Let me start off by saying I ended up returning this lens and buying the 100mm f2.8L IS USM Macro instead. But that's not to say I didn't like this lens. Trust me, I did. In fact, I loved it. I thought the 200mm focal length was totally usable and not a problem by any means. If you can't frame up your shot like you want it, then you really don't know how to shoot. People complain that the 200mm length is problematic. Well, it's not zoom lens, that for sure, but come on, it's not hard to use your feet to set up your shot. I shoot with a Canon 5D3 so I have the luxury of using a full-frame sensor. So having true 200mm optics is probably easier to use than a crop-sensor body that yields 320mm. But again, use your feet to crop, people.

The build of this lens is second to none. I was amazed at how solid it felt and how strong it was. It has great balance and looks killer on a DSLR. It's narrow at the base and widens as it goes out. A very cool, unique look for sure. The magnesium alloy used to build this lens is just rock solid. A really nice feel when you attach to your body. It click with a solid feel that transfers ZERO vibration. It's probably like closing the door of a Rolls Royce Phantom.

The image quality is just amazing. The focus is fast! This prime lens has such superior optics. Wide open at f2.8, it produces a beautiful bokeh that makes your shots look as professional as the come. Truly remarkable. If you close it down a bit and shoot between f5.6 and f8, you'll get shots that are so tack sharp, you'll be blown away. I mainly shot with it at f2.8 as I was going for soft backgrounds and buttery smooth bokeh. It has slight vignetting at f2.8, but that, in my opinion, makes it look even better. No complaints at all regarding image quality. Isn't that what photography is all about????

That leads me to the few complaints I did have - the reason why I returned it. I felt that for what I needed, the 100mm Macro with IS was a better fit. Less range with the 100mm, but I still got an L lens with f2.8 maximum aperture, but I gained the IS feature. I know IS add a premium to lenses, but at the same time, there are now some cheap lenses that have IS, so how much can it really cost? The 200mm prime needs IS. It's that simple. Outside, shutter speeds were fine, but go inside and it's a bit slower. Well, a lot slower for that matter. IS would help tremendously. Also, I do shoot macro photography, so the 100mm allowed for that as well.

Oh yeah, the hood that comes with this 200mm lens is as bad as they come. It hardly snaps on properly and when it does, I felt like I wasn't sure it it was attached right. The hood with the 100mm is perfect, refined, and fits right every time. It's amazing they're from the same maker. Canon, you need to fix the hood that comes with the 200mm prime!

But if you're looking for a great, fast, tank-like built lens that takes exceptional photographs - all for a great price.... This Canon 200mm f2.8L USM prime is the one for you. It's awesome in so many ways. I'll post some of the pics I shot  once this review goes up. If you're considering it, don't need IS and are planning to shoot outside mostly, this is by far the best priced lens you can get that has all of these features. And again, it looks killer!!! People with turn their heads and those who know the red ring will ask.
Let me start off by saying I ended up returning this lens and buying the 100mm f2. 8L IS USM Macro instead. But that's not to say I didn't like this lens. Trust me, I did. In fact, I loved it. I thought the 200mm focal length was totally usable and not a problem by any means. If you can't frame up your shot like you want it, then you really don't know how to shoot. People complain that the 200mm length is problematic. Well, it's not zoom lens, that for sure, but come on, it's not hard to use your feet to set up your shot. I shoot with a Canon 5D3 so I have the luxury of using a full-frame sensor. So having true 200mm optics is probably easier to use than a crop-sensor body that yields 320mm. But again, use your feet to crop, people. The build of this lens is second to none. I was amazed at how solid it felt and how strong it was. It has great balance and looks killer on a DSLR. It's narrow at the base and widens as it goes out. A very cool, unique look for sure. The magnesium alloy used to build this lens is just rock solid. A really nice feel when you attach to your body. It click with a solid feel that transfers ZERO vibration. It's probably like closing the door of a Rolls Royce Phantom. The image quality is just amazing. The focus is fast! This prime lens has such superior optics. Wide open at f2. 8, it produces a beautiful bokeh that makes your shots look as professional as the come. Truly remarkable. If you close it down a bit and shoot between f5. 6 and f8, you'll get shots that are so tack sharp, you'll be blown away. I mainly shot with it at f2. 8 as I was going for soft backgrounds and buttery smooth bokeh. It has slight vignetting at f2. 8, but that, in my opinion, makes it look even better. No complaints at all regarding image quality. Isn't that what photography is all about???? That leads me to the few complaints I did have - the reason why I returned it. I felt that for what I needed, the 100mm Macro with IS was a better fit. Less range with the 100mm, but I still got an L lens with f2. 8 maximum aperture, but I gained the IS feature. I know IS add a premium to lenses, but at the same time, there are now some cheap lenses that have IS, so how much can it really cost? The 200mm prime needs IS. It's that simple. Outside, shutter speeds were fine, but go inside and it's a bit slower. Well, a lot slower for that matter. IS would help tremendously. Also, I do shoot macro photography, so the 100mm allowed for that as well. Oh yeah, the hood that comes with this 200mm lens is as bad as they come. It hardly snaps on properly and when it does, I felt like I wasn't sure it it was attached right. The hood with the 100mm is perfect, refined, and fits right every time. It's amazing they're from the same maker. Canon, you need to fix the hood that comes with the 200mm prime! But if you're looking for a great, fast, tank-like built lens that takes exceptional photographs - all for a great price.... This Canon 200mm f2. 8L USM prime is the one for you. It's awesome in so many ways. I'll post some of the pics I shot  once this review goes up. If you're considering it, don't need IS and are planning to shoot outside mostly, this is by far the best priced lens you can get that has all of these features. And again, it looks killer!!! People with turn their heads and those who know the red ring will ask.