70-200 F4L vs. 70-300 IS

[markush]

Hi all i am curious if anyone else has been able to compare these two lenses side by side. I've had my 70-200 F4L for two years and was happy with it until a friend got a 70-300 IS (not the DO version). I set up a tripod and snapped some pics with both and also included an old Canon 75-300 kit lens that i got with a rebel film camera. All pics were shot with my 20D at 100iso at 200mm and F8. IS was turned off on the 70-300. Now my problem... My F4 L was softer and the color saturation was less then both the others...even the cheapie 75-300 was better!! The 70-300 was the best of the 3 making my L lens look like garbage. The glass is clean...the F4 L has had a Hoya Super HMC uv filter on the front since new (taken off for this test). I don't believe the F4 is front or back focusing either because there were light poles both in front and in back of the billboard i shot and all are equally softer with the L then the 70-300 IS. Since my L is out of warranty would it even be worth having Canon look at it? I totally hate how the 70-300 (grows) by about 3 inches when zoomed and the plastic body...but the images are so much better and the IS is really nice when zoomed in and hand holding.

[gugu]

Hi all i am curious if anyone else has been able to compare these two lenses side by side. I've had my 70-200 F4L for two years and was happy with it until a friend got a 70-300 IS (not the DO version). I set up a tripod and snapped some pics with both and also included an old Canon 75-300 kit lens that i got with a rebel film camera. All pics were shot with my 20D at 100iso at 200mm and F8. IS was turned off on the 70-300. Now my problem... My F4 L was softer and the color saturation was less then both the others...even the cheapie 75-300 was better!! The 70-300 was the best of the 3 making my L lens look like garbage. The glass is clean...the F4 L has had a Hoya Super HMC uv filter on the front since new (taken off for this test). I don't believe the F4 is front or back focusing either because there were light poles both in front and in back of the billboard i shot and all are equally softer with the L then the 70-300 IS. Since my L is out of warranty would it even be worth having Canon look at it? I totally hate how the 70-300 (grows) by about 3 inches when zoomed and the plastic body...but the images are so much better and the IS is really nice when zoomed in and hand holding.

My biggest dilema in life right now is if i should get the 70-200L or 70-300 :)

[steved110]

Get your L looked at, it is supposed to be streets ahead of consumer zooms. It will cost you a lot less than buying a 70-300 IS, and you should end up witha much better lens.
Just my 2p
Steve

[vjack]

The 70-300 IS appears to have a focus problem when used in portrait mode (shooting horizontally) and zoomed out base about 220mm. Of course, that may or may not be relevant for many users.

[LightRules]

See this http://www.pbase.com/fstopjojo/70300s and this http://www.pbase.com/fstopjojo/verticalprob . Finally, I am very pleased with the 70300IS.

[vjack]

See this http://www.pbase.com/fstopjojo/70300s and this http://www.pbase.com/fstopjojo/verticalprob . Finally, I am very pleased with the 70300IS.

So, would you recommend this over the 70-200 f/4 in spite of what it seems to take to get a decent copy? I'm not sure how many of us would have the patience to go through 7 copies of a lens, but I don't suppose the portrait focus issue is going to be a problem for everyone.

[LightRules]

So, would you recommend this over the 70-200 f/4 in spite of what it seems to take to get a decent copy? I'm not sure how many of us would have the patience to go through 7 copies of a lens, but I don't suppose the portrait focus issue is going to be a problem for everyone.

I suppose I'm in a "fortunate" position to not only live 30 mins from Canon Irvine but also have a few very good contacts there, both of whom kept working with me on this and provided new copies at a moment's notice. As frustrating as the experience was, it helped out.

I still recommend this lens. It's IQ is really good, and having a lens with latest generation IS plus almost 500mm FOV (on a crop body) in such a lightweight package is something no other lens offers. All I can say is that given a normal, working copy, it's a tremendous lens. I hope no one has to go through 7 copies; in fact I would hope you would only need 1 to get it right.

[Ross McT.]

I love the the 70-300 also!
The vertical orientation can be an issue if you shoot a lot at 300mm in vertical orientation.
IS is a wonderful thing!

[vjack]

Here is some more info on the 70-300, including some useful links to threads on other forums: http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00EzHY&tag=

It looks like the primary concern around the vertical issue is whether it is going to become worse over time. Given the number of people reporting the problem, I can't help wondering if a recall is coming.

[ed rader]

Here is some more info on the 70-300, including some useful links to threads on other forums: http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00EzHY&tag=

It looks like the primary concern around the vertical issue is whether it is going to become worse over time. Given the number of people reporting the problem, I can't help wondering if a recall is coming.

a recall is doubtful imo. the 70-300 is a consumer lens and that means compromises. some say the 75-300 is unusable from 200-300 so if the 70-300 has a problem in portrait orientation fully extended BFD.

actually the lens had been out for months before a tester "discovered" the problem and everyone jumped on the bandwagon.

put away the rulers and newspapers and buy the lens you want.

erader

[LightRules]

put away the rulers and newspapers and buy the lens you want.

While I would agree to "buy the lens you want", the attitude in your comment is not only unhelpful but very naive (not in a derogatory way). I don't know if you've handled or even shot with the 70300IS, but for those that have this very real and legitimate issue, it's not a small thing (to them at least). I don't want to re-hash all I've reported already, but if you were consistently getting this at 300mm in vertical format, would you be pleased with plunking down $600? http://www.pbase.com/fstopjojo/image/55415981/original

As this is a lens forum, it's prudent when a real issue (i.e., when the evidence is there) arises to inform the public. But to simply "put away the rulers" is far too simplistic and also is very unhelpful.