RF 70-200 f2.8 IS - will I miss not using extenders?

I own the Canon EF 70-200 f2.8 IS II. It's a superb lens that I use sometimes with the 1.4xIII on my 6D.

But I'm considering replacing it with the RF 70-200 f2.8 IS. Just for the size and weight savings. It's 2 inches shorter and almost a pound less than the EF version. But then I read that it can't take extenders, not even the new RF extenders. So no shooting at 280mm. Bummer! So I put buying the RF lens on the back-burner for now.

But, if I use the RF version on the R5, with its 45mp sensor, will I miss the extra 80mm reach an extender provides? 45mp allows for a lot of cropping.

Any opinions?

BigBen08 wrote:

I own the Canon EF 70-200 f2.8 IS II. It's a superb lens that I use sometimes with the 1.4xIII on my 6D.

But I'm considering replacing it with the RF 70-200 f2.8 IS. Just for the size and weight savings. It's 2 inches shorter and almost a pound less than the EF version. But then I read that it can't take extenders, not even the new RF extenders. So no shooting at 280mm. Bummer! So I put buying the RF lens on the back-burner for now.

But, if I use the RF version on the R5, with its 45mp sensor, will I miss the extra 80mm reach an extender provides? 45mp allows for a lot of cropping.

Any opinions?

Your correct, IMO you should be ok with cropping.

I'm not going to punish myself and do math, but I'm guessing the R5 cropped to 1.4 will give you similar to the 20mp of the 6D with the 1.4x extender. The 1.6x crop is 17mp.

Sure, cropping from 45MP goes a long way, until your subject is even farther away!

I know the EF 70-200/2.8 is heavy.  Maybe a lens strategy change may be effective.  Perhaps one of the 70-200/4 L lenses with one of the EF 300/4 L lenses?

I can tell you that once you start filling the frame of a 45MP camera, you won't want to go back.  The detail is incredible!

Well, you can tell yourself that.  What does a 20MP crop become then.  Obviously the more the merrier.

I don't print from jpegs ever, only tiff files to a LightJet.

BigBen08 wrote:

John Crowe wrote:

Sure, cropping from 45MP goes a long way, until your subject is even farther away!

I know the EF 70-200/2.8 is heavy. Maybe a lens strategy change may be effective. Perhaps one of the 70-200/4 L lenses with one of the EF 300/4 L lenses?

No, I like the RF 70-200 f2.8. But thanks for the suggestion.

I can tell you that once you start filling the frame of a 45MP camera, you won't want to go back. The detail is incredible!

For sure, looking forward to the R5.

I really like my EF 70-200 f/2.8 II, but like you said it is heavy. During last basketball season I thought a lot about moving to the RF version. The lack of TC does not really bother me. I never really thought the EF 1.4 TC did all the great on the 70-200, plus it does not really add a lot and makes the lens slower. I decided not to upgrade, for me personally I just don't think it is worth the expense. I only use my 70-200 for indoor sports. For my other shooting I find it too long for my landscapes and too short for wildlife. This is just my usage YMMV and probably does. If you really like the 70-200 range and have the budget then the RF upgrade is probably a no brainer. I hear great things about the lens. I wish it was a little less expensive.

The sports I shoot are my youngest daughter's sports. My other kids are grown. My daughter is entering HS this year and is losing interest in sports. Depending on her decision I may sell my EF 70-200.