Canon 70 -200 f4 IS or not?

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Chipper

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Linda
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Good morning all. I want to get one of these as I have heard good things about the f4 lens and want to reduce the weight on my still poorly shoulder… mostly I will use it for sport. Am I correct in my assumption that the IS version is not really necessary as it slows down the focus? Thanks for taking the time.
 
As an owner of the is version I have not had any complaints with focus speed. Also the is model has the advantage of weather sealing, fairly important for sport I would imagine
 
Chipper said:
Good morning all. I want to get one of these as I have heard good things about the f4 lens and want to reduce the weight on my still poorly shoulder… mostly I will use it for sport. Am I correct in my assumption that the IS version is not really necessary as it slows down the focus? Thanks for taking the time.
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No. The IS needs to be up and running (takes 0.5 secs) but then, if anything, it helps AF by stabilising the image.

The IS and non-IS versions are completely different optically and mechanically. The IS version is slightly sharper, weather-proofed, and has a more rounded aperture.
 
I doubt you will use it only for sport, that may be your primary reson for buying it but you'll use it for other stuff too, at which point IS may be usefull. I bought the IS version, no complaints its a cracking lens, even with an extender.

Matt
 
Thank you - bit more saving to do! Appreciate you spending the time.
 
Funny that Canon USA claim it's weatherproof and Canon UK don't. Do we think the US has better quality lenses or better quality weather?
 
Coyon said:
Funny that Canon USA claim it's weatherproof and Canon UK don't. Do we think the US has better quality lenses or better quality weather?
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From the description of the lens on the Canon UK site: "L-series lenses combine superior performance with superlative handling, and are resistant to dust and moisture." It doesn't explicitly say it's weather sealed, but it's inferred.
 
I loved my non IS version :) was rather amazingly sharp for the price
 
grotty said:
From the description of the lens on the Canon UK site: "L-series lenses combine superior performance with superlative handling, and are resistant to dust and moisture." It doesn't explicitly say it's weather sealed, but it's inferred.
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That's as good a description of weather resistance as we get. In the user handbook for the 70-200/4 L IS, the only mention of weather resistance is to the rubber ring around the mount for 'enhanced water and dust resistance'. Nothing is officially specified, and the degree of weather resistance varies between lenses, even with apparently similar descriptions that get differently elaborated by each country's marketing department. Same with camera bodies.

Nikon is even more vague about it.
 
The F4 IS has a rubber seal that mates to camera lens mount face so is environmentally sealed, the non IS doesn't so isn't. I used my IS version all day last year in pouring rain on a 5D3, it didn't leak.
 
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