Closer focusing distance for the new Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens

[Alis]

Can someone explain this to me: how can with the same minimum focal length as the old version, this new Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 L II lens has a closer focusing distance?

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Ali,

Because focal length (range) and closest focus distance are two different thing and 'designable' separately for any lens. They redesigned the lens and made it focus closer - great, unless you just bought the old one

Cheers,

[Alis]

Hi Ali,

Because focal length (range) and closest focus distance are two different thing and 'designable' separately for any lens. They redesigned the lens and made it focus closer - great, unless you just bought the old one

Cheers,

Thanks, Dave. I can guess they are different but I am not able to imagine how it is possible that you have two different minimum distance at the same 70mm focal length.

And no, I had the 70-200mm f/4.0 that I upgraded to f/2.8 last year and now am waiting for this new one!

[Dave Humphries]

Dodgy analogy time;

Two people, both with a reach, or arm+hand length of say, 2 feet.
So they can both reach stuff 2 feet away from the body.
One is 6 foot to the shoulder, the other 5 feet to their shoulder.
Only one can (just) touch an 8 foot ceiling.

You really didn't need that, but that's life!

I must be in the wrong job

[Colin Southern]

New Canon 70-200/2.8? Have a missed an announcment somewhere?

[Alis]

New Canon 70-200/2.8? Have a missed an announcment somewhere?

I am amazed you did! It is not released yet but will come soon.

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/co...&modelid=19092

[Alis]

Dodgy analogy time;

Two people, both with a reach, or arm+hand length of say, 2 feet.
So they can both reach stuff 2 feet away from the body.
One is 6 foot to the shoulder, the other 5 feet to their shoulder.
Only one can (just) touch an 8 foot ceiling.

You really didn't need that, but that's life!

I must be in the wrong job

I know I am probably being too dumb here and I am not sure which part I am missing, but I still do not get it. Sorry

[eNo]

How can this be? For the same reason the recently released Nikkon 70-200 f/2.8 VRII exhibits similar characteristics. The designers, in order to make other improvements, adjusted this particular parameter... much to the consternation of many a Nikonian. It is a well established fact, however, that most zoom lenses "shorten up" when they are focused at less than infinity.

[Colin Southern]

I am amazed you did! It is not released yet but will come soon.

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/co...&modelid=19092

Anyone want to buy a second hand EF70-200 F2.8L IS USM?

[KentDub]

I wonder if it will be the same price that the EF70-200 F2.8L IS USM was - and if the older will have a price drop....

[Colin Southern]

I wonder if it will be the same price that the EF70-200 F2.8L IS USM was - and if the older will have a price drop....

I eMailed one of my suppliers today they said that "Canon have no price/availability" and "that they'd probably know before Canon". Generally Canon don't discount old stock much ... they'll just discontinue it.

I'll probably have a 2nd hand original version for sale soon

[Amberglass]

Other than the bi-annual rebates that Canon offers, unfortunately no, there will be no price drop for older or discontinued models. In some cases, it's not unheard of for older or discontinued lenses to increase in value. Sorry people, often times lenses that do increase in value are the commercial grade ones. But if you take a look over at Nikon's 70-200 2.8 VR II, expect the Canon's version II to be significantly higher than the original.

Now there has been a lot complaints about the latest Nikon 70-200 2.8 VR II. Though amazingly sharp from edge to edge like the 14-24 2.8; everyone is complaining that Nikon made a mistake in the latest design. Where the latest version behaves differently (lacks reach) at the distal and minimal focusing distances. Well people, it seems that no one has ever heard of the term "lens breathing" where the additional and/or rearranging of the internal elements (to improve performance) will "change the perspective and the angle" of the lens' viewing.