there are 2 55-200 af lenses listed in photodo. how do you distinguish the L version since mtf are 3.7 vs 2.2 thanks

-- james jones (estracyp@hhsc.ca), November 23, 2001

Answers

Yes, there are two 50-200s, and there is also a 55-200 USM, which is a much more recent lens. The 50-200L is easily distinguishable, with a bright red ring painted around the barrel (the mark of all L series lenses). The 55-200 USM is very different, and cheap, although rated quite well.

-- Isaac Sibson (isibson@hotmail.com), November 23, 2001.

The EF 50-200 3.5-4.5L is an extremely rare lens. It wasn't popular and was discontinued quickly (too expensive due to the fluoride element?). It was released in the late 1980s along with the first EOS SLRs. It looks and feels just like the EF 100-300 5.6L: red stripe, plasticky, push-pull zoom, coarse manual focus, front element rotation & extension during focus, loud & slow AF motor and sharp as a whip.

If I found one at a reasonably cheap price I'd snatch it up. I comb the used camera joints & pawn shops frequently and have only seen one during the last 11 years. They wanted $500 so I didn't buy it.

-- Puppy Face (doggieface@aol.com), November 23, 2001.

I purchased the 50-200L len just about two months ago. I was some what mislead by the seller ( I thought it is a F4 len ), not a USM len, not internal focus and for the price that I paid for, I could buy the new 70-200 F.4 len with few extra bucks. So I returned it back to the seller and got myself the 70-200 F4. If anybody is still looking for it, let me know and I can pass on the seller e-mail address to you. Gabe

-- Gabe (gchoy@aol.com), November 24, 2001.

Certainly if optics and low price are the only considerations, then the 50-200L sounds like a good lens. However, I think if you can afford it, the 70-200 F4L is a better choice, for USM, no extension/rotation during focusing or zooming, even better optical quality and better build quality.

-- Isaac Sibson (isibson@hotmail.com), November 25, 2001.