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Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

10/09/2007 05:14:00 PM · #1

well ive been contiplating getting a new lens for about 3 months now it has come to the 100-400, 300 f/4is, and the 400 f/5.6. i already own a 70-200f/4 but would sell it to get the cash for the 100-400. i find that the 100-400 would be my best bet because it reaches every range i could ever want. i mainly shoot sports such as surfing, which i find a 300 does the job respectfully. although i would love to have the extra 100mm for the big days that roll around once in a million years. i have rented the 300 and am very happy with the rusults. i find that the quality is odly nicer than the 70-200(which is supossed to be the sharpest.) thanxs

superscrub99

Nikon D200

10/09/2007 05:25:40 PM · #2

I've shot with the 100-400 several times and been disapointed with its lack of sharpness every time. Also not being a super fast lens has its downsides. I shoot a lot of surfing myself and usually find myself in the 300-400mm range though, so yeah, tough call.

Balko

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

10/09/2007 07:23:30 PM · #3

I had the 70-200 2.8L IS USM and sold that to get the 100-400 - and while it is a nice lens, it just was not as good as the 70-200 - and I used with with a 2x converter! If I could afford another, I would grab it in a NY minute!

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

10/09/2007 08:14:11 PM · #4

I would never part with my 70-200 2.8L IS lens. It is the very sharp and extremely versatile (I use it for a LOT of different things).

But for shooting sports ... I now only use the 70-200 in low light.

For normal shooting, I was using the 70-200-plus-2x-extender and kept complaining about how soft the images were. I switched from that to the 100-400 4.5-5.6L lens and don't regret it one bit. I find the 100-400 lens to be very sharp. Not as sharp as the 70-200-minus-2x-extender, but definitely sharper than the 70-200-plus-2x-extender.

Take a look at these recent photos ... all shot with the 100-400 lens:

AST Dew Tour

SamDoe1

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

10/09/2007 09:30:47 PM · #5

What about the 300mm + 1.4x? You'd get a 420mm f/5.6 with IS and can take of the extender when you don't need it.

awpollard

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

10/09/2007 10:00:25 PM · #6

I've been playing with my week and a half old 100-400mm and have been nothing but amazed in the sharpness and detail on both ends of the range. My 70-200mm 4L is going on a rebel body for the wife to use, I don't know if I'll ever use that one again.

I do have a learning curve with lighting with this thing how ever but it prolly just what I am shooting. I get into situations where I lose the subject and make this thing hunt a bit to get back on track. Again a lot of it is the way I've been shooting it and what I have been shooting.

I have thrown my Kenko Teleplus Pro 300 DG x1.4 TC on it (manual focus because it becomes a f/8) and the detail on the long end is amazing.

Now the extra 3 lbs takes a bit of getting used to in the first week.

10/10/2007 07:38:29 PM · #7

ya, i have been thinking about getting the 70-200 and slapping a 2x's on it, but ive been hearing mixed reviews about the entire ordeal. i really would think the 70-200 would be my best bet cause i love my 70-200 f/4 and the 2.8 is amazing. i have tried it out at night and i just fell in love with it. i was shooting at like at 60th with mine and then i slamed that baby on and i was shooting mabey 160-200 varying on the location i was in. this was at a night football game at like 9pm. i was astonished. i find that, the 70-200, with the fast lower end would be my best bet as far as me shooting sports goes. well thanxs alot!!!

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

10/10/2007 07:39:39 PM · #8

and dont quote me if im wrong, but if i slap and 1.4x or a 2.0x on the 70-200, it wont dissable the auto focus. correct? cause thats my biggest fear. but i think it allows af. thanxs

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

10/10/2007 07:50:34 PM · #9

Originally posted by jaimeDp:

and dont quote me if im wrong, but if i slap and 1.4x or a 2.0x on the 70-200, it wont dissable the auto focus. correct? cause thats my biggest fear. but i think it allows af. thanxs

A 2.x on the 70-200 2.8L will cause the minimum aperture to become f/5.6 which is still within AF range.

Slapping a 2.x onto an f/4, however, makes it f/8 which won't auto focus.

SamDoe1

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

10/10/2007 08:59:20 PM · #10

Originally posted by jaimeDp:

and dont quote me if im wrong, but if i slap and 1.4x or a 2.0x on the 70-200, it wont dissable the auto focus. correct? cause thats my biggest fear. but i think it allows af. thanxs

Just coming from experience on this one, putting a 2x converter on the 70-200 f/2.8 degrades the quality quite a bit. You would have to stop down about f/8-f/10 before you start getting good results again. If you can go with one of the long primes, that's where I would suggest you go.

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

10/10/2007 09:19:00 PM · #11

I saw the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM for the first time "in person" today. There is a local shop pictureline.com which rents lenses. They had it on display. $80/day is the going rate. If only I had had a reason to take it with me ... it'd been rented in an instant! :-)

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

10/10/2007 11:07:40 PM · #12

haha, ya, if i had 5grand, then i might consider getting that piece of glass. then again, i could just settle with a mark II, 400 f/5.6, 16-35 and heaven knows what else.

slickchik

OM System OM-1

10/11/2007 12:53:04 PM · #13

I have been thinking the same thing...sell my 70-200 f/4 and get the 100-400.

But I am very happy with image quality with the 1.4x plus the 70-200 f/4...are you guys saying that the 100-400 would not be as sharp as the combo I am using?

NVPhoto

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

10/11/2007 12:56:14 PM · #14

I have a 70-200 f4 and the 300 f4 available for rent and the 70-200 2.8 IS will be back eventually..

//www.rentphotostuff.com