The Canon EF 200mm f/2L IS USM Lens is the highly-anticipated replacement for the long-discontinued but legendary Canon EF 200mm f/1.8 L USM Lens . This replacement lens was number 1 on my personal most-wanted Canon lens list - And I am in no way disappointed with it.

A professional-grade telephoto lens, which sports a fast maximum aperture of f/2, image stabilisation and silent focusing with full-time manual focus override. This is quite a specialised lens, costing around £4600, so we'll take a close look at how it performs in this review.

The 200mm Æ’/2L IS USM is definitely a lens designed for the ''where price is no object'' crowd. Tack-sharp, with no visible chromatic aberration or distortion, the only issue (if it is indeed an issue) would be some corner shading when shot wide-open on a full-frame body.

This flagship lens from Canon serves to demonstrate what they are capable of producing when price is no object. The price will certainly put this lens beyond the reach of many, but those who absolutely need f/2 at 200mm will still find the performance on offer may justify the price.

• +

  Superb sharpness from maximum aperture, Virtually no CA, Virtually no distortion, Fast f/2 maximum aperture, Excellent build quality, Effective image stabiliser

• -

  Price puts this lens beyond the reach of many

It is really difficult to write something truly revealing in the summary of such instruments. If you need this type of lens and you can afford it the Canon 2/200 won’t disappoint you for sure.

• +

  very high build quality,, excellent image quality in the frame centre,, very good image quality on the edge of the frame,, practically zero lateral chromatic aberration,, good correction of spherical aberration,, negligible distortion,, brilliantly corrected coma,, not very bothersome astigmatism,,...

• -

  work against bright light should have been better,, steep price.

If you watched any broadcasts of the Beijing Olympics you probably saw photographers with Canon's large, ultra-fast telephoto prime lenses, which are purpose-designed to provide pin-sharp images in low light levels.

I've been dreaming of this lens for years.Now that I've had some time to really use it - I am confident in saying that this is the best portrait lens, period. That's right... I'm looking at you 85 1.2!!

After my Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 broke, I was in the market for a replacement. While considering options, I thought to myself that most of the time I was pushing my 70-200 all the way to 200 (and wishing I had more).

• +

  Excellent color and image. 200mm without being too big. Excellent color and image! Not white.

• -

  It doesn't make coffee.

I bought mine via Canon Price Watch brand new. All I can say is that this lens is heavy but you will disregard this once you will see images you take on whatever camera you put this on. This make me sell my 70-200mm F4 and 90mm prime/macro. This is now 99% my primary lens.

One of the greatest lens I've ever used. I had the f/1,8 FD version, which was already stunning, but this new model is even better, especially wide open. And the stabilizer is a great addition. To improve this lens, I can only think about a shorter minimum focusing distance.

• +

  Fast auto-focus, Superior build quality, Super-sharp images, bokeh, sharpness wide open, color rendition

• -

  heavy, bulky

After owning this lens for two years, I finally decide to review it, after I sold it not long ago. I bought the lens brand new two years ago. Every praise you read from the previous reviewers is true, period. I am not going to repeat those words here. However, this is not the lens for everybody.

• +

  Fantastic lens!

• -

  Weight & size & price

This lens is extremely sharp! And I am not easily impressed as I already got Canon’s 300 mm f2.8 IS L as well as Canon’s 500 mm F4 IS L and 9 other L-lenses. Expensive, yes, but the overall image quality (both on my 1ds MarkII & III) is simply stunning. Portraits, animals, sport, flowers, etc.

This lens is utterly remarkable thanks to the combination of brilliantly crisp focus on the subject, a flattering level of compression, and a gorgeous fall off of focus into buttery soft bokeh (a credit to it's quality construction and 2.0 maximum aperture).

Very sharp. I guess if you are buying this lens you already know it's heavy. It's not so bad with the lens hood off. The lens almost doubles in size and becomes very conspicuous with the hood on. The hard case is nice if you plan to do a lot of air travel..

Beautiful lens! It arrives in a mini suitcase lol

What can I say, this is the lens of lenses, Pricey, but you get what you pay for...