Advice please: Canon 70-200 line up

What should Phil do?

  • Keep your cash. If that's what you like you'll be fine

    Votes: 5 19.2%

  • Get the 70-200L f4. It's a great lens

    Votes: 7 26.9%

  • You must get the f4 IS version

    Votes: 4 15.4%

  • Get the 2.8 or you will spend more in the long run

    Votes: 10 38.5%
  • Total voters
    26
PCPhil

PCPhil

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736
Name
Phil
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi,

I know this has been asked a few times before but here is my angle.
Everything I like shooting tends to be wide angle, landscape or low light (Daughters Dancing).

However, off to New York for 10 nights at end of July and even though my new 40-shorty and faithful 17-40 will do for a lot just feeling that I might miss out if I don't have a longer lens to grab or highlight the main subjects.
Not flush with cash and if anything would prefer to keep for spending money.....but....:thinking:
So options in poll. Best correct answer wins.....eh.....eternal :thankyou:
 
Bought a used 70-200 F/4 in mint condition, used it for a week then had the chance to swap it for a mint condition 70-200 F/4 IS and pay the difference which I did and don't regret it for an instant.

The IS lens is much nicer put together, with far better switches, weather sealing and a big improvement in image quality which I guess it the most important bit.
 
Like many others, I started out with a 70-200 f4 non IS L which was a fantastic lens. It's very sharp, with fast AF and it's light enough to easy carry. However, the first time I tried to use it in low(ish) light I struggled with it a bit so I started looking into a 2.8 version.
I sold the f4 and another lens and got a 70-200 f2.8 IS L MkI, which really is a fantastic lens. While it's not as sharp as the f4 version when wide open at f2.8 it's still really workable, but stopped down a bit it's magnificent. It's heavier but that's somewhat counteracted by the IS (and a gym membership), has great AF and great IQ.
I'm now thinking of selling the MkI, a 550D and 18-55 IS and putting it all towards the MkII, which by all accounts is the 'Holy Grail' of 70-200's, unless I think of something else instead. A good second hand f4 non IS version can be had for around £350 though, so if that's within your budget it's a great start.
 
Had a few of these lol, and in the end, ended up with a 135L!

70-200 f4 = great lens, especially for the money. Didnt really notice much difference (apart from IS) against the:
70-200 F4L IS = great lens. IS is fantastic and very sharp.
70-200 2.8 L IS mk1v = good lens, big and heavy (consider that for travelling), IS is good, 2.8 is good but a little soft - not enough to really matter,
135L sharp as a razor, fastest AF, small and light, can crop to 200m without "much" detail loss - especially on a 5Dii body. F2.0 is awesome

Might sound weird, but if its purely just for travel I'd consider something else to all of these.

70-200's are fab, but for holiday snaps Id get something else..
 
Just one last 'Bump' for any more views (or alternative suggestions).

My wife may have guzzumped me by ordering a new 50" flat screen telly.
However, I have over 24,000 business miles that is currently going through the tax self assessment so all is not lost :)

Looks like I am the only one who ticked option1 :bonk:
 
I took several lenses on holiday recently, and even though it's "the best" lens out of all of them, I only used my 70-200 f4L once. Mostly because I was just too close to everything & in a city would have thought this would be worse.

Most used was basic 18-55 kit lens !:shrug:
 
2.8 mk11 all the way.

do not regret splashing the extra cash one bit - well not when i get back home and put the doorstop down rub my aching shoulder and actually look at the images full size anyway
 
I say buy the f2.8.

You have mentioned low light when your daughters are dancing. Well if they carry on doing that you may find yourself wanting the 70-200mm range for it. F2.8 all the way there!
 
I have the MKI 70-200mm f2.8 IS and the F4 IS and have to say the F4 gets a lot more use.
It's lighter, smaller, amazingly sharp wide open and takes the Canon 1.4x very well.

The f2.8 is much larger and heavier, still sharp wide open (I can't imagine what the MKII must be like because mine is excellent at 2.8) but in the bag takes up as much space as the f4 and another lens. Sometimes you need the extra speed but mostly I would rather save on the weight.
 
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