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Lens advice : Canon 70-200mm

Discussion

9 replies
Posted by Andy Shepherd on May 3, 2011 at 12:24 PM

I'm looking to buy either the Canon 70-200mm f4L IS USM or the Canon 70-200mm f2.8L USM ( non IS ), both these lenses are roughly priced the same, and I was wondering if anyone has any experience with either lens.

I'd also like to know if the benefits of a f2.8 lens outweigh the benefits of a f4 with IS.

Andy... :smile:
Posted by Justin on May 3, 2011 at 3:18 PM
Andy,

I have the 70-200mm f4 L IS USM lens and I'm very happy with it. It's light, compact and most importantly, it's bitingly sharp and still superb with a Canon 1.4X extender attached. I can highly recommend it.
I can't compare it to the f2.8 version, having never used that one. The f4 aperture is plenty wide enough for my needs and the small size and weight was the main reason I chose the f4 version over the f2.8 model.
Posted by Andy Shepherd on May 3, 2011 at 4:08 PM

Hi Justin,

Every review I've read about the f4 L IS has stated that this is Canon's sharpest zoom lens and having recently used a friends f2.8 L IS to photograph Black Grouse, I can appreciate the difference in weight between the two lenses.

Thanks for the advice

Andy...
Posted by Mike Smith on May 4, 2011 at 1:40 AM
Depends on if you ever want to use the lens with a 2x converter or not - with the F4 lens Canon bodies will be restricted in AF capability, all except the 1 series are likley to hunt and the 1 series automatically restrict you to use the central AF point only, unless of course you use the taped pins trick to stop electronic recognition of the converter
Posted by Andy Shepherd on May 4, 2011 at 1:52 AM

Good morning Mike,

I won't be using a 2x converter with the 70-200mm, but thanks for the info.

Cheers

Andy... :smile:
Posted by Bob Johnson on May 4, 2011 at 4:38 AM
Hi Andy

I have the f4. It is very sharp even with a 1.4x and is as light as a feather. My pal Mike Wilkes FRPS recently sold his 2.8 IS in favour of the f4 :wink:

Regards
Bob :toast:
Posted by Andy Shepherd on May 4, 2011 at 7:13 AM

Cheers Bob :toast: looks like it's the f4 for me too.

Andy...
Posted by David Kjaer on May 4, 2011 at 11:36 AM
Hi Andy

I used to have the f2.8 non IS and sold it to buy the f4 IS. The lens is fantastic sharper than most primes and is still mega sharp with the x1.4.

David :toast:
Posted by Andy Shepherd on May 4, 2011 at 1:41 PM

Cheers David, I ordered the f4 IS this afternoon :biggrin:

Andy... :toast:
Posted by John Stuart-Clarke on June 12, 2011 at 1:36 PM
I have the f/2.8 with IS and I have never been blown away by it, to be honest - the sharpness is not in the same league as my primes (which is not to be unexpected but the difference is way more than I expected it to be) and I get very poor results when tracking moving subjects with it. I am toying with the upgrade to the Mark II version, or doing the same as Andy and going for an f/4 version with IS.