With the new year, Canon has released a new professional “L” zoom lens, the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM. This is a very popular lens among sports, journalist, and wedding photographers for many reasons. I currently own the Version I of this lens and love it. Nikon released their Version II follow-up to their 70-200mm with a few new improvements including a 4-stop VR and better optics. The reviews I’ve seen have been very positive.
So what is Canon offering in their latest 70-200mm? Here’s a simple comparison chart:
| SLR Lens | Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM | Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year Introduced | October 20, 2009 | September 2001 | Mark II |
| Cost | $1,849 | TBD | - |
| Image Stabilization | Yes, 4 stops (3th generation) | Yes, 3 stops (2nd generation) | Mark II |
| Weight | 1,490g (3.3lbs) | 1,470g (3.2lbs) | - |
| Max Diameter | 89mm (3.5in) | 86mm (3.4in) | - |
| Length | 197mm (7.8in) | 197mm (7.8 | - |
| Groups/Elements | 19/23, 1 fluorite and 5 UD elements | 18/23, 5 UD elements | Mark II |
| Minimum Focusing Distance | 1.2m (3.9ft) | 1.4m (4.6ft) | Mark II |
| Filter | 77mm | 77mm | - |
Clearly Canon has made some very nice changes such as an extra-IS stop (4 vs. 3), the addition of the fluorite element will make this lens as sharp as its little brother the f/4-version, and the minimum focusing distance has been reduced by 8 inches. I’m a bit shocked as I was expecting Canon to incorporate their new Hybrid IS system or at least the 4-generation IS system that is used on the Canon EF 200mm f/2L IS USM lens (5-stop IS!).
I see a lot of nice features, but nothing ground breaking enough that I would upgrade to. If you are in the market for a professional 70-200mm, I would definitely recommend holding out until April and getting the Mark II version. Otherwise, the Mark I version should drop some in price and become a great alternative.
You can also read Canon’s press release here.
to just name a few.
and 
(got my personal copy signed by him), when I saw he would be teaching an all day workshop on lighting (