Antique glass

[michaelb]

I finally sold my 10-22 and used the money to pick up a 200 f/2.8 mkI; I got it off of FM for a killer deal. It was built in 1995. Definitely an antique compared to my other lenses.

I was a bit worried about what I would think of it, but I got it today and its amazing. I can't believe it; it looks like its brand new! I think I'm in love. ;)

It focuses incredibly fast and silently.

One really cool think about the mkI vs the mkII is that it has a built in hood. I love it; it slides back and fourth. I often don't use hoods because they are a pain in the #@$@ but this thing is sweet; I wish all my lenses had a built in hood.

Its shorter than my 70-200 f4, but it feels like it weighs almost the same. Its much better balanced than the 70-200 though and I love that its black. I always hesitate to pull out the 70-200 in a crowd because it just draws so much attention.


Naturally, being the pathetic pixel-peeper that I am, I decided to do some tests.

I thought my 70-200 f/4 was sharp, but the 200 f/2.8 puts it to shame...






100% crops... (I used the best of 4 shots)...

70-200 f/4 @ 200mm, f/4, ISO 800, hand-held...
http://brownphotography.smugmug.com/photos/455530029_Xaggf-S.jpg

200 f/2.8 @ f/2.8, ISO 800, 1/100, hand-held...
http://brownphotography.smugmug.com/photos/455530027_5BgyN-S.jpg


And in case you think that there must be something wrong with my 70-200 here is a 100% crop at 200mm@f/5 that I took a few weeks ago...
http://brownphotography.smugmug.com/photos/438067750_8iNM6-S.jpg


Man, I can't wait to check out the bokeh on this thing, but its dark and 8 degrees (F) outside right now :(. Were headed to Mexico in a week and this thing is definitely coming with me.

Nick, this thing might just turn me into a prime lover yet!! :D

[faisal]

you selling the 10-22mm makes me think that your 5D is going to become your landscape camera....

built in 1995...damn!!! I was 9 then...that does seem like a very old lens to me!!!
congrats on the purchase...I'm too lazy to look it up (it's 6am here) so can you post a picture of the built in hood...

[michaelb]

built in 1995...damn!!! I was 9 then...that does seem like a very old lens to me!!!


Its just amazing. If this lens was given to me as a gift I would have thought it was brand new. I still can't believe it. I've bought used lenses that were less than a year old that showed more signs of use than this thing!!


I'm too lazy to look it up (it's 6am here) so can you post a picture of the built in hood...

The wife's calling me to bed ;), but I will when I have the time to. Its a really cool feature IMO. It doesn't extend out as far as a normal hood and some say that its less effective because of this, but considering I rarely use hoods it works perfectly for me.

[Rasidel Slika]

NICE - can you post a pic of the lens too? I looked on google and didn't find any apparent. thanks.

[Nickcanada]

Cool!! Apparently the mkII and mkI are the same internally. That is really impressive considering how fast the AF is and how old the design is.

I think you are going to have a lot of fun with it Michael, enjoy!

P.S. I can't believe you hand held that thing at 1/100!!

[thaKing]

@Rasidel Slika - here's what i found on google... http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/728606

[michaelb]

I can't wait to get out and use this thing in the real world - its going to be silly cold this weekend here, but I'll try to get out and take some pics.

[michaelb]

P.S. I can't believe you hand held that thing at 1/100!!

I've been practicing and that's after my coffee has worn off. :D

[adam75south]

i've been thinking of converting the primes myself. or at least slowly adding primes to the collection lately.

[michaelb]

This thing is so sweet that I'm now dreaming of the 135L. I've just never used a lens that feels so nice in hand as the 200 f/2.8 and some initial shots I took with it outside today seem stellar. I can't wait to try some outdoor portraits with this thing. I still can't get over how old it is - it looks and functions like it was made yesterday.

I also just sold my 85 1.8 for the 100 f/2, and although its not built anywhere near as nicely as the 135L it seems like a great lens optically so far.

[michaelb]

@Rasidel Slika - here's what i found on google... http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/728606

That's not the one I bought, but that's the same lens. The red ring looks orange in those pics though!

[michaelb]

Here's one of my first shots with the 200, screwing around today in 10 degree (F) weather...

f/3.5...
http://brownphotography.smugmug.com/photos/456523643_VQHUj-L.jpg

[thaKing]

That's not the one I bought, but that's the same lens. The red ring looks orange in those pics though!
sorry, wasn't implying that was the lens you bought, just the same lens...

nice shot, can't wait to see more...