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Which 70-200mm – please advise ;-)
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I have a 5dMk1 and I’m trying to decide on which Canon 70-200mm L lens. The options I have are (in order of cheapest to most expensive);
Canon EF 70-200 F4L USM
Canon EF 70-200F4L IS USM
Canon EF 70-200 F2.8L USM
Canon EF 70-200 F2.8L IS USMThere’s approx €1,000 difference in the cheapest to most expensive (UK site). I have the 24-70L already and love the depth of field you get with it (important to clarify that I specialise in portraiture). I’m tempted to go with the 2nd or 3rd option and I’m just wondering if IS is worth the extra euro’s. Also is there a big difference in f2.8 and f4. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
Hi – you missed the newest one.
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L II IS USM…coming in at around ST £1,900
(I think the IS II refers to the ability to switch off the horizontal IS when using lens for panning)Here’s a good sterling price comparison chart for all current Canon lenses.
http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/cat5.htmlA definitive review can be found here on all 5.
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-70-200mm-f-2.8-L-USM-Lens-Review.aspxObviously all will give you the same focal length. What you have to do is decide where you will use it most. Indoors or outdoors.
I’d say forget about the f/4 versions – and focus on the f/2.8 either with & without Image Stabilization…and perhaps ignore the really expensive the most recent one.
If it’s for outdoors mostly – then the cheapest Non IS f/2.8 will be more than adequate. It’s still a very serious L class lens and much sought after on the second hand market – so it will hold its value.
If it’s for indoors mostly (weddings, gigs, etc) then perhaps go with the IS version – as it will give you 3 extra stops hand held.You can of course use the NON IS version indoors with either a higher ISO or a flash – or both.
I’d recommend try both versions inside a shop – using f/2.8, (and f/5.6) ISO100, and 1/125 and see the results.
‘Image Supply Systems’ in dublin i can highly recommend. Trained Canon staff in store.
Hope this helps,
brenBrilliant info Brendan – thanks so much for taking the time to reply. Will check out those links. :D
Oops – i should have said try both lenses in AV mode at say f/5.6 & ISO 100 – and see what shutter speed you get.
Then you’ll see the effect of Image Stabilization. You should get a faster shutter speed of 3 stops in the IS version.why would this be useful?
eg. Indoors in a church, without IS & f/5.6 you might only get a shutter speed of 1/30 for a correct exposure – which would be way to slow for portraits. IS would give a faster speed.
You can then decide if IS a requirement or not – as this facility is the price difference
more info on IS here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_stabilization
brendancullen wrote:
Oops – i should have said try both lenses in AV mode at say f/5.6 & ISO 100 – and see what shutter speed you get.
Then you’ll see the effect of Image Stabilization. You should get a faster shutter speed of 3 stops in the IS version.
[/url]This is incorrect. Regardless of what bells and whistles the lens has, both of them will read the same shutter speed at f5.6 and ISO100.
What IS does is allow you to hand hold the lens at approximate 3 stops below what you can hold the non IS lens at so for example if the lowest shutter speed you can hold the non IS at without noticable blur from shaking is 1/100 the in theory you should be able to get the same result with the IS lens at 1/15 as it uses the IS to counterbalance any shake the lens detects. This makes the IS lens ideal for low light shots of non/little moving objects where you can’t use a tripod, which to be fair isnt too many times. However if your subject is moving then no matter what kind of IS your lens has your subjects will be blurred.
If it was me, I’d go for the f2.8 non IS version. The f4 version is supposed to be sharper and much lighter but the f2.8 will give you better background blur and also give you that extra stop when needed.
oops again – yes – Ballyman is correct…and i’d second his advice on getting the Non IS version of the f/2.8.
brenThanks again Brendan and Ballyman. I read through the article Brendan posted earlier with an independent review of all 70-200L versions and I had almost decided on the non IS 2.8L version based on what it said. Weather proof lens would be a bonus (in tbe case of IS) but for the sake of a good few euros I don’t think it’s worth the stretch and besides I tend not to shoot in rain (although a wedding last week was the exception!).
I’m just about to press the buy button on my Simply Electronics shopping cart. Have been researching that all day and I know it has risks but it’s by far the best deal around. Hoping if I pay by credit card i’ll have protection built in. Fingers crossed!
Thanks again for all the advice and useful reading :D
Ohh – a very serious risk your money will be weeks and weeks waiting to be returened from the credit card company.
Ask for the best ‘cash’ price from http://www.imagesupplysystems.com/ first.
bren
Too late Brendan – have ordered it tonight. They say 1-2 business days delivery but I’m not gonna panic until 2 weeks have set in. I paid with Google place which is similar to Paypal so that should give me extra security. I know lots of people who have bought from them without a hitch so am crossing my fingers now :D I went for the f2.8 USM version in the end.
Screw the zoom, buy the 135 f/2 L :) How often do you need 200mm lens for portrait?
Hehe! Lets see how we get on with the 70-200mm and if it arrives!! Have that other :lol: one on my wish list!
Just updating to say that my new Canon 70-200mm F2.8L USM arrived finally today from Simply Electronics. It took exactly 2 weeks from order to delivery so what a relief. Have to say I’m delighted with my choice! Thanks to all for advice received – what a great forum this is! :D
Nothing wrong with Simply Electronics, I’ve used them a few times without issue and just got a Canon 7D this morning from them, took 6 working days as promised.
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