Canon: Which 70-200?

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I have done a lot of reading and searching on here and elsewhere and I still can't decide.

The F4 is sharp and cheap, but most of my photos will be hand held and I can't help thinking that I'll miss the IS thatI have on my 24-105. Or, if I'm spending the money for an F4 IS should I actually get the 2.8? I definitely can't justify the 2.8 IS....

Lots of F4s in the classifieds here, but not seen any F4 IS, so are the F4 users selling them because they are upgrading to IS or to 2.8?

Most of my photography is rock climbing, mountain biking and landscape, certainly no studio, and not much tripod really.

I have a 100-400 which was brilliant for safari, but I haven't used since 'cos I can't realistically hand hold it, and its pretty hefty. I'll probably try to sell or trade for whichever 70-200 I decide on.

Sorry for the slightly rambling and vague post, but any thoughts on these options gratefully received.
 
I've got the F4 IS and have not got anything but praise for it.... Always gives me good results :)
 
I've owned the IS and non-IS and rate the former as exceptional. I'd say it's worth spending the extra because it's optically better and you get way more keepers. I can respect the 2.8 versions but too big and heavy for me. Add a 400mm 5.6 L to the IS L and it's a truly awesome combo. I'm not a fan of the 100-400mm L ... had three and all disappointed, so a change may give you what you're seeking too.
 
I have the f4 non IS is my bag at the moment and love it. I have also used the IS version, but most of the time did not use IS, found it to be noisy and continued use was power draining. I think that people are getting carried away with the whole IS thing at the moment. Good technique and technical understanding count for alot.

Can't comment on the 2.8 but i would imagine that the extra stops count for a great deal, which could be an advantage if you find yourself on a northerly rock face which is casting shadows.
 
I would go for the IS version of the f/4.
I was talking to tdodd about the f/2.8 and f/4 version of this lens at a meet recently.
In my opinion Tim is a very knoweldgeable guy when it comes to Canon kit and although he never said a bad word about the f/2.8 IS, the f/4 IS certainly seems like the choice for me and from what you have said, I think it would be perfect for you.
Kerso is doing a good price on these and will be buying one from him in a couple of weeks.
Sounds like you also favour IS lenses like I do as I also have the 24-105 coming from kerso this week.
If you need extra reach at some point then add a Canon 1.4x extender and you can still use IS, sadly IS doesn't work on the f/4 IS when using the 2x extender.
 
I have f4 non-IS and still get great photos out of it. I would swap for IS if I could. If you can't lift 100-400 then 70-200 f/2.8 won't be much lighter either. Better start doing plenty of exercise now if you consider that one.
 
I also did a lot of researching prior to purcashing my 70-200.
Apart from the big difference in price, the weight issue put be off all other other versions and ended up going for the non is 70-200 f4.

I mainly use it hand held, and I am not usually too disappointed with the results.
This was a recent hand held effort -

 
Thanks for the thoughts, kind of confirms what I thought really - the F4 is great, but the F4 IS is probably slightly better if I can find one. Don't think that I really need the 2.8, and the weight penalty isn't ideal.
 
Ive had them all apart from the 2.8Lis mk2 and they are all superb, I now just have the f4lis but never use it but the wife does now and again, it is a superb lens and sharper than the rest of the ones I had.
 
70-200L 4 IS is the pick for me. TBH for the kind of things I do, I would rather have four stops of IS than one stop of f/number. I know it's not the same thing, but IS and one click of ISO is a very effective substitute.

Would love the f/2.8 obviously, especially the MkII, but it's just so flipping heavy.
 
Problem solved - the missus says that she will buy me an F4 IS. Lovely lady.
 
you lucky boy you I had to buy my own
Bob
 
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