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Upgrade from 70-200 f/4 IS to 70-200 f/2.8 II L or Buy 135/f2

Started Dec 1, 2015 | Discussions thread
Doug MacMillan Veteran Member • Posts: 3,695
Re: Upgrade from 70-200 f/4 IS to 70-200 f/2.8 II L or Buy 135/f2

I've used the 70-200 f/4 IS.  I own a 70-200 f/2.8 (non IS) and the 135mm f/2.

What are you looking for that you don't have now?   There are a couple of ways to think about it.  Let's say you're in a situation where you need to shoot @ 1/60th second wide open with your 70-200 f/4.  With the 135mm, you could shoot @ 1/250th wide open. That might help with camera shake slightly since the 135 is non IS, but it would definitely help with subject movement.  With the 70-200 f/2.8 IS, you'd be shooting at 1/125th in the same circumstance.

The 135mm would blur the background and isolate the subject more than either of the zooms if all are shot wide open. However, I've found shooting the 135mm wide open is tricky business.  If it were an image taken in a fast moving situation like a wedding, I'd play it safe and stop down to at least f/2.8.  I think the bokeh @f/2.8 is better with the 135mm, but it is certainly acceptable with the 70-200mm.

Having said all that, there's something special about the look of photos taken with the 135mm.  It's just a gorgeous lens.  I would suggest you pick one up to augment your 70-200.

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