The FYI, so you know what I have compared. I tested the lens on my 5D III.
I must say I'm impressed. No comparison to its predecessor (whether with or without IS). Even at full aperture outstandingly sharp and brilliant.
Ok.
That I had expected after reading the forums and tests. Also that it beats very well with the 1.4x Extender I had expected. (By the way, even with the old version IIer it proposes extremely well. Here I see no need to upgrade.) There is no comparison to the old 70-200 IS. Because they are worlds apart. With the new 70-200 IS can open very well use the Extender already.
Extremely impressed I was but from the imaging performance with the 2x extender Canon (here I have upgraded to the new, since he better picture quality than the old version). Even open the images are as sharp as my old 100-400 4.5-5.6, only that this lens delivers the beautiful bokeh (for me that was the reason for selling my 100-400er). I am completely blown away, what Canon has created there. Top !!!
What should I write?
Most of it was already written by G. Buso, which I would totally agree with.
On the subject of weight: Yes, it's hard. When old, I was not willing to drag this weight for poor performance, so I got myself fixed focal lengths (85 and 135 1.8 2.0 for the stage and the 300 2.8 IS for Wildlife with the extenders). However, the new offers so many opportunities (stage without extenders, Wildlife with extenders), I like am ready to increase the weight with.
Canon, keep it up! Even if it was evil expensive. It was worth it.
Finally, I want to point out an excellent side, when even many lenses can be compared with each other:
The Digital Picture (under Sample Crops):
[...]
I hope I have the one or other readers yet a little help.