly blows standard lenses away. Pictures are tack sharp every time and the color saturation is nice. If you're looking to try the Canon "L" line, try this lens. You won't be disappointed!

So far I love the lens but... 2006-12-31

The lens is all everyone said it was. Tried it today for a few landscapes and they're tack sharp. Will try a portrait or two next. BUT... I misunderstood the Amazon copy about the lens. I thought I needed to buy the hood, caps and pouch extra. At the bottom of the page it indicated them as accessories with prices and a check box. The lens came with everything except a tripod collar.
No big deal, I'll return the extras.

Great price and fabulous lens! 2006-12-11

I use it for everything from portraits, weddings and everyday shootings.... fantastic results and good bokeh.

70-200 f4 2006-11-23

I had thought long and hard about this lens before purchasing it, and ive had it now a couple months and taken a thousand or so shots with it. I have had the chance to also borrow a friends 70 -300is while not an L lens it does yield good results.. for me im not saying the 70-200 is a bad lens because it isnt its a great buy for the money ... but the IS helps and i know in my heart the F2.8IS 70-200 was the way i should have gone. and will replace the f4 with it before long.

Amazing Lens!! 2006-11-17

I am not a professional photographer, but I wanted high quality lenses to go with my Canon 10D (which I may upgrade soon). I researched for over a month before purchasing this lens, and I have not been disappointed. I only wanted to carry around two lenses, so I purchased this one, and the Canon-EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Ultrawide Zoom Lens. I have found this combination works very well for me. My uses include photographing landscapes, wildlife, sports events, and my family. The speed and quietness of the autofocus is outstanding, and the zoom doesn't compromise the quality of the prints. Even though the price is high, you really do get what you pay for in lenses.

EF 70-200 mm f/4L USM Telephoto Lens 2006-11-03

I love EF 70-200 f/4L USM Telephoto Zoom lens. The price is right, super quality of pictures in color and contrast. It is light weight about 1.5 pounds in comparing with its siblings, 70-200 f/2.8 with or without IS (about 3.5 pounds).
I am think about to buy the new model 70-200 f/4L with IS. With IS, I can take pictures in lower light conditions, which I could not do it with my 70-200 f/4L.

Very good Telephoto lens for Canon Digital 2006-10-29

My first L lens. Very sharp and solid build. With Canon DR and Amazon GC, you can get it in lower $400!!!

Just WOW 2006-10-18

At first, I had a selection of third-party lenses. Nothing bad, just none that were spectacular. I was somewhat disappointed in the shots I got. Then I bought the 85/1.8 and saw the contrast and colors I was expecting. Since then, I've bought several Canon lenses and this one is my latest.
Like the title says, WOW. My first shots were in the house and around it and at all apertures and zoom lengths, the shots are simply incredible. Just fantastic sharpness - no PS USM needed! The colors are real and vibrant and the contrast is sharp and clear.
This (and my 24-105/4L) is what lenses SHOULD be. Well built, solid and great glass. Sure, you do pay more. And you could enhance your shots with PS. But to see the results from these lenses vs the cheaper alternatives, you'll see what you spent all that money for!
I'm sold on Canon.

Amazing glass for the price 2006-10-01

This is a great lens, amazingly sharp. Only thing I would say is if I had the money the 2.8 IS version would be even better and certainly something I'll consider as an upgrade in the future.

Use a fast shutter speed or mono/tripod with this thing. Anything below 250/sec gets to be a problem at 200mm.

wow! what a lens 2006-09-22

This is a great lens. I do not want to repeat all the good things other reviewers have written about this lens. It is not so heavy so I use tripod without using tripod collar (costs 119.99 in B & H). This is the best value I have ever got for a lens. Now I can't wait to get 17-40mm f4L too. You can get a very nice bokeh when wide open at f4 and f5.6, of course depending on the how far the background is from the subject.
People complain how ugly the hood looks but that is subjective. I like it because it works great and you can attach it in a reversed position on the lens so that it will fit in your camera bag. I think the fit and finish of the lens is beautiful.

Quality, value and lightweight 2006-09-06

Like the Canon EF 17-40 f4L USM, this is it's sister and $100 cheaper to boot!

Excellent images at f4! Outstanding images at f9. A lightweight combination with the Canon 5D. An even lighter and more compact combination with the Canon Digital Rebel XT.

The only gripe I have is having to purchase the optional and expensive tripod collar ring. The ring does add a bit of noticeable weight.

Since I am not a steady shooter, I will be upgrading to the Canon EF 70-200 f4L IS USM when it is available in November this year. At least the tripod collar ring should fit on the newer weathersealed lens.

excellent lens and a fantastic value 2006-09-04

I owned this lens for about a year before upgrading to the image stabilized f/2.8 version. Overall I was very happy with the f/4 lens and miss having it available because of the significantly lower weight. Sharpness is amazing and comparable for both lenses, and the f/4 can provide plenty of background blur. If you are shooting mostly outdoors I would recommend the f/4.

Good Lens but...... 2006-08-07

Like many people my decision on a telephoto zoom lens came down to buying the Canon 70-200mm f/4L or the Canon 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM. The trade offs seemed clear at first. The former performs slightly better (see Canon website for MTF data), is better designed & built, is faster and has the "L" lens status. User comments and ratings (at more than one site) are slightly more favorable for the L lens. The 70-300mm has an improved IS and of course a longer focal length. Both cost about the same so money was not a factor in my decision.

I eventually decided on the L lens and was initially disappointed. Photos ranged from wonderful to not very good at all. In fact, I almost returned the lens. Eventually I figured out the problem. My yard is heavily shaded so most of the initial photo's were taken in low light and I had selected shutter speeds that were too slow. To avoid camera shake you need to shoot at the reciprocal of the focal length or faster. Sounds simple but with the Digital Rebel XT (which I was using) you need to consider the camera's 1.6 multiplication factor. So at 200mm you need a shutter speed of 1/320 or faster not 1/200 like I initially thought. Once I made the speed adjustment things changed for the better.

Still I have some mixed feelings about my decision. When the light is good this is a fantastic lens but with the IS feature offered on the 70-300mm I would probably get photos that I will miss with this lens.

I can't fault the performance of this lens for its limitations and I have given it 5 stars. In other words it does what it is supposed to do very well but my message to other buyers is to consider where you are most likely to use the lens before buying. Remember IS becomes increasingly important as you extend the focal length. If your camera is already extending it by a factor of 1.6 you may find IS a very attractive feature.

(Note the 70-300mm has a recall on certain model numbers because of problems when using the lens in a portrait position.) By the way, I purchased from Amazon and it was a flawless transaction!

Now my Rebel XT takes really excellent photos 2006-08-01

What a difference, after using the "standart" ef-s 18-55 kit lens that came with my Rebel XT now with this lens I can finally see that this is a really excelent camera but only if you use it with an excellent lens like this 70-200 F4 L. Great sharpness, color, solidly buit, obviously heavy but for taking outdoors photos this one is among the best of the best.

Amazing lens-Highly recommended 2006-07-31

Do Canon lenses make a difference? Absolutely, I suppose I will save for lenses rather than get almost as good.
This was my first L lens and while I would have liked to get the 2.8 IS, dollars just were not there. The pictures from this lens make you say Wow. Almost everything I have experimented with this from 10 feet to infinity are crystal clear and colors are true. This is a great value for the investment.
Great intro to the L Lenses.

A Great Lens 2006-07-25

Light, sharp, great color, good coverage 70-200mm and solid construction. As a digital camera user, F4 does not bother me since we can increase the ISO. Seems to be not as sharp as fixed lens (like 180mm F3.5) but sharp enough and give us the great coverage and conveniences.

Could not be happier .. 2006-07-23

Let me preface this by saying that I am a hobbyist just learning the art. I have a digital rebel and wanted more zoom range than the 18-55 EF-S that ships with the rebel. This lens seemed the most attractively priced - and the reviews also led me towards a decision to buy some "L" glass. But I was still a bit skeptical on the image quality talked about in the reviews.
I think this lens has been a brilliant choice. First thing I noticed was the image quality. Its just amazing when you first see the shots from this lens on a 19" monitor. I could not believe that a lens could make that much of a difference. My pictures just got "better". For the first time i started hearing compliments on my work.
I am enjoying this lens so much that I have started taking about 10 times more pictures :-). In spite of the bulk, i spent a week walking around in Paris with this lens. I have just stopped using my 18-55 EF-S in spite of its wider angle. There is no way you can go back from this quality.
Heartily recommend this. When i consider myself worthy, i will buy the 70-200 f/2.8 IS because i sometimes feel the need for a faster lens ... Till then, i think that this lens is the best value for money for someone who is just starting to go to the next level.

Beyond what I imagined!! 2006-07-15

This lense is not only affordable but you get great, quality pictures with it as well. If you wan an awesome lense for a good value then this is the one.

Second lens for my Canon Digital Rebel XT 2006-07-14

I am not a professional photographer, but I had a need to shoot some close ups for my daughters basketball games. I've not had a chance to use it for this yet, but I took it to a Cubs/Brewers game, and sitting in the stands, I got some amazing shots of the hitters, pitchers, etc. I could stop a 100MPH fastball on the way to the plate, the clarity was amazing.

The lens is quite large, so I need a new camera bag, but I am very pleased with the quality, and how easily it snaps onto my existing camera.

My first "L", very nice 2006-07-03

I was considering the new 70-300mmIS and after reading the reviews here, selecting the 70-200mm f4L was a no brainer. I have it coupled to my Canon 10D.

Pro's; It's (1) metal construction (2) non rotation of the front element (no effect on circular polarizers) (3) no length change while zooming (internal elements move) and (4) same price as the 70-300mmIS, all add up to a fine choice, not to mention the fantastic optical quality. No issues of soft focus in portrait mode as mentioned in some reviews of the 70-300IS. I dont do action photography so IS is a non-issue for me.

Cons; A minor one is getting used to the very shallow depth of field at f4.
Include the lens mount (pricey) and better seals.

Great Lens for Wildlife photography starters... 2006-07-03

This lens is the best value in Canon's entire line up of L lenses (Not that i have used any of the other L lens ;) ). This is my first L lens and i have come to know what i have been missing. The focusing is very fast, sharp images and consistent quality as the aperture range remains the same throughout the entire zoom.
I have tried taking many indoor shots and also when its very cloudy often just after a thunderstorm with a widest aperature of f/4 and a long focal length, it is disappointing to not be able to take shots without a flash or to get noise induced grainy photos in the outdoors. I've tried with over exposing by 1/3 to 1 stop but its not as sharp enough. most of the time i dont use a tripod and its difficult to maintain a fast enough shutter speed to freeze the action. But if its outdoor sports like soccer then u can easily handhold this and shoot some great photos in good lighting conditions.
But on a sunny day outdoors with good lighting indoors this lens is the king. i have taken many sports action shots and i have been amazed by the quality of the shots.
I would also like to mention here that this lens is not long enough for birding photos. I have been using this to take photos of birds and 90% of the time i feel its not long enough and if i try to approach the birds for a closer shot they invariably fly away seeing me approach or by the sound of the USM focussing. I would suggest to either get a 1.4x converter and 300mm prime lens or buy the 100-400 L IS for wildlife photography.

A nice piece of Optics. 2006-06-20

I have been using this lens for last 1 month and so far I have taken around 300 pictures and I am impressed with the performance and the quality. I tried to take a shot of moving roller costar and it came out very good, I can see the face of the guys sitting at the front row!!! Color and the sharpness is really impressive.

I also tried to take a shot of moon in the night but I am not sure whether the problem was with the setting or what but I saw 3 moons. I looked at the tripod, it was fixed and there was no problem.

Other then that It is one of the best piece of optics.

You get what you pay for! 2006-06-19

Let me start off by saying that I've owned the 70-300 IS DO lens that canon makes. It was a small and relatively light lens but it was soft and not quick enough to capture the action shots I was taking. Disappointed I sold it and have been settling for my 100-300mm lens (also soft).

Finally I decided to buy another 'long lens'. In the past, I've also owned the 200mm f/2.8 and the 300mm lens...neither had IS. The 300mm was way heavy so I was really hesitant to get another L-lens because of that....until I found the 70-200mm f/4. For the price you can't go wrong. I don't have lug around lots of lenses and this one is sharp throughout the enitre range.

Yes it is a little slow in low light and of course IS would be great. But to get those you pay a price--not only in dollars and cents but also in heft. The f/4 is quite comfortable to hold. I don't feel like my wrist is going to break while holding it to shoot. Plus it fits nicely in my little camera bag. Right now I want to 'go light' and only have 2 lenses-- the 28-135 IS and this one. I couldn't be happier!

You get what you pay for and this lens really is worth every penny!

Quality piece of equipment. 2006-06-18

This lens is a quality product. Others who have reviewed it and given 5 stars speak the truth. It would be nice to have the IS and the extra light of the f/2.8, but for the significant dollar difference, this lens is worth it. No complaints.

Canon "L" is for LOVE 2006-04-05

I've always heard great things about Canon L series lenses. Some say it means "luxury". I really think it means love. Once you touch and use a Canon "L" lense, there seriously is no turning back. The sharpness, colour, contrast is unparallel. It stacks up to my Carl Zeiss lense on my other camera. The only thing I could ask for is a lower price for the 70-200 F/2.8 L IS USM lense. I'll be looking to upgrade to a faster lense sometime in the near future.

Sharp Lens 2006-04-05

Re Lens - This is a great telephoto lens. This was my first L lens from canon. I took it out and took some test shots w/my digital rebel XT and found the images to be very sharp and had great color. Excellent lens for body portraits, environmental shots and action. I would highly recommend this lens.

Re Amazon - I ordered this item on 3/25/06 on a saturday. Amazon did not ship it until 3/29/06, It took more than 24 hours as advertised. But onced it shipped, I got it 2 days later(3/31/06). They could do better!!

Excellent Lens 2006-03-30

Sharp, lightweight, and excellent results.

I am very satisfied with this lens. Excellent for outdoor uses. Sure f2.8 and IS would be better, but at 2X and 3X cost plus the bulk make this one a winner.

Fantastic Lens 2006-03-06

I have always had some kind of 70-200 lens since I started taking pictures many years ago. Once I went digital, I realized that my old zoom lenses really were not that good. I bought this lens and compared it to what I had, and a friend's Canon 75-300mm. The difference is amazing. The 70-200L is tack sharp. The other lenses look as if they have problems or didn't focus correctly. This lens also focuses quite fast, and when I use it with my newly aquired Canon 1.4X extender, there is hardly any quality degradation. On my Rebel XT with the 1.6 factor and the extender, I end up having a 450mm tele which still delivers incredible photos. I wish I had the 2.8 version but can't afford it. If you're in this budget range, you can't go wrong with this lens.

Perfect for 20d/30d/rebel camera sensors 2006-02-28

this lens has the highest contrast of all the 70-200 lenses. it is also the smallest and lightest lens. best of all, it is very durable and fits in many smaller camera bags with a 50mm prime and a 17-40 zoom!

I love this lens!! 2006-02-25

This is one of the sharpest zooms you can buy for the money. And it has a constant aperture of f/4! Not as fast as the f/2.8 but it's half the price and half the weight!

More than expected... 2006-02-15

One thing that was a BIG surprise on this lens was finding in the box the travel pouch and the hood on the same box. The lens is sturdy and silent.

Excelent quality... the only bad part... Hard to use in low light conditions.

Hands-down best buy in the "L" class category! 2006-02-02

This was the first L-series lens that I ever bought. All I can say is "spectacular". At first I was looking at the 70-200 f/2.8 but the sheer weight and price turned me off. Additionally, I was told that I wouldn't be able to get good bokeh at f/4 -- not true as it turns out (look at the sample I've posted of a Buddha statue). I own a 24-70L f/2.8, and 50MM F/1.4 among others and this is probably the best buy for the money. Teamed up with a good teleconverter (like the Kenko Pro 1.4x or 2x) you also get a decent 280 or 400 lens. If you have a moderate (but limited) budget go for this lens and the other two that I listed -- they cover all the ranges and crank out world class pictures.

Good 2006-01-12

too good

9.5 out of 10 by users review site L quality 2005-12-17

If you would like a list of sites with reviews email me at the following e-mail. I have an autoresponder set up.
gumby (at) dontquotemeonthat (dot) com

The key wth this lens is the constant f/4 it keeps this maximum apature through the zoom range. I'm going with the 70-300 usm/IS when the funds avail themselves. that it's black and has IS is worth sharpness to me.

Pros: Fast focus, smaller size, excellent sharp, good price
Cons: Tripod collar sold separately

Pros: Not too heavy (although a batgrip would help to balance in the XT's case), super-fast autofocus, very sharp pictures.
Cons: The lens hood. White color.

if your a newbie here's some info

A lens is "fast" when it has a low f-stop... ok so when you have a smaller number the apature is bigger which allows more light through, so this means you can up the shutter speed. and still have enough light reach the sensor.

ok so lets say you have an out door shot if you have say an f/4 lens the shutter speed could be 1/250 of a second and you would get a good exposer. Now this lens can only go f/4

but if you in the same outdoor setting, had an f/2.8 lens you could jump to 1/500 of a second and get the same exposer. and freeze the action mmore effectivly, this i believe is why it's a "fast" lens.

ok have fun and get it done

Couldn't be happier with this lens! 2005-12-07

When I first bought my 20D, I was looking for a telephoto lens that would have both the range and aperture I was looking for. The first criteria was the focal length. Did I need a zoom up to 300mm or was 200mm going to be enough. The more I researched, the more I found that at the long end, 300mm zoom lenses tended to have some issues with sharpness. I felt that the 200mm focal length was fine for my needs. I also wanted a lens that had a fixed aperture and f/4 was perfectly fine. It's fast enough that I never really have to worry (although sometimes I do have to adjust the ISO up to compensate in really low-light settings. I looked at the 70-200 f/2.8 both IS and non-IS and they were just too expensive for the extra stop not to mention huge and heavy. My friends who shoot sports and other events swear by the 2.8 IS lens, but since I'm just getting started and am not a pro, I felt like it was overkill. I highly recommend this lens as a first telephoto lens. The L-glass for less than $600 is practically a steal. I have used this to shoot dance performances, outdoor weddings and plenty of amazing candid shots with this lens. The colors and sharpness are very impressive and my friends always comment on the pictures from it. I'm so glad I bought this lens.

Another good choice that wasn't around when I bought this lens was the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM which I have heard great things about (it replaced the 75-300 version). The IS would be a nice feature because your hands do get tired from holding a long and heavier telephoto lens. But the fixed f/4 is also tough to beat. Compare the two lenses and consider your needs for focal length and speed. You can see extensive profiles of both lenses at my site http://www.eosrebels.com/zoom. Everyone has different needs and the 70-200mm f/4L has met every one of mine!

Wow - L Glass Rocks. 2005-12-01

I bought the Canon f/4 70-200mm L lens to go with my 20D along with the Tamron f/2.8 28-75mm. I am still learning how to make my camera work to its potential and have taken great pics at a Japanese garden and at a Zoo. I took some good shots with both lenses but after setting the camera up differently I noticed a huge difference. The Canon lens just blew me away. The only thing I used photoshop for was to crop and resize. I didn't need to tweak the levels or sharpness very much and some pics, not at all. I have no complaints with the Tamron (especially for the price) but this Canon "L" glass is the quality I knew existed but didn't think I could afford. From now on, I will not hesitate to spend the x-tra money for the Canon L glass.
You cant go wrong buying this lens and from other reviews, it is very close in quality as the f/2.8 but half the price.

High-Quality, Light-Weight and Produces Outstanding Images 2005-11-29

What more can you ask for? Well, IS would be nice for those low-light 200mm hand-held shots. Otherwise, this lens is nearly perfect in build quality and most importantly, image quality. It is ultra sharp with eye-popping contrast and accurate colors wide open at f4.0 over the whole range from 70-200mm. Stopping down to 5.6 gives only a very slight improvement, just in contrast. I tested it against the new non-L Canon 70-300 IS lens and found the images of the f/4L to have noticibly higher sharpness and contrast at the same f-stops. It also the beat pants off the sharpness and contrast of the 3-times as heavy and 3-times as costly 70-200 f2.8 IS at the same f-stops (4 to 4, 5.6 to 5.6, etc) for all but 200mm, where the IS had virtually the same (but not better) image quality. It also works wonders using the 1.4X teleconverter, becoming a super-sharp 98-280mm f5.6 zoom with fast and accurate autofocus. This lens seems to get a very high percentage of rave reviews from owners and for a reason. You get the best quality images and build with the most portability (low weight) for the lowest cost. Yes, you can spend twice as much for the f2.8 non-IS version and haul 3-times the weight just to get one-stop. Or, you can spend 3-times as much and haul the 2.8 IS for a Gold's Gym workout to get low-light performance (but maybe lower image quality from my experience). There are many choices, but this lens seems to be a winner and a relative bargain for many reasons.

Great lens with fast and silent focus 2005-11-26

This one of the best telephoto lenses for the price.

A super zoom lens 2005-10-24

I have been very pleased with this lens. I am using it to take pictures of my son's football games. Other parents have been amazed at the clarity and closeness I can achieve using this lens. At f/4.0 I have had some difficulty taking night action shots. However,considering the price I paid for this "L" series lens, it has definitely been a great purchase.

as good as promised, better than I had hoped for 2005-10-19

I have been using my Canon EOS 10D for a couple years now and I was always bothered by the lack of crispness in the photos. In focus pictures were still kind of smoothed out if you display them as their actual size. I assumed it was the jpeg algorithms or something to do with the digital sensor, but never really knew for sure. The thing is, When you shrink an image down to fit on your display, it has the effect of sharpening the image, so you don't notice unless you display at full resolution.

Then I borrowed a friends Canon L lens and noticed a huge difference and then decided to get this one after reading the reviews on amazon (and other places). I wanted some good outdoor soccer/baseball pictures of my kids. I wasn't too concerned about the speed (F/4) because there's plenty of light outdoors.

Anyway, the shots are amazing. Yes, it focuses faster and yes, the pictures are sharp! And on the 10D it is really a 112 - 320mm zoom lens.

The lens is not as heavy as I feared.

I read a report some place which suggested there was a problem with this lens and the Canon 10D (but not 20D, or 5D) having to do with the focus on one side of the image but I have seen no evidence of this.

In summary, I am blown away, and - DARN IT - there's no going back to non-L lenses after this!

Best Lens I've Owned, Hand Down 2005-10-14

Most people know me has the guy who constantly changes lenses, so I have a lot of experience with different lenses.

I picked this lens up used after owning the infamously slow Canon EF 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 lens. Let me just say, this lens blows the 75-300 out of the water in terms of optical quality, build quality, colors, sharpness, speed, USM.

The 70-200 may seem like it is a big lens, but it is very easy to control, especially if the camera has a battery grip.

I currently use this lens on my Canon 300d Digital Rebel, and optically, it is stunning. I have shot football, wildlife, buildings, etc, and every shot has came out crisp.

Now for the pros and cons:

Pros: Optical quality, build quality, internal focusing, non-rotating front element, ability to manually focus in AF, sharpness, speed, solid + fluid USM, really cheap price for what it is, it's an attention getter, comes with a soft case and hood

Cons: Nothing at all besides it only being f/4, which isn't the best for low light situations.

I have used the Canon 70-200 2.8 and I must say that the f/4 is so much easier to use, so much more enjoyable, and I've even heard that it is sharper than the 2.8.

You can't go wrong with this lens!

Great medium long carry around telephoto 2005-10-03

I bought the 70-200mm Canon for my Canon 20D because I wanted a medium long telephoto that wouldn't break my back carrying it around or break the bank buying it.

The Canon pretty much fit the bill.

The 70-200 is fairly light for a medium long lens. You can carry it all day without sabotaging your arms or back.

Build quality is very good. It also has that sexy white look of Canon quality that impresses other photographers, unless they know enough to tell its the "baby" of the Canon long "L" telephotos.

Shooting wise, it is fairly sharp and fairly contrasty to the point that it's a somewhat suprisingly good lens, but not mindblowing (unlike a few Tamrons I've owned which are mindblowing for the price).

Autofocus is very fast.

Some day I plan to get a 1.4x or a 2x tele extender.

It would be nice if the lens were perhaps faster than F/4 but that's probably asking too much at the price.

All in all a very nice medium long, light telephoto that won't break the bank, giving suprisingly good (but not mindblowing) results.

And the build quality and that Canon white look are both a bonus.

- Terry

Amazing 2005-09-30

I love this lens. I made the error of initially buying the lower quality Canon lens (Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM ). This lens is simply amazing. It is fast to focus, quiet and smooth operating, comfortable to hold. The only thing that would make better is a lower price.

Can't beat the optics 2005-09-12

After struggling with cheaper lenses over the years, this is my first "L" series lens. The optics are superb, the speed is adequate and the AF is spot on. Very good value.

Outstanding Lens, Outstanding Value 2005-09-09

Having used the heavier, faster zooms in this category, I find the 70-200 F4L to be that "perfect" lens. Light enough to be carried anywhere, but still fast enough at F4 to be used for professional applications. The LD glass is tack sharp and the autofoucus is instant. Do yourself a favor and buy this lens, you will not regret it! Simply outstanding!!

Great lens for the money ! 2005-09-08

Yes it will hook to the "L" lens. I have had no problem shooting in low light, just crank up the iso on my rebel 350d
this along with my 17-40L are a great combination, I bought a rubber lens hood from adorama as the canon hood is huge and makes it a bit obtrusive, anyway you will not regret getting this lens amd with the canon 1.4 lens converter you have over 400 mm lens on a digital 1.6 crop camera if you need it.

Super Canon Telephoto Lens 2005-09-06

Could not be happier with this lens. Great all around lens that provides the versatility I was hoping for. If you are ready to expand your camera capability this is a super lens to have.

Unbelievable! 2005-08-30

This lens far exceeds my expectations. Thought I would need a longer zoom, but was advised by a photographer friend to purchase this one. He was right. No regrets. Well worth the money.

Glenn
Tonawanda, NY

Nice! 2005-08-02

Very fast and sharp lens. Be sure to use the hood as othewise you seem to get annoying reflections in pictures.