The Great 200mm Shootout

[Canon Rumors]

Roger and Aaron at LensRentals.com decided it was time to test all the 200mm options for Canon and Nikon to find out which ones are the best.</p>
<p>It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the more you spend on a 200mm lens, the better it gets. Especially in the case of the <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/542292-REG/Canon_2297B002_Telephoto_EF_200mm_f_2L.html/bi/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank">EF 200mm f/2L IS</a> and <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/680103-USA/Canon_2751B002_EF_70_200mm_f_2_8L_IS.html/bi/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank">EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS II</a>.</p>
<blockquote><p>My opinion, though, is that the extra cost involved in getting the brand-name zoom lens in this category is probably worth it if you can possibly manage it. The Canon and Nikon f2.8 stabilized zooms are amazing optics. The f/2.0 primes, while wonderful lenses and even better optically than the zooms, are priced like the specialty items they are. The third-party lenses and Canon Non IS are cheaper, and probably good enough for many uses. But don’t kid yourself; they aren’t as good.</p></blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2015/03/just-the-lenses-the-great-200mm-shoot-out" target="_blank">Head to LensRentals.com for the shootout</a></p>

 

[Maximilian]

And once again great work from Roger and Aaron.
Thank you, guys, for delivering us so much great researches.

 

[$winter]

I've since years a 200/2.0 yes it's heavy, it'huge but it's worth . The picture look is unique

 

[Denisb]

I will like to see the f1.8 200mm lens in this shootout!

It's like a uncomplete review without this lens.

 

[AcutancePhotography]

"The third-party lenses and Canon Non IS are cheaper, and probably good enough for many uses. But don’t kid yourself; they aren’t as good."

But that is the key. They may be good enough. There is always a balance between cost and quality. Few photographers are in the position to afford the "best" how ever that is defined.

 

[IglooEater]

I wonder if lensrentals would consider setting up donation-based testing.. I'd take their tests any day of the week over dxomark.. If 1000 people gave like, 5 bucks, that should pay for the optical bench for a day or so?

 

[Random Orbits]

"The third-party lenses and Canon Non IS are cheaper, and probably good enough for many uses. But don’t kid yourself; they aren’t as good."

But that is the key. They may be good enough. There is always a balance between cost and quality. Few photographers are in the position to afford the "best" how ever that is defined.

True, but it's more often that I read/hear that the offbrand is just as good as the first party brand but x% cheaper. People tend to think more highly of what they have relative to the other options. It is one of the reasons why I like TDP and Lensrentals. Lensrentals has the volume to get representative data, and TDP has evaluated so many lenses that I appreciate his recommendations and comparisons that much more.

 

[Dylan777]

200mm f2 IS and 85L II have special "unique" look. Can't explain it, you just have to shoot with it to know why

Here is 200mm f2 IS @ f2:

 

[johnhenry]

What about some other 200mm glass?

The Zeiss 200mm f2.0 APO or the Canon 200mm f/1.8 USM