It was time to move up from my 70-200 F4L and the older f2.8 version's were not an option due to their week performance at f2.8 so I bit the bullet. So far this lens almost stays permanently on my 5D MKII and it has earned it's money back several times over.

Very very sharp; Too sharp actually at times; weather sealing; nice new locking hood design; Improved IS over older versions; can really hand hold to 3 real stops under; 3D like rendering of subjects in circle of confusion ( Almost Pentax limited lens like; great colour rendering and contrast,...

PRICE; I don't know of Pentax patented it but a hood window to adjust polarizing filters or similar would be nice; Strange bokeh; it's a bit harsh with back ground high lights and can make some hard yet still round halos.

The latest incarnation of Canon's 70-200mm f/2.8 lens sports fast silent ultrasonic focusing, weather sealed construction and a four stop image stabiliser and costs around ￡1800.

Revamped version of a pro classic - is this Canon's best zoom lens?

Fantastic peak resolution

Expensive

This is a really lovely lens to use. It has perfect balance when mounted on a Canon EOS 5D Mk II, its removable tripod-mounting collar falling neatly into the user's left palm. The rubber-grip zoom ring is perfectly placed and offers just the right amount of resistance.

Fantastic peak resolution

Expensive

Bought this lens a few days ago to replace my 70-200 F4L. It's big, heavy and expensive. But it's also the best zoom lens Canon has ever produced. I'm completely happy. It's just as sharp as any prime I have.

A favourite of the pros, this lens has just been updated. Can it match up to its hefty price tag though? Of all the pro lenses, the 70-200mm f/2.8 is probably one of the most popular. It's range of telephoto focal lengths make it perfect for reportage style portraits and many sports.

If you want to be a pro photographer, there are a number of must-have lenses. Exactly which you need depends on what you shoot, but of all the pro lenses the 70-200mm f/2.8 is probably the most popular.

If you want to be a pro photographer, there are a number of must-have lenses. Exactly which you need depends on what you shoot, but of all the pro lenses the 70-200mm f/2.8 is probably the most popular.

The Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS II USM comes as a welcome update for Canon's professional fast telephoto zoom. While we liked the old version when we reviewed it two years ago, the rapid increase in pixel count on the latest generations of cameras (coupled, it must be said, with Canon's insistence...

Exceptional image quality; Superb build quality; including dust- and water-sealing; Highly effective image stabilization; Excellent autofocus and manual override

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

Canon's update to its professional fast telezoom may look much the same on the outside, but internally it's been updated to give image quality that's quite simply the best in its class. Effective autofocus and image stabilization systems, plus full weather sealing, round off a compelling package.

Professionals and advanced amateurs demanding the very finest image quality from a telephoto zoom;

Applications for which portability or discretion is more valuable than outright image quality;