Canon 70-200 Vs 100-400

Venu Bharadwaj · Mar 23, 2014

i'm not a pro, but keen interest in photography... i have Canon 60D

now planning to buy lens to birds/animals along with portraits - i have budget for one lens only..

so i was thinking

[1] Canon 70-200 L / f2.8 with 2x Extender or

[2] Canon 100-400 L / f4-5.6

i learnt that using extender auto-focus will be slower (if so, this could affect shooting of moving objects).
70-200 helps me with portraits which is one of my interesting area.

i have read few thread on similar topic, but i was unable to find details i'm looking and after reading them i'm even more confused

- any helps will be much appreciated

shenango · Mar 23, 2014

My friend uses a 70-200 f2.8 with 2x TC for wildlife and gets some very nice images. I have the 100-400 and my images with that lens are not quite as good as his. My suggestion would be the 70-200 f2.8 but with your crop sensor 60D the 70mm end may be a bit too long for portraiture. It would, however be much much better at portraits than the 100mm of the other lens. The 70-200 f2.8 would also be great for family picnics, romps in the yard and a walk in the park.

Limburger · Mar 23, 2014

Do you have an opportunity to try these lenses?

What other lens(es) do you have?

Venu Bharadwaj · Mar 23, 2014

Limburger said:
Do you have an opportunity to try these lenses?

What other lens(es) do you have?

Venu Bharadwaj · Mar 23, 2014

thanks

Limburger · Mar 23, 2014

Venu Bharadwaj said:
Limburger said:

Do you have an opportunity to try these lenses?

What other lens(es) do you have?

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Cheers Mike

Click to expand...

Mike

i had hired 100-400mm for a day and found it interesting, but not tried 70-200mm.

i have 50mm lens and Canon EF-S 18–200mm lens.

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Cheers,
VB

Any other (later) upgrade plans? I would throw that in the equation too.

Also be aware of different versions of lenses and TC's, they most likely give different results. As consider environmental sealing.

No birder wildlife photographer yet, but I may take the plunge this summer. Also think of weight, you need some dedication to this type of photography

My reasoning would be putting the money to the lens I will use the most, so 70-200+tc would be my benchmark.

--
Cheers Mike

Buchanan · Mar 23, 2014

Venu Bharadwaj said:
i'm not a pro, but keen interest in photography... i have Canon 60D

now planning to buy lens to birds/animals along with portraits - i have budget for one lens only..

so i was thinking

[1] Canon 70-200 L / f2.8 with 2x Extender or

[2] Canon 100-400 L / f4-5.6

i learnt that using extender auto-focus will be slower (if so, this could affect shooting of moving objects).
70-200 helps me with portraits which is one of my interesting area.

i have read few thread on similar topic, but i was unable to find details i'm looking and after reading them i'm even more confused - any helps will be much appreciated

--
Cheers,
VB

I have a 60D, 100-400, and the 70-200L 2.8 II but no extender so can't compare from 1st hand experience. I have read numerous threads/comments here on this subject over the years.

First of all are you talking about the non-IS 70-200L or the 70-200L 2.8 IS II?

Secondly, which 2X extender are you considering?

General consensus seems to be that the newer 70-200L 2.8 IS II coupled with the latest Canon brand 2xIII teleconverter (which is optimized for the latest lenses) will virtually equal the 100-400 in IQ, but the AF will be slower.

Other downside to the combo is that it will cost roughly twice as much as the 100-400 (unless you are meaning to go with a 70-200 non-IS and a Kenko 2x extender then the 100-400 will likely prove noticeably better in IQ and AF). A positive to the more expensive vII zoom and vIII extender would be you would end up with a more versatile package and one of Canon's very best lenses. Although for that money you also could consider the 100-400 plus a lens for portraits; something like the 85 1.8, a 50 1.4, or even the 60 macro or 100L 2.8 macro (although latter would be kind of long on your crop).

Majestros · Mar 23, 2014

You may also wish to consider the Canon 70-300L (not the non-L or DO versions). It has a very fast AF (many accounts say faster than the 100-400) and a 4 stop IS (compared to the 2 stop IS on the 100-400) as well as being weather sealed. It is unofficially compatible with a Kenko Pro300 DGX 1.4x TC as well (and will keep AF in decent light).

You will have a shorter FL than with either of the combinations you listed, but for me the advantages listed above made it worth it.

mailman88 · Mar 23, 2014

.....from http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-70-200mm-f-2.8-L-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

The Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L USM Lens is compatible with the Canon Extender EF 1.4x II and the Canon Extender EF 2x II. The 1.4x yields a still relatively fast and reasonably sharp 98-280mm f/4 lens while adding some CA and barrel distortion (a little more than offsets the 200mm pincushion distortion). The 2x extender yields a 140-400mm f/5.6 lens though results are soft with low contrast until stopped down to at least f/8. CA once again is more apparent with the 2x.

With that said....BUY THE 100-400mm

My 100-400mm pics

Dave Throgmartin · Mar 23, 2014

Venu Bharadwaj said:
i'm not a pro, but keen interest in photography... i have Canon 60D

now planning to buy lens to birds/animals along with portraits - i have budget for one lens only..

so i was thinking

[1] Canon 70-200 L / f2.8 with 2x Extender or

[2] Canon 100-400 L / f4-5.6

i learnt that using extender auto-focus will be slower (if so, this could affect shooting of moving objects).
70-200 helps me with portraits which is one of my interesting area.

i have read few thread on similar topic, but i was unable to find details i'm looking and after reading them i'm even more confused - any helps will be much appreciated

Damoo · Mar 24, 2014

Are you getting into full fledged bird/animal photography? If so, then consider the 100-400mm as an investment for your hobby. Its a heavy lens. And the push pull mechanism is a bit irritating.

Which one of the 70-200mm f2.8 are you thinking of. Is it the one with IS or the one without IS. The one with IS will cost you 2200-2500 USD depending on your timing of buy.

I am not into birding. But at times when I go, I rent the 100-400mm to use it on my 7D.

1. 400mm f5.6L (non IS) is another cheaper option.

2. The new Tamron (150-600mm) doesn't seem to be bad. Worth checking out if budget is a concern.

Good luck with your purchase & shooting.

MrFlash · Mar 24, 2014

The 70-200 with 2x is a far better option. There was a time when I owned both. When I realized that the images from the 70-200 w/2x combo were as good as the 100-400 the 100-400 hit the 'Bay.

The 70-200 w/2x is much more versatile. You get a 70-200 2.8 and a 140-400 5.6.

As far as auto-focus is concerned, reducing the amount of light that reaches the sensor by 75% will certainly slow the AF down a bit. But you are at 5.6 either way. I didn't do a direct AF comparison when I owned both, but I don't remember having any issues with AF speed with the 70-200 w/2x combo.

Symtex · Mar 24, 2014

MrFlash said:
The 70-200 with 2x is a far better option. There was a time when I owned both. When I realized that the images from the 70-200 w/2x combo were as good as the 100-400 the 100-400 hit the 'Bay.

The 70-200 w/2x is much more versatile. You get a 70-200 2.8 and a 140-400 5.6.

As far as auto-focus is concerned, reducing the amount of light that reaches the sensor by 75% will certainly slow the AF down a bit. But you are at 5.6 either way. I didn't do a direct AF comparison when I owned both, but I don't remember having any issues with AF speed with the 70-200 w/2x combo.

mailman88 · Mar 24, 2014

Like the reviews says....The 2x extender yields a 140-400mm f/5.6 lens though results are soft with low contrast until stopped down to at least f/8. CA once again is more apparent with the 2x.

NO....get the 100-400mmIS

Venu Bharadwaj · May 3, 2014

MrFlash said:
The 70-200 with 2x is a far better option. There was a time when I owned both. When I realized that the images from the 70-200 w/2x combo were as good as the 100-400 the 100-400 hit the 'Bay.

The 70-200 w/2x is much more versatile. You get a 70-200 2.8 and a 140-400 5.6.

As far as auto-focus is concerned, reducing the amount of light that reaches the sensor by 75% will certainly slow the AF down a bit. But you are at 5.6 either way. I didn't do a direct AF comparison when I owned both, but I don't remember having any issues with AF speed with the 70-200 w/2x combo.

Venu Bharadwaj · May 3, 2014

nice photos. thanks for sharing your exp.

i'm going with 100-400mm lens

tonyjr · May 3, 2014

When I bought the 70-200 mk II , the 2X III was not out yet .

Anyway , I got it because the shots at 100 to 200 mm were better . I figured I would get the 100-400 when they upgraded it .

No upgrade yet on 100-400 , the 70-200 is great for candid photos .

The 100-400 is a little faster [ push / pull ] but anything over about 250 mm , it / you need a different style shooting .

My advise would be to get a monopod and cheap QR head to start .

ME ? I am on back order for the 150-600 Tamron but I have the 70-200 , 35-350 , 135-400 and the 70-300 macro .

Freeman-Jo · May 3, 2014

Since you already made up your mind, I'll just throw a monkey wrench into it. Well, and because the 70-300mm L lens is under-voted. I assume, you refer to the 70-200mm L mark I lens. If that's the case, you want to look at the user lens review of all 3 lens. The biggest benefit of the 70-300mm L lens that under mention is the fact that it's a smallest of them all. It's about 3/4 the size of the other two. This one can fit on small bag also, never mind it's newer technology than the other two. Everyone in the review community here give this lens a 4.5 and up.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM

traceynaples · May 4, 2014

Freeman-Jo said:
Since you already made up your mind, I'll just throw a monkey wrench into it. Well, and because the 70-300mm L lens is under-voted. I assume, you refer to the 70-200mm L mark I lens. If that's the case, you want to look at the user lens review of all 3 lens. The biggest benefit of the 70-300mm L lens that under mention is the fact that it's a smallest of them all. It's about 3/4 the size of the other two. This one can fit on small bag also, never mind it's newer technology than the other two. Everyone in the review community here give this lens a 4.5 and up.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM

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If picture worth a thousand words, how many megapixel is it?
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I am having this very same delimna. I have the 70-200f4 but find it doesn't do very well in low light situations like my sons friday night football and indoor basketball games. But I love that the 70-300 is smaller and has more reach. I can't afford the 70-200 f2.8 mark 2, only a used copy of the first version with IS. I can't decide what to do. Ho?w does the 70-300 do in lower light situations on a 6D

Freeman-Jo · May 4, 2014

traceynaples said:
I am having this very same delimna. I have the 70-200f4 but find it doesn't do very well in low light situations like my sons friday night football and indoor basketball games. But I love that the 70-300 is smaller and has more reach. I can't afford the 70-200 f2.8 mark 2, only a used copy of the first version with IS. I can't decide what to do. Ho?w does the 70-300 do in lower light situations on a 6D

Define low light. I tested it in my house with a 5D3. In door with windows open to let light through in the morning is no problem. All door and windows closed with curtain and drapery, merely light leak though is a problem, it just try to focus very slowly like USM isn't there and it just won't lock on. I can shoot a digital LED clock with its own back lit in that situation and that's not a problem. Surrounding area where the back lit can hit is iffy. It will hunt but it will focus. So candle light shoot is maybe. At that point, if you aren't shooting fast moving subject, it will do.

Canon 70-200 Vs 100-400

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