Reading mode: Light Dark

70-200 f/2.8L IS USM vs 70-200 f/4L IS USM

Go to last post
MarkLe said:
the (Canon) 70-200 2.8 IS even with some "softness" at 2.8 is still
the only option you get in a low light situation. That's out of the
question
Then it's "deeper" than the f/4
It's true that many had the IS locking the camera and Canon still
didn't do much about it (yet) - I mean, they do replace the IS but
when you buy a new one you may have the problem ... (in other words
Canon will wait until you have the camera locked to be clear)

the f/4 is sharper
I had some problem with the autofocus but now is fine. Still it
goes completely OFF (of focus) for no reason, once in a while. LOL

What I find "odd" with the f/4 is the stabilization. The 2.8 may be
a stop slower (about IS) but it gets it right at the first shot
while the f/4 still needs two or three shots to stabilize. It's not
me because I hold the camera/lens in the same way as I do with any
lens.

The 2.8 is still a better lens, all considered.

but I have the f/4 now. to be honest. Sharpness comes first (for me
of course).

--
fun while shooting, always
the new & improved shy & adorable MarkLe

Click to expand...
For sports the 2.8 is doing the job - f4 is out of question here.

According to reviewers: Sharpness is better on the f4 at the short end but sharpnes is better on the f2.8 at the long end.
 
some people will always have an excuse for why they couldn't get the shot and others will always have a need to justify their purchases.

and the biggest critics of the 70-200L f4 IS have never used the lens, most have never seen the lens, most feel that an f4 zoom is beneath them and many are owners of the f2.8 IS which they view as an albatross that they must nevertheless defend at every opportunity because it cost them so much money.

ed rader

--



'One often has mixed feelings about relatives, but few people could identify serious problems in their relationships with dogs.'

-- Anonymous
 
all considered very possible (the fanboy talks) but we have to try (all of us) to be honest and detached when discussing a lens, for the good of the "cause"

You indeed do appear (to me) to be an example of it (the fanboy talks) , in the opposite direction but still...

--
fun while shooting, always
the new & improved shy & adorable MarkLe

 
it's still too soon for me to isolate the reason but I see a loss of sharpness (but still "stellar" eheh) within the average of the keepers for example, at 170-200mm with the F/4

It may be some sort of hesitation with the AF but most likely it has more to do with the stabilization (in my opinion)

the 2.8 is more stable (in terms of keepers at least), true.

--
fun while shooting, always
the new & improved shy & adorable MarkLe

 
If you ever shoot moving objects, get the faster lens. If you only shoot landscape, f/4 will be sufficient.
 
Nothing about money and purchases Ed. Every time when I am reading your comments about F4IS I don't understand is this your only one lens you have? Is this only lens you are using with your camera?

I don't use telephoto much, however will not allow you to blame something your lens don't have - F2.8 aperture. Do you want me two times a week call F2.8 users to post their best shots here? Are you sure you don't eat your F4IS after? :)) Just think about....

--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
My gallery: http://www.pbase.com/breitling65/best_of_
 
i think when something bothers you so much that you become obssessed and that's all you can see.

the fact of the matter is the 70-200L f4 IS is a very popular lens and people want to talk about it.

if you don't you should ignore the threads that bother you or keep going the way you are.

it really doesn't matter to me.

ed rader

--



'One often has mixed feelings about relatives, but few people could identify serious problems in their relationships with dogs.'

-- Anonymous
 
I have to agree with ed radar, lenny_shp, you need to let threads you are not interested in go :)
 
If you can live with f/4, then you should just go ahead and buy 70-200 f/4 IS L lens.

--
Rendrat
 
ed rader said:
the fact of the matter is the 70-200L f4 IS is a very popular lens and people want to talk about it.
Click to expand...
I have no problem you talking about this lens, it is your rights. But please without vs F2.8 ..., it is ridiculous and not smart and most F2.8 owners agree with me.

Unless as i said I will call F2.8 owners to show their photos, especially to you Ed.

--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
My gallery: http://www.pbase.com/breitling65/best_of_
 
I got both and still cannot decide which one should be sold.

I bought 24-70 F2.8 as this was the lens I needed, but I thought the extra reach of 24-105 F4 and Image Stabilizer would make a perfect combo for naked (no grip) 5D while taking a vacation and still want my 5D with me. For snapshots I do have a 5Mp Casio EX-Z55, which is very nice.

However, regarding the 70-200 question... I used to have F4 on my 20D and was very happy with it. Sold it because I needed the money and now I got F2.8 IS on my 5D and 20D.

If weight is not a concern and F4 is not a problem, I'd get F4 non-is, as it works beautifully and not expensive at all. If money is no concern, I'd throw IS in this equation just for the sake of it when I'd need it. It is nice to have it on such focal range. But if money is really not important for you, I'd get F2.8 IS. This is THE lens.
 
Don't forget the bokeh of F2.8. This was my only problem with F4. Not that it did not blurred the background, but it blurred it in a more unplesant way compared with F2.8.
 
yeah I agree, also because everybody talks about everything and "just because" lately. Which is fine and also cute, but sometimes one can really get the wrong idea about a lens simply because who talks only has one lens to compare.

So basically the forum should start a self-protective moderation.

The poster with the dog in the signature is right when he says that the f/4 is the lens of the moment, but when it comes to compare it to the 2.8 version it will be required to have at least some experience with it before writing anything about it.

common sense, not else.

--
fun while shooting, always
the new & improved shy & adorable MarkLe

 
My question for the group is whether the F/4 will achieve good bokeh (blurred background) with a cropped sensor camera (like the 20d)?
Thanks.
 
Interesting. Now I'm leaning toward the 4L because of my budget. Now I'm looking at 4L with IS and without IS. :( Is the IS really worth $500 more?
modeleromy said:
I got both and still cannot decide which one should be sold.

I bought 24-70 F2.8 as this was the lens I needed, but I thought
the extra reach of 24-105 F4 and Image Stabilizer would make a
perfect combo for naked (no grip) 5D while taking a vacation and
still want my 5D with me. For snapshots I do have a 5Mp Casio
EX-Z55, which is very nice.

However, regarding the 70-200 question... I used to have F4 on my
20D and was very happy with it. Sold it because I needed the money
and now I got F2.8 IS on my 5D and 20D.

If weight is not a concern and F4 is not a problem, I'd get F4
non-is, as it works beautifully and not expensive at all. If money
is no concern, I'd throw IS in this equation just for the sake of
it when I'd need it. It is nice to have it on such focal range. But
if money is really not important for you, I'd get F2.8 IS. This is
THE lens.
Click to expand...
 
At F4, on a scale from 1-10 where 1 is very bad and 10 is excellent, I'd give the folowing grades for bokeh:

70-200 F4 @F4 - 5
70-200 F2.8 IS @F4 - 8
 
tom sugnet said:
The optics are the same. Supposed 'greater sharpness' of the IS
lens has not been proven...(unless you can trust the one and only
70-200 f/4 IS L review)
Click to expand...
There's allready two f/4 IS reviews that I know about... the-digital-picture and photozone. Both show the exact same thing, that the f/4 IS is optically superior.

The personal experience of people here also tends to point to the same thing.

Where are the reviews/reasons to doubt these findings?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top