70-200 F/4 L?

[nwafan20]

Well, the time has finally come for me to choose a lens. At my current budget I am leaning towards the 70-200 F/4 L. It is an L lens, but I can pick it up new for about $500 after rebate. What do you guys' think?

[pgengler]

I've never used it, but I've seen plenty of good reviews about it. I'm not sure about what you plan to use it for, but if you plan to use it with a teleconverter you might be in for a surprise (it'll most likely lose autofocus with a 2x teleconverter). If you're planning to use it as-is, it's not an issue. It's also a full stop slower than the (more expensive) f/2.8 versions, which makes it a little less useful in low-light situations, but again, I don't know how you're planning to use it, and outdoors it'll be plenty fast.

[nwafan20]

I'm planning to use it mostly outdoors, as-is without teleconverter. I don't really see a situation I would use it indoors for.

[Derf]

The F4 version is the sharpest of all the Canon 70-200 lens's but you are
sitting there for hours with a magnifier at pixel level to see the differences
with the IS version and f2.8 and the f2.8IS..... here are some things to
remember. If you use the 1.4x multiplier from Canon, there is VERY
LITTLE TO NO image quality difference and you loose 1-stop. The Canon
2x multiplier there is image quality loss and you loose 2 stops.

ANOTHER NOTE... the expensive but worth it 70-200IS IS THE AWESOME
NEW LENS with the IS giving back 4 STOPS :o :o :o :o :o :o :o

ALL VERSIONS of these lenses will autfocus but you may get some extra
hunting of the zoom with low light. But all information is with the Canon
mutiplyers.

as per derf
*****YOU WILL NOT FIND A BETTER MORE PROVEN LENS THEN THE
CANON 70-200 in any version*****

Of course the best lens is a prime in the correct MM for you individual
picture. This lens is tack sharp and the best zoom lens I have seen.....

In a perfect world I would have the f.4IS and the 2.8IS with the 1.4x and
2x mutiplyers....(THEY ARE SOME BUCKS TOO).
the canon 50mm
and the is version of the kit lens.....ahhhhh to dream!



my .02c

[SmAlbany]

I have this lense and have been extremely happy with the results with respect to aviation photography. Here at KALB you can get close enough to the action so 200mm is plenty at the long end for me. I also have the 1.4 TC for the occaision when I need a little more reach. That combo works well also.

F4 is plenty fast outdoors. It's another story indoors. I've used it for hockey with iso set at 800 and it's okay - not great. Good enough for shots for fun.

I think you will be very happy with your purchase as long as the focal length meets you needs.

Good luck,
Dan

edit: BTW, I am using the lense with a 300D

[nwafan20]

Thanks guys,

My budget is in the $500 range, so is this the one you would all reccomend?

Yeah, I would get a prime, but I really need the variation in zoom here at DTW.

200mm should be fine for me, with a 1.6X camera, that is 320mm, and if I do need a little more room, i can pick up the 1.4x, that would be 448mm, that seems more than fine.

Also, if anyone has one they are willing to sell, PM me.

[T-Bird76]

In a perfect world I want a 300mm prime!

[nwafan20]

Well there ya go, looks like your perfect world costs $3,814.16 :D, its F/2.8 too!!

http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/show ... t=2&page=2

[Derf]

DROOL

[uplander]

I find the 200 doesn't give me the range I need sometimes, but I don't have a TC. I'm sure the 1.4x would work well. But besides loosing a stop, you also lose a bit of sharpness with it.

Good luck on your purchase. We'll expect to see more NWA shots from Detroit.

[whakojacko]

I currently have the 70-200 f/4. It is an incredible lens. It is great even with a 1.4x tc. However, I plan to soon trade it in for the IS version because 4 stop is = awesome + everyone has been raving about its ridiculous sharpness and extreme image quality.

[nwafan20]

Qhakojacko, you looking to sell?

[whakojacko]

Qhakojacko, you looking to sell?

sorry, already have a friend in line to get it from me :(

[madcatimages]

70-200
http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/show ... roduct=304

(Shooting at DTW you probably want at LEAST 300mm, the canon 100-400mm L might be a better for dtw (?) consider sigma lenes too! :)

http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/ (all reviews)

also check dpreview

[nwafan20]

Yeah, the thing though is the price, the 100-400 L is a bit out of my range, same with the 70-200 IS L, so I am looking at the non-IS version.