bangkokuwa's reviews

  • Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    super fast AF, super sharp wide open, amazing CA control .
    a bit busy bokeh.

    it is simple , it is the best zoom ever made in any mount available today.

    I replaced my f4LIS with this one , I use 5D2 as my main cam and 7D as a back up and for action or reach limited applications.

    I also have the Nikon D700 and D300s, I also had the AFS70-200f2.8GEDVR2 , it was a really good lens also , but the Canon was simply better , sharper at wide open ,with a bit less CA to deal with.

    So, I sent back my Nikon vR2 and kept this amazingly sharp Canon zoom.

    To be honest , the only real reason why we choose a f2.8 zoom over the perfectly fine f4LIS version is good wide open performance at f2.8, so I do not care if this or the Nikon sharp at f5.6 but at f2.8 it must be better than my f4LIS at f4 , and it is better than the f4LIS at f2.8.

    So, I have no regret choosing this over the Nikon VR2.

    But that said , if I could wait it , I would wait the Sigma FLD to be out and compare this lens to the Sigma , and then decide which 70-200f2.8 lens to keep.

    Any way , I think I go wide with my D700 and long with my 7D and 5D2.

    it is the best zoom ever made and replaced my 3 primes in its range effectively ,so it is worth every penny.

    reviewed May 26th, 2010 (purchased for $2,100)

  • Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G IF-ED AF-S Nikkor

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    fast AF, sharp and great handling quality , lighter than my Canon 24-70L.
    not-internal-zoom, noVR2.

    I love this lens and most used in fact , but as I quit wedding work myself and now, a strictly portrait and travel photographer , I may sell it for a couple of long primes or sell my 70-200f2.8VR2(more likely).

    So, if you shoot events with a couple of Nikon bodies , then get it , you wont regret but it needs the VR2.

    And I think if it were internal zoom design , it would be perfect.

    I really prefer my 16-35f4VR and 70-200f2.8VR2 in terms of build and handling but this lens is more used and more practical lens in real life.

    it does not matter how sharp it is if you dont need its focal range , for me the 70-200 range is not needed really and I got it only for my wedding work any way, I am thinking about down grading the 70-200VR2 to the AFS70-300VR (I had it before and I know it is equally sharp) to go with this AFS24-70 and 85f1.4D , 105f2DC and 50AFS.

    but that said if you want sharpest zoom , go for the newer AF70-200f2.8GEDVR2...........

    reviewed June 15th, 2010