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    End of the 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM?

    By 41 Comments1 Min Read

    What the?
    The word is out. Canon, after seeing a downturn in global sales of its venerable 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM, is soon to discontinue its production.

    This is a lens that has prompted many an owner to affirm their allegiance to their precious 70-200s, despite their loved ones packing their things and vanishing in a trail of dust. After all, dust won’t stick to a Canon 70-200 L IS USM.

    Read more here: Cameras Direct

    This story is one of three things.

    1) Some kind of satirical joke? (not very funny at the comedic level)

    2) They know something that is true!

    3) A great way to get some traffic to their site. (Gullible sites like ours will link to this story, ahhh drats.)

    I’m not sure what it is, but you can all decide.

    Thanks for the tip Rodrigo

    cr

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    41 Comments

    1. Ryox on

      No way, Its a recent lens, there are many others that need an upgrade first.

      I dont think this is true. I know its big and heavy bot now is not the time to upgrade this lens.

    2. Gene on

      The headline (and the body too, for that matter) is completely misleading. All they’re *really* predicting is that it will be replaced by a MkII. Which really wouldn’t be a shocker (the lens probably has such penetration among professionals, giving them a reason to replace it with an upgrade would likely work out very well for Canon.)

      As for what they could do with it, that’s not so hard: latest IS, and maybe that schmancy nano-coating that Canon was trumpeting recently (on their new 24, I think it was?)

    4. KANOON on

      That’s a fake, everyone is happy with that lens and all around the world it rocks as a zoom…Please Canon look on the 24-70 2.8 IS direction…

    5. wtlloyd on

      Absolute nonsense. This is a rock-solid staple of the pro photographer’s. It is superior to Nikon’s version. It is so good, I sold my 135mm f/2.0 with no regrets.

      An upgrade? Yes, because it is such a workhorse they will recoup the expense in short order.

      Delete it from the lineup? Never happen. Don’t tell me about clean high ISO and Gaussian Blur making f/2.8 lenses irrelevant.

    6. Please on

      The only way this lens goes away is if it is replaced by a Mark II that is better. Anyone who suggests otherwise is a complete idiot.

    7. Dave E on

      HAH! fat chance. There are photographers who would gladly marry this lens if it were socially acceptable.

    8. ms on

      yea….they could finally get the optics to at least match the non-IS version… not that its a crappy lens but it could be better…. perhaps a 2.8 IS with 4-5 stop IS, nanocoatings and an optical performance on par with the 70-200/4 IS…. of course the lens will then easily top 2K…

    9. ms on

      I agree…. even though I can see them upgrading this lens, I also hope that they direct their attention to lenses that are in much greater need of an upgrade (or some new lenses, like a 24-70/2.8IS or 24-105/2.8 IS and of course a tele in the 500-600mm F5.6 range)

    12. Anonymous on

      I don’t buy it being discontinued until a mark II exists. If they make the next like the current one, but with the improvements noticed in the f/4 IS version, that lens will be unstoppable. I think what they mean to say is “they’re working on a mark II prototype,” Which would make sense, Nikon’s latest lenses (14-24/2.8 and 24-70/2.8) have been stellar, and Canon is feeling the burn from that. The Nikon 70-200 is really due for on overhaul, and Canon is trying not to be far behind. That would make sense to me. Especially because Canon is renowned for their Telephoto optics, they’re not willing to let this one slip between their fingers for the upcoming generation of cameras.

    13. Ed on

      Reading the entire article, it says a Mark II is coming, the headline is misleading.

      I’ve had two IS models and one non-IS. The lens without IS was a little sharper. I believe that they can improve the lens, but at what price??

      I much prefer my 70-200 f4L IS version for sharpness and contrast, but use the big one for marginal light situations.

    14. Michal on

      No way they would completely discontinue it, it’s too good a lens. A new version (Mark II) is quite possible, there is not much they could really improve but it would be a nice touch if they made it in 2 different color schemes – the original ostentatious one and something in classy black.

    16. jigglypoo on

      not likely to be true. everyone photojournalist who shoots canon has this in their bag.

      if canon likes shooting itself in the foot/head, it will discontinue this lens.

    22. Vic on

      camera direct is not the place to get any news (let alone any rumours)

      they are not even affiliated with canon australia (they are a grey market seller / parallel importer).

      definitely a april fool hoax!

    26. Zac on

      sharper and better contrast, yes, but it will not wiegh less than 1 kilogram, since that is less than 2/3 what this lens currently weighs.

    29. Matt on

      CR6?

      How are you so sure?

      Granted it needs an IS update but it is still such a good seller for Canon.

    32. Brivard on

      I doubt this rumor very much. I personally know 4 guys who have purchased this lens in 2009 alone. Sort of implying that it isn’t losing it’s selling ability…
      And I don’t personally know many people who shoot canon.

    37. Peter on

      I wont take that beat as I am sure there is a version II coming also. I give it 2 months but at a higher price tag – DUHHH of course – but will the improvements be worth the extra money … ???

    39. H Barnwell on

      I attended a Camera & Video show out @ National Camera Exchange (in Golden Valley, MN) and the Canon Rep stated that its highly likely the Mark II version will be coming out shortly with the 4th Generation IS…he also stated to keep on Canon Europe because they will break the news first!

    40. JC Meza on

      I ordered my 70-200 f2.8 IS thru Dell Inc back in the middle of July (2009) and still haven’t recieved my lens. Just got a new ETD of Sept. 10, 2009. After countless hours with customer service and management they finally spoke with their Canon sales rep and they mentioned the slow manufacturing of this lens as well as the possibility of EOL for this particular lens. Could this be because they’re manufacturing the new version. hmm…. I hope I do recieve it still tho. I got it for an incredible price.

    41. Roel Engelen on

      Well, I plan to buy a 70-200 F2.8L IS USM next year, and it did not drop a single cent in worth.
      So whatever the rumors say, i’m gonna buy one.
      Or is there a proof that a Mark II is underway?

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