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10/04/2007 10:28:52 AM · #1 |
I'm in the market to finally get a lens I can use to take Nature shots - my 50mm just doesn't work too well when I'm trying to photograph a squirrel in a tree ;).
If you had the choice between the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM or the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM, which would you choose and why?
I normally don't use a tripod so I'm wondering if the IS would have a bigger benefit to me then the higher quality "L" Lens.
Any input would be greatly appreciated!!
Message edited by author 2007-10-04 10:29:28. |
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10/04/2007 10:32:27 AM · #2 |
I would truly recommend L plus IS if you want those great shots :)
Two I have used were the 70-200 2.8L IS (with a 2x extender) and the 100-400mm L IS. Both were nice but the 70-200 had a slight edge there.
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10/04/2007 10:37:28 AM · #3 |
The quality of the 70-200 is MUCH better than the quality of the 70-300, even with IS. Everyone I know who has bought the 70-300, including myself, has ended up selling it for the 70-200. Save yourself a step.
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10/04/2007 10:39:06 AM · #4 |
I have the 70-300 IS and love it, I have tried the 70-200L also and found the quality between the two to be negligible. I am sad that Im prob going to have to sell mine to buy a new body as mine is only working intermittently now and I still dont know the fate of my 17-40 yet...
IMO my first choice would be the 70-200 F2.8L then the 70-300IS then the 70-200 F4L. I went with the 70-300 to get the little longer reach out of it...
alot of the pics in my portfolio were taken with the 70-300IS like the two below. the first in the full shot and the second is a 100% crop of the same image...
 original image
 100% crop of image above
-dave |
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10/04/2007 10:45:04 AM · #5 |
From an optical perspective I would choose the 70-200 F4L - but it doesn't give you the reach you need to get a squirrel in a tree (unless it's a very large squirrel) :-)
The 70-300 IS is a little better here. I have that lens myself and it's a great lens - but not even with this you'll get the reach you are looking for.
I'll probably sell mine and get the 100-400 L IS myself... |
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10/04/2007 10:47:57 AM · #6 |
photozone likes them both - I don't think you can go wrong with either lens
my personal experience with the 70-200 f4 L wasn't too good, I had focus problems ... but most people love it, and it is extremely sharp.
Personally, I'd pick the 70-300 for the extra reach |
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10/04/2007 10:50:22 AM · #7 |
i think maybe you're thinking of the 75-300, which sucks
the 70-300 is referred to as a "hidden L" by photozone
Originally posted by idnic:
The quality of the 70-200 is MUCH better than the quality of the 70-300, even with IS. Everyone I know who has bought the 70-300, including myself, has ended up selling it for the 70-200. Save yourself a step. |
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10/04/2007 11:12:31 AM · #8 |
I have the 70-200 and love it, but honestly, I'd go for the 70-300. The image quality is supposedly great, it's more compact, stabilized, and offers more reach. A shaky photo with a stunning lens at 200mm simply can't match a steady image at 275mm with almost-as-good glass.
Message edited by author 2007-10-04 11:14:26. |
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10/04/2007 11:18:18 AM · #9 |
While I haven't used either of these lenses, I'm a big fan of IS (on long lenses at least). I also know that I wasn't satisfied with the reach on my 70-200 f2.8L for wildlife shots. If you can swing the $, the 100-400L with IS is unbeatable, but taking price into account, I would try the 70-300 with IS.
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10/04/2007 11:34:12 AM · #10 |
I've used both lenses, sold the 70-300 and purchased the 70-200 f/2.8 L (sans IS). With a 1.4x attached, the optics remain exceptionally good while extending its range to 280mm (1DsII or 450mm on the 30D).
Mounted on a FF camera, the difference between ther two is, to me, quite discernible and not negligible.
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