Do I really need it or just want it.

[modchild]

Hi all, I've got a 24-105 f4 L and a 100-400 f4-5.6 L already but I cant help feeling that I really need to get a 70-200 f4 IS as well. I know for a fact that the f2.8 is way out of my price range, but the f4 with a bit of work is probable. :bang:
Logic says I dont really need it as I've got the FL covered with the other 2 which I am very happy with and which I want to keep as they are fantastic image wise. I'm getting an MP-E65 macro for christmas and I'm already looking through the classifieds with a view to a trade.
I just dont want to get it for the sake of it and then sell it after a few months cause it's not getting used. I shoot macro, wildlife and airplanes mainly but I do shoot some other general stuff too.

 

[troutfisher]

Interesting,I have the opposite dilemma in that I have the 24/105, 70/200 F4 and the 100/400 and can't decide if I should get rid of the 70/200.
The difficulty I have is that its very sharp,small,light and a lot more portable than the 100/400 and it takes a 1.4TC very well.
Decisions ,Decisions!

 

[andyred]

I'm getting an MP-E65 macro for christmas and I'm already looking through the classifieds with a view to trade.

Why get this macro lens for Christmas if you are already thinking of trading it in ??? Why not get the 70-200 for christmas instead and look to hire the MP-E65 Macro lens to see if it is what you want, alternatively why not get a standard Macro lens ???

 

[modchild]

Hi andy, I have already got a 100 2.8 L macro and am really into macro photography (cant believe I forgot to include it in my list, which has now been edited) and wanted the MP-E65 for ultra macro shots. However, when I decided on the lens for christmas I had a 550D and a 7D, and I have since passed the 550D to the wife and got a 5D MkII. Maybe that has got me thinking about a different direction of lenses.

 

[alexnail]

To answer your question directly:
You want it, or you wouldnt be asking the question!

Its a difficult decision. Certainly it would be nice to have both the 100-400 AND the 70-200. The later is much more portable and a fantastic lens, which I suspect you would use more than your 100-400. But still its really a matter of whether the extra weight of the 100-400 bothers you and whether the slight IQ difference is worth paying for!

Alex

 

[andyred]

Hi andy, I have already got a 100 2.8 L macro and am really into macro photography (cant believe I forgot to include it in my list, which has now been edited) and wanted the MP-E65 for ultra macro shots. However, when I decided on the lens for christmas I had a 550D and a 7D, and I have since passed the 550D to the wife and got a 5D MkII. Maybe that has got me thinking about a different direction of lenses.

I suppose the decision is which do you want first, which do want for Christmas then ?

I'd be going for the 70-200 initially...

 

[badboy1984]

i say get the 70-200 f4 and sell nothing.

That 100-400L have great focal length and combine with TC is pretty damn good depend on what you want to shoot of course.

The 70-200 f4 is very light and produce very sharp images. Personally if you don't need f2.8 then the 70-200 f4 is much better than the 70-200 f2.8

For some reason when i trying to tell my mates that use canon they think i'm chatting crap and says the 70-200 f4 is not worth buying ........

maybe because i use nikon and they don't trust me ......

 

[MG TF 135]

I would say that getting the 70-200 is the way to go, but then i would as i have it in my bag!

I use it when i'm wanting something light with a bit of reach. Sometimes carrying the 100-400 round all day gets a little tiring. But having both in the bag covers all bases. If you are not specialised in one particular genre of photography then having many lens options available is certainly good. Obviously you do not want to be duplicating focal range too much though.

Its a nice situation to be in though, trying to work out which lens to add to your lineup.

I'm actually looking at getting a macro lens added to the bag next year which i feel will round off my options nicely.

As a footnote here is a link to my flickr covering photos with the Canon 70-200 f/4 L - http://www.flickr.com/photos/mjkcanon/tags/canon70200mmf4l/

 

[andyred]

That 100-400L have great focal length and combine with TC is pretty damn good.....

Don't forget, the 100-400 won't AF with a Canon TC on the 7D or 5D

 

[badboy1984]

i don't know much about canon on TC stuff like that, for me with 400mm and 2x TC i would be shooting stuff like moon or stuff like that where manual focus is prefer lol