Canon EF 200mm f2.8 L II Review - The hidden Portraits Lens that's better than the 70-200mm f2.8 L ?
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- Опубліковано 2 жов 2024
- I shoot with Canon cameras now for seven years and there are some lenses that I always wanted to test. I have a list of gear and whenever I see a good deal for some of these cameras and lenses I got for it - So I did with the Canon EF 200mm f2.8 L II telephoto prime lens. This lens is not that much reviewed on UA-cam especially for portaiture so I am delighted to share my experience with you here.
I took all images with the Canon EOS 6D II and the Canon EF200mm f2.8 L II shot wide open at f2.8.
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A truly beautiful lens!
I've sold my Canon cameras to swich in M4/3 with an Olympus EM1-MK2: size, weight, discretion and fantastic stabilisation were the goal...
But I've kept some of my lenses like 50:1.8, 100:2, 135:2, 200:2.8 and 1.4x TC adapted with a 0.71x speedbooster (with 1IL gain)or an simple electronic adapter. These lenses are so specials and give wonderful results! AF is slow with adapters but it's not for professional use, so I don't care as pleasure and emotion are here.
Excellent video, thanks !
PS: the 1st version of the 200:2.8 was exactly the same size than the 135 😉
finally!! been looking for a great review! thank you so much!!
I agree. I will walk out into the woods with only this lens sometimes. Many people may not think of this as a "landscape" lens, but I find that when I am using a prime with a different focal length, that I push myself to be more creative, and produce more unique images than if I carry a zoom lens.
The very best image producer is the zeiss apo sonnar (or milvus) 135mm f2 (I used one for a day), but it's manual focus and the canon lenses are quite close. I have the 200mm L f2.8 and it's perfect at f4. Aren't we lucky!! :)
It's an awesome piece of lens. I have the first version, the EF 200mm f/2.8L USM. Old solid built like a tank, that produces images like one of the most sharp L lenses Canon ever made.
If anyone wants the best portrait lens which is super sharp and gives the best bokeh I've seen in a long time purchase the sigma 105/1.4 u will thank me later. It's heavy and big but man oh man them shots u get from it are just out of this world.
@@Justmakesomenoiz good point :) I'll test it :)
Excellent vid. I got this lens off eBay last year for 200 bucks. I only shoot with Canon primes. It's a fantastic lens. I love it. It's a real gem. And a total steal of a price on ebay!
That price is really really great! You'll have a great time with it, I am looking forward to the wedding season, let's see if we get to use it there :)
@ awesome! You should post a video when you use it for wedding season.
I’ve use this lens for about 6 month and let me tell u. It’s sharp and excellent for portrait. I was about to buy the RF 70-200 F4 but I found this in a local store and men. I got amazed by how good this lens is. (I have a Eos R) I can’t recommend this lens enough, so sad canon it’s trying to hide this awesome lenses. If you find one just get it.
Well said my friend :)
I once rented 70-200 2.8 II and found myself using it mostly at 200mm and sicne I already own 85mm 1.8 and 100mm 2.8 macro, I went with 200 2.8 L II. I love this lens although IS would be nice to have.
Off topic, these self portaits are so well shot
Thank you Tariq!
it is really a great lens,.
Back in the day of film, I used a Nikkor 200mm f4 and loved the results I was getting. Portrait and auto racing were the usual uses. Very sharp for it's time. Now, I'm building a list of Canon EF L prime lenses. This 200 f2.8 is next to buy. I like these primes because I still use my Canon film cameras.
It is a sharp lens even today. Those Nikkor AIS lenses were superb, the 85 F2 and 105 F2.5 are classics.
Hi how is the autofocus and sharpness of this lens? i have the 135 f2 and it's amazing. I'm a bokeh lover and i was planning to buy the 70 200 2.8 ii but mostly for using it at 200 2.8. i'm looking for the best value for bokeh sharpness with a reasonable price
I also have the 85 f1.2 Ans the 135 L is the best of them all. 200 also has great bokeh and compression but the 135 L is the sweetspot :)
The 200 L II is a cheap option with great bokeh AF and sharpness. From the 200, the 85 L II and 135 L the 135 shines the most. That's the one lens where every image gives you a smile :)
Thank you very much for making this in-depth review of this lens. I'm going to order one to use with my R7 and with the 1.4x teleconverter sometimes and even adapted to my Sony A7iv. Small and light, sharp with soft backgrounds. Exactly what I'm wanting. Best of luck to you and happy shooting!
Currently using a 5d classic, I have a 20 f2.8 and a 50 1.8. I've been considering an 85 1.8 for a while as well as the 135 f2. However, 70-200 II's have started dropping in price around here so my options are now a combo of two between the 85, 135 and 200, or the 70-200 on its own for the same price. The issue I have with getting only the 70-200 is the 5d needs as much light as possible, so f1.8 and f2.0 felt like a sensible choice. I do like the idea of versatility with the 70-200 though. What do you think?
I love the 5D I, I still have it and still use it. The 20mm f2.8 is amazing, I use it very often from real estate to pictures for agencies and for portraits as well. 50mm f1.8 is phenomenal and I also still use it even though I have the 50L. The 135 L gives the most special images, even more special than the 85mm f1.2 L II, if you want amazing images all the time the 135mm L f2.0 will give you exactly that. The 85mm f1.8 for me was dissappointing when I bought it and it was the only lens I traded in ery shortly afterwards. Get the 135mm L, very cheap on the used market. You'll find Reviews like this one (200mm L II) to all the lenses I just mentioned and many more. Take a look and see for yourself :)
@Appreciate the reponse, thanks! I somehow feel like the flexibility of a 70-200 would help, but I like how the 135 gives me an extra stop of light, which the 5D can certainly use. Surprised about your opinion on the 85! I really enjoy your videos and all the information you provide in them, your reviews are my favorite!
So if I understood correctly, you'd go 135 f2 and skip the 70-200, even though I'm using such an old camera (5d classic) and the 135 isn't stabilized and the 70-200 is? Danke!
what lense do you recomend fpr Canon 6D? i only have the 50mm 1.8 - what do you think about 24-70 2.8?
I love shooting prime lenses. I have a Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 IS and the 50mm f1.8 is better in every way in my experience. The50mm f1.8 is one of the best lenses that will give you incredible opportunities. I have three of them and the 50mm f1.2 L but I still love to use the f1.8 version. I would get three different lenses - a wide angle, like a 20mm f2.8 or 24mm f1.4, a standard lens which is the 50 and a tele photo lens, a 100mm or 135mm f2.0. Then you have everything you could ever need. I would not got for 35mm, as 35mm and 50mm are very close together.
EF200mm F2.8 prime does not have IS fucntion. although prime lenses are better optical performance I wont choose lenses without IS.
This lens and the 135 F2 are real Gems. Lack of VR is a possible issue, but we can always work around that.
135 L is one of the greatest of all time - a classic.
200mm is too long for true portraits head and shoulder. To much working distance for that purpose. But this particular lens is a great lens. But night games , landscapes , willife or candid street photography...very sharp and built too last.
I have it often outdoors like on weddings or Events to capture emotions from the distance- works great!
Erfahrungsgemäß entstehen die besten Portraits, wenn die verbale und auch die nonverbale Kommunikation zwischen Fotograf und Menschen, die portraitiert werden sollen, stimmt! Das geht bei 35 mm los, bei 50 und auch 85 mm je nach Ort auch - spätestens bei 100 mm ist dann aber Schluss! Meine Meinung und Erfahrung jedenfalls. 200 mm eignen sich meines Erachtens nur, wenn man auf einem Fest zwischendurch auch mal Einzelpersonen „rauspicken“ möchte - meist von den Portraitierten unbemerkt und keinesfalls irgendwie geposed!
Great video. Thanks for sharing. Is this the best lens for self portraits with no distortion?
Greetings from California, USA!
I picked up my copy a few years ago and haven't shot with it since until lately where I've paired it with a Sony a7III. It works great.
The compression of the background is just phenomenal and your self portraits are excellent examples of it! Thank you for your review on this lens.
Thank you very much! Take a look at my channel, you will find many reviews like this, also one done with the Sony a7III, a really great camera!
@ I'll definitely do that!
Great point about character! 😉💕
when shooting full length portrits wide open, which has dreamier background 200mm f2.8 or 135mm f2?
I love the 135 L, it's one of the most amazing lenses I have ever tried. The 200mm is also great but for full body portrait you really need to be far away. I'd go with the 135 L for better everyday use
This 200 f2.8 or 135 f2 for you?
This video is all about the 200 f2.8, but the 135mm f2.0 is a lens I use for 6 years and it is one of the best "people" lenses I have ever used.
@ yeah! That’s why I’m asking you hahah! If you only could buy one, which one oh those? 135 or 200?
@@Francisfphoto_ 135mm f2.0
great video! love your editing style!
thanks for the review! really helpful
I've a question. All of those shots are in the woods. Do you have any sample portraits of shots captured at f2.8 somewhere among buildings... in the city? That would be helpful to see. Thanks anyways
Alternativ - Canon Extender 1,4 mit dem 135er verwenden - man bekommt ein 189er-Linse mit einer Anfangsblende von 2.8. Und das Ergebnis ist gigantisch. So nutze ich es, spart Geld und Platz in der Fototasche. Und bietet extreme Flexibilität.
Guter Punkt. Ich hatte ehrlich gesagt dasselbe vor, doch die Extender waren dann preislich so hoch, dass ich mir gleich das 200er gekauft habe :)
Ich habe für den 1.4 Extender II für 130 Euro in eBay Kleinanzeigen erworben. Das ist nochmal locker mindestens 300 Euro unter einem gebrauchten 200er 😉
@@peter-frank Das ist ein guter Preis. Die IIer und IIIer die ich gesehen hatte, waren da noch etwas teurer. Ich wollte aber das 200er schon seit gut zwei Jahren ausprobieren, also vielleicht liegt's aus daran, dass ich doch keinen Extender genommen habe.
ich hatte es mal, leider verkauft ,aber kann man sich ja leicht wieder holen, laut ebay für 350 - 550 und man könnte es jederzeit wieder kaufen oder verkaufen und durch die neuen Canon Spiegellosen auch stabilisiert (?)
Tolle Fotos. Das 200 2.8 macht halt einen "Dreamy" Look und spannt hinter der Person einen schönen Hintergrund auf.
I use a Sony a7rii but do have some adapted Canon lenses that I use. Love the Canon 135mm f2. Also have the 50mm 1.8 and an old L lens, the 20-35mm f2.8 L lens. For an old lens, it's a lot of fun to play with. For an old lens it has a great image. Also use the Tamron 20mm 2.8, Tamron 35mm 2.8, Sony 85mm 1.8 and the Tamron 28-200mm. I have the poor man's bundle of lenses but they work great for me. Love your videos over here in California!
Thank you Martin! I used the Canon 85mm f1.2 and 24mm f1.4 on the Sony a7III with the Sigma adapter and they worked great wide open with AF always on point. There are some great Canon lenses like the 135 L, 85 L and 50 L which are worth a look and cheap to find on the used market, as they are all years/decades on the market.
@ Even though I am an old 71 year old man in California on a fixed income, I'm still able to adapt my Canon 135mm on my Sony a7rii and love it. You are one of my favorite UA-camrs! I even watch your German videos, even though I don't know what is being said, but I can sort of figure some of it out. God bless!
Great review
I have the 135 f/2 I find it very hard to focus at low light conditions and also at daytime more than 50% of the photos miss the focus on the eyes.
From your experience would you say the 200 f/2.8 focuses faster and more accurate?
I find the 135 L to be one of the best focusing lenses actually. Comparing it to the 85 L II, the 85 L II is a Diva giving you a really hard time, it's heavy, slow and hard to focus. The 135 L is relatively light, small and hyper fast to focus. What camera do you use? Choose the center focus point (and only use that when your camera does not have face detection), it will work great. Any other focus point is less capable in most cases.
@
I’m using 5ds
@@kesselbrenner Sell it, buy a Mirrorless Canon camera with the EF-R adapter . The RP, R ir R8 🎉
Hallo Freund, ich bin dein Fan und ich mag die Videos, die du auf UA-cam teilst, sehr. Ich finde sie sehr interessant und hilfreich. Durch Ihr Teilen weiß ich, dass Sie ein Fotografie-Enthusiast sind oder häufig die Kamera verwenden, um Ihr Leben aufzuzeichnen. Wir möchten mit Ihnen zusammenarbeiten
Das ist eine tolle Idee - Sie können mir gerne mehr Einzelheiten schreiben an service@dirkson-photography.com
Schade das der Sound linkslastig ist. Sehr unschön mit Kopfhörern - "nur im ersten Teil des Videos"
Danke für Dein Feedback, ich schaue dass ich es nächstes Mal besser mache :)
Great review (AND shots!), very informative. Thank you!
Great video
Thank you Johnny!
Warum in englisch?
Ich mache jedes Review und Rede-Video in Deutsch und Englisch, da viele Shootings auf dem Kanal auch außerhalb Deutschlands stattgefunden haben. Die Deutsche Variante kommt sicherlich auch bald :)