Canon 70-200 f4

[James01]

I ordered it last night from B&H :) $579 before $20 rebate.


After weeks of banging my head against the wall and reading every possible review I could I finally took the plunge.

Just hope I didn’t make a mistake by not getting the Sigma 70-200 2.8 EX

My main factor in deciding was the brand... I felt a lot more comfortable with buying a canon VS another brand. When I first got my 300D I ordered a sigma flash and hated it… so I returned it for the canon flash and was surprised at how much better the quality was with the canon product. Now I know that Sigma makes great lenses and that the flash incident really didn’t make my decision. I would have felt a lot better if a local dealer carried them so I could 'HOLD' them before I made my decision but I couldn’t find any so I had to make my decision based on reviews and others opinions. I would have even paid a few bucks more to give the business to a local merchant. The only camera store I could find (besides Ritz and Wolf) told me to mail order it when I asked if he could special order either one. Go figure!

Hey quick question:

On Adorama’s site it says that the MACK warranty is no good in Florida but on every other site including MACKS and B&H it doesn’t mention this… Anyone else purchase this warranty in Florida and have problems? I didn’t get it but was thinking about adding it since it’s not everyday I can spend $600.00 on a lens.

Ok I'm rambling… :) Just can’t wait to get my lens.

Thanks

[photography By Evangelos]

You have purchased a great lens. The F4 70-200 L is a great lens. I have the 70-200 F2.8 IS and the F4 70-200. I find when I do not need the larger F2.8 I use the F4 as it much lighter lens to carry and is very sharp to me it is just as sharp as the 70-200 F2.8 IS L. I cannot tell the difference between the two lenses. I acquired the F4 just last month form a professional photographer for $420.00 including the Hoya UV filter so it was a good buy and the lens was new on 6/14/03 so it is really new. The only thing is I wish I hade the tripod collar but if I need to use a tripod collar I have the 70-200 F2.8 IS lens so it is not a big deal. Best of luck you will enjoy the lens for years and will never look back at the sigma VS canon debate.

[Belmondo]

I couldn't say it better. I have the f/4.0 lens and have loved it. I am getting the 2.8, not for the extra glass, but for image stabilization. Optically, they are both fantastic. I suspect I'll be using the 4.0 at least as much because of the size/weight.
I did buy the tripod ring for the f4.0. That seems to be almost a necessity.
Good luck with yours. You're going to love it.

Tom

[James01]

Cool... thanks for the feedback. Cant wait to get it.

:)

[Vegas Poboy]

Great lens, I have'nt regreted the purchase yet. I too was worried about the extra stop but for now I'll pump up the ISO setting. Besides I saved enought to purchase the 17-40mm f/4 so thats almost two for one. :)

[maderito]

james01 wrote:
Cool... thanks for the feedback. Cant wait to get it.

:)

Looks like there may be a wait :(. I checked B&H and Adorama today: all 70-200 models (f2.8 and f4) are out of stock. Are we driving the Canon sales engine from this forum?

[dtrayers]

Wow, that was a quick sellout. I ordered my 70-200 f/4 a couple of weeks ago from B&H when I got an e-mail they had some. Glad I purchased when I did.

Amazon shows that they are in stock there. CLICK HERE (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000053HH5/qid=1068856049/br=1-19/ref=br_lf_e_19//104-6192472-6259930?v=glance&s=electronics&n=3427121)

[vvizard]

Ok. I had about the exact same question in my "what equipment for WRC-shooting" (or something similiar).. I'm also considering the Canon 70-200mm f/4 against either the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8, or the Sigma 100-300mm f/4.

WIll I regret it later if I don't take the opportunity to get my first "L"-glass now? Will there be something inside me aching later, when I've gotten the 17-40mm f/4L? Will a part of me then say: "Why the H*LL didn't I get the L-version of my 70-200mm?"

Cause this lens-business is _really_ hard on my student economy, and I plan on having all lenses I purchase for a _LONG_ time ;)

It also looks to be a little cheaper than the Sigma-alternatives. Please speak up now :) Will the "L" make up for the 2.8 aparture of the Sigma 70-200mm?

[rickm]

I'll chime in with a me too here on the F4 70-200. It was one of my first lenses I ever bought for my D30 back when, and it's still the favorite. Excellent performance for the price.

[dtrayers]

vvizard wrote:
Cause this lens-business is _really_ hard on my student economy

It's tough on a family-of-four-two-kids-in-parochial-school-single-income economy too! :D

Here's how I arrived at the "L" decision... There's only one stop difference between the Canon and the Sigma, that's the difference between ISO100 and ISO200, and with the 10D, you can easily go up to ISO800 with acceptable image quality. Plus, much of *my* telephoto shooting is outdoors, which usually has more light (usually). So f/4 vs. f/2.8 to me isn't that big of a penalty. Plus, the Canon f/4 is lighter, and I do a lot of hiking, so weight is more of an issue to me. Furthermore, in my research I concluded that the USM of the Canon is a bit faster and hunts less than the HSM of the Sigma. Lastly, the quality control of the Canon, IMO, is better than the Sigma. There is a higher probability of quality issues or compatability issues with the Sigma.

Oh yes, one more consideration for me: the Canon will hold it's value more than the Sigma should I ever want to sell it (not likely in the forseeable future).

Just one person's opinion.

[karusel]

I'll get Sigma, since I wish to couple it with x2 TC, so you do the math about light...

Sure is heavy, but what the heck...

[Belmondo]

maderito wrote:I checked B&H and Adorama today: all 70-200 models (f2.8 and f4) are out of stock.

I ordered the f/2.8 from 17th Street yesterday and it was shipped this afternoon. I already have confirmation on FedEx tracking that it has left New York. Whoopee!!

I don't know if they have the f/4, but they certainly had at least one f/2.8.

Good luck.

Tom

[maderito]

Thanks Tom. I checked around again. The lenses are back in stock at B&H and elsewhere -- with the rebates. I ordered the 70-200 f4 which complements nicely my 17-40 f4 and, my favorite, the 50/1.4. Thus, I've given in to L glass infatuation and, sadly, panic buying. But I'm a happy man :).

Tom, since I'm in the big spending mood, can I open the bid on your space rental: $1.00.

[slau]

Like everybody said: the 70-200f4 is an excellent lens. It is relatively inexpensive, light and very sharp. I wonder why Canon does not offer IS in this f4 lens. May be a 70-200f4 IS will cut into the market of 70-200f2.8 IS too much?

[Belmondo]

maderito wrote:Tom, since I'm in the big spending mood, can I open the bid on your space rental: $1.00.

Sure. If you want. The only thing is, I'd really like to see you use that dollar for more 'L' glass. I'm just not sure what you can get for a buck.

Glad you found your lens. Tom

[James01]

Hmmm B&H shows it in stock when I look it up... Did you call or something?

My only other concern with the extra stop is DOF. Will I lose much with F4 VS F2.8 when I want a more shallow DOF?

thanks again for all the comments.... and I HOPE its not out of stock. :)

[Lhrusovsky]

If B & H is out of stock, you may want to try here http://www.17photo.com/store/merchant.mvc?

I purchased mine here and would recommend them.

Larry

[defordphoto]

lhrusovsky wrote:
If B & H is out of stock, you may want to try here http://www.17photo.com/store/merchant.mvc?

I purchased mine here and would recommend them.

Larry


Wow! They have a 6-month rating of 10!! Impressive. http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1755.html

[Belmondo]

I feel like a well-informed consumer for a change. I checked all the ratings I could find on them, and they look to be golden. I ordered my 70-200 f/2.8L IS from them online after hours on Thursday evening. They called Friday morning to verify the order and didn't try to sell me anything else. They emailed me a tracking number Friday afternoon, and the lens is on its way. (at the FedEx sorting facility in Newark last time I checked).

Altogether a first class experience so far. I'll let you know when it arrives.

Tom