Canon 70–200mm f/2.8 EF IS II USM
The long-awaited successor to the original pro workhorse telezoom, version II may well be worth the hefty entry fee if you are a serious photographer who needs fast, sharp, image-stabilized glass in a barrel with weapons-grade build and weather sealing. The newer lens is a substantial optical upgrade over version I, with improvements across the board in SQF, light falloff, and especially distortion control. IS tested out to up to 4.5 stops extra handholdability—which ties the top IS test results. ($2,380, street; USA.Canon.com)