Which lens would you pick?

Which one lens would you pick?

  • 70-200 L 2.8

    Votes: 89 59.3%

  • 70-200 L F4 IS

    Votes: 61 40.7%
  • Total voters
    150
Get the 2.8 IS, you know you will want one eventually.
 
Well it would appear that everyone who has replied HAVE answered the question.
In the poll........
 
I was under the impression that the f4's had the edge in IQ :shrug:
To me IS is worth more than the 2.8 aperture.
 
I would say unless you specifically know you need the extra shutter speed F2.8 would give you to freeze motion go for the F4 IS.

I have been going through the same dilemma with my 300mm lens and have settled on F4 + IS over the F2.8 I currently have. The weight saving is nice too.
 
It depends:

If you shoot fast moving things in dim light get the 2.8

If you shoot slow-moving or static things in low light, or shoot in good light, or want the best IQ then get the f4 IS.
 
hollis_f said:
It depends:

If you shoot fast moving things in dim light get the 2.8

If you shoot slow-moving or static things in low light, or shoot in good light, or want the best IQ then get the f4 IS.
Click to expand...

so say for sport F2.8 and weddings f4 IS?
what about DOF?
 
what's the cost on these?

having read about IS on other threads, it seems to be important a longer focal range
 
I voted F2.8 version due to owning one of these myself. I dont need IS really on a lens up to 200mm but then i have quite a steady hand anyway. The extra stop is great for low light and getting arty with a limited DOF.

The F4 version is a light lens and easily hand holdable. If i'd have bought one of those though there would inevitiably be situations where I'd have thought, damn i wish i'd bought the F2.8!! I dont use it as much as my 100-400L but when I do I'm always very impressed with the results!
 
Chaz Photos said:
so say for sport F2.8 and weddings f4 IS?
what about DOF?
Click to expand...


A quick look at DOF at say 200mm / 4M to subject (rough figures)

f2.8 :- 5cm
f4.0 :- 8cm

not exactly a dramatic difference, the thing to remember is that IS can't give you the 3cm DOF back ;)
 
I hired out the 2.8 IS and its a mini canon. The weight of the lens and my camera was over 2kg. After a couple of hours, my arms began to feel the strain.

Lovely lens, but I am going for f4 with IS when I goto HK in a few months, unless I can find a bargain on the for sale thread here.
 
I have the f4 non IS and will be upgrading to the 2.8 IS shortly.

I borrowed a friend's 2.8 IS to shoot the Grand Final last month.. it's another world, the f4 is a good lens, but that extra stop makes a huge difference. The limited depth of field makes a big difference in the real world, and the AF is better of course.

The IS is also good though. I'm not bad at handholding, but I still can't really get away with 1/30th at 200mm. Can with IS though.

So, as always, it depends what you shoot, and how you like to shoot it. Personally, I like 2.8 and IS, so I'll be buying both. Sure it's heavier, but my 5D and grip are heavier than my 400D. If you need it, you won't mind.

Just a thought, isn't it just the IS versions that are weather sealed? So the f4 IS will be, and the 2.8 non IS won't, if that matters to you.
 
I went for the F4L IS first, but swapped it for the F2.8. Both a stupendous, but for me the diffused backgrounds for portraits wins hands down every time.

OK for the DoF might not be massively different, but it makes a HUGE difference to the rendering of more distant backgrounds. I posted this pic yesterday, but the background is pretty much perfrect to my eye.
 
I sold my 70-200 f/2.8IS and having thought about it, I'm considering a 70-200 instead but will get the f/4 IS so it will fit in the bag with all my other stuff
 
Chaz Photos said:
CAN some one tell me how I can see the poll with out voting myself?
I must be missing something here
Click to expand...

Just vote for one then deduct it from the tally!

I've got the 2.8 IS, as I shoot fast moving objects in low light...

But between the two you are choosing it from, it really is a trade off! One or the other really.
 
Don't own the 2.8, but love the F4IS. Used to own the non-IS F4 and the new lens is amazingly good - much better than the old one. Easily the best zoom I've ever owned. I don't shoot action, and have fast primes for shallow DOF, so it's the F4 for me every time.
 
I have the non IS 70-200 F4 and it's a lovely light lens. If I had to choose again I'd go for the F4 IS option.
 
I had the F4 non-IS for a while, sold it and missed the quality. When I got my 50D I determined to treat it to good L glass so I borrowed a F2.8 IS but frankly it was sooo heavy and unwieldy that I couldn't consider owning one (I have a 100-400 L IS, so I understand big lenses). I went for a walk in the park with the 2.8 and after an hour was exhausted.

I bought the F4 IS and believe it is the best lens I've ever owned, it is light, sharp and the IS is brilliant. DOF isn't critical to me and if light is bad I just up the ISO.
 
Am I right in thinking the 2.8 would handle a 2X converter but the 4 wouldn't ?
 
andy_fozzy said:
Well it would appear that everyone who has replied HAVE answered the question.
In the poll........
Click to expand...

Grammar police here: 'Everyone' still takes the singular causative verb :nono:

Sorry, couldn't resist. Now what's this thread about again? :shrug:
 
I'd have to say the 2.8 IS for it's low light ability, creamy smooth bokeh and limited DOF. The downside is it's deceptively heavy, in fact, slightly heavier than the 100-400L, but I'm voting based on it's advantages.

If the f4 appeals for it's lightness I could well understand that too.You need to think about the combined weight when it comes to humping several fast, large aperture primes around, and sometimes bodily comfort can be the main consideration.
 
CT said:
I'd have to say the 2.8 IS for it's low light ability, creamy smooth bokeh and limited DOF. The downside is it's deceptively heavy, in fact, slightly heavier than the 100-400L, but I'm voting based on it's advantages.

If the f4 appeals for it's lightness I could well understand that too.You need to think about the combined weight when it comes to humping several fast, large aperture primes around, and sometimes bodily comfort can be the main consideration.
Click to expand...

But I have not put the 2.8 IS in this question
 
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