cont ...
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Background and Version History During the FD days, Canon used to have a fantastic telephoto helicoid focusing lens, Canon FDn 200mm f/2.8 which deploys with an internal focusing system; it takes lovely portraits and has a rigid, extremely well made construction. Optically, the impressive FDn has a straight forward, 7 elements in 6 group design as compared to the older version, Canon FD S.S.C. which uses 5 elements in an even more simpler 5 groups formula. It was a favorite for many Canon photographers those days because the best tele-zoom available was only the moderately speed FDn 80-200mm f/4.0L (other than a slower lens speed equivalent in the 200f/4). |
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Beach Front .. |
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Older Canon's FD mount lenses are engineered to cause little wear on the mounting surfaces, the chrome ring bayonet (FD S.S.C.) was considered by some far superior in mechanical quality to later FD mount bayonets (later Canon FD mount bayonets were redesigned such that all moving parts are contained within the lens barrel. All FD mount lenses are compatible with all FD mount cameras). But I would think it is more like a personal opinion and I would think both have not much of a difference between the new and old. |
The early days of Canon EF lens family didn't has a similar fixed focal length lens type in the 200mm category. Reasons being Canon had SEVEN EF zoom which had the 200mm focal length covered (EF 50-200mm f/3.5~4.5 AFD; EF 50-200mm f/3.5~4.5L AFD; EF 70-210mm f/4.0 AFD; EF 80-200mm f/2.8L AFD; EF 100-200mm f/4.5A; EF 100-300mm f/5.6 & EF 100-300mm f/5.6L). In particular, the professional class L-series EF 80-200mm f/2.8L also posted a similar fast lens speed of f/2.8 with the added benefit of providing the convenient in multiple manipulation of varying focal lengths. So, the development of a prime focal length of a fast speed 200mm was only realized in 1991.
Canon Original EF 200mm f/2.8L USM
Telephoto Lens
Marketed: 1991, Discontinued: 1996
Part I:- The first version of the Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L USM is a high-quality, large-aperture telephoto lens featuring the good feature in light weight and a compact size for superior handling and mobility. The lense has two UD glass elements to suppress axial chromatic aberration. Similarly to the FD version, but a newly-designed rear focusing system was deployed in compensating for the changes in spherical aberration during focusing which occurs in the conventional rear focus design.
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Overall, Canon was confident that the image quality has improved considerably from its FD predecessor, especially at near and medium distances, and offers very high level of contrast and sharpness throughout the entire range even begin from the closest focusing distance of 1.5 m/4.9ft all the way to infinity. A telephoto lens can be a good entry into a whole new world of photographic opportunities in the fields like nature, wildlife, sports, news/journalist, portraiture or even leisure photography on close-up topics. |
Due to its possible wide applications of this lense by photographers, a built-in Ultrasonic Motor (USM) is incorporated for smooth, quiet and fast speed autofocusing and also permits full-time manual focusing even during autofocusing. The wide, easy-to-grip manual focusing ring delivers smooth and positive manual focusing operation even if you are using a glove or protective measure in certain difficult shooting environment (such as underwater housing). In short, this high-performance lens is capable of providing top-level image quality and superb operability while maintaining a relatively compact size as compared to the similar fast speed f/2.8 L-zoom counterpart.
The fast lens speed of f/2.8 and couples with USM can let you crop tightly to exclude distracting background detail and emphasize appealing subject areas in a responsive manner during shootings. Technically, fixed single focal length lenses also give you faster shutter speeds than many budget zooms for fast-action snaps. The lens also has a built-in telescopic lens hood and eliminates the space and needs for carrying another accessory for possible backlit shooting. It also has a focus limiter designed to offer photographer with swifter in presetting two scales of focusing distances. It is rigid, extremely well made and optically, it matches the physical quality presents and a clear favorite for those who still holds a strong belief that prime is better than zoom...as it certainly requires some justification of why despite all the benefits of an equivalent class of high performance zoom can provide, users are still locking in with this lense. Price and weight, I think...Well, if that is not an issue, what about the Canon EF 200mm f/1.8L USM ? hehe ..
So, Canon actually offers two options
for photographers at the prime 200mm focal length. Each with a different configurations
(but share many similarities in Canon innovations/features) other than in their lens
speed, size,weight and price to fit individual needs. I would think the L-designation
would make between them of a less significant factor on their respective optical
performance, but rather, the applications in finding good use of them on the working
field..
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Spouts ... |
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Technical Specification for Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L USM (ORIGINAL version) Telephoto: - |
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Extenders: Usable. Extender EF 1.4X:- focal length multiplication: 280mm f/4 ~f/45, AF retained, Magnification ratio: max. 0.22X; Extender EF 2.0X: focal length multiplication: 400mm f/5.6~f/64, AF retained; Magnification ratio: max. 0.32X; |
Previous | NEXT | 2/3 The MK II (current version) of the Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L
Part One | Part Two | Part Three
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