70-300 replacement

[rhys]

Currently I have a Tamron 70-300. I'm not keen on it for several reasons:
1. It's too long. I find by 300mm optical quality has detereorated unless I pull tricks with tripods etc.
2. I'd prefer a faster aperture.
3. Sometimes it doesn't get on well with my XT, causing an ERR99. It's not frequent though.

I like the form factor - it's a nice, small lens.

Today I tried a Canon 70-200 f2.8 and it practically broke my wrist - it was that heavy! I'm jolly glad I don't have one of those!

I'm thinking of getting myself a different lens. I'm looking at the following as possible candidates:
Canon 70-200 f4L
Canon 70-200 f4L IS
Sigma 70-200 f2.8.

On the whole I didn't feel the IS on the Canon 70-200 f2.8 helped much (if any) in the shop when I tried it so I'm not that struck on IS. When I tried IS on my S1 IS, the results were spectacular. With the XT and a 70-200 f2.8 the difference was virtually zero.

I do need a lightweight lens since I had a wrist injury some years ago due to an incompetant driver (still can't believe the police didn't prosecute her). When I hold something heavy there's an agonising crunch and my wrist almost makes me scream with pain. Hence I like my XT and light lenses.

Any suggestions/comments?

[ghms421]

I've owned both the sigma 2.8 and canon f4, and if weight is an issue than go for the f4L. It is very light with superb quality (obviously).

[fi20100]

Well, I really love my 70-200 f/4 L, but I wouldn't mind if it was the newer IS version. If possible, try that one out as well. I would guess the f/4 IS should feel quite different from the f/2.8 IS... the IS is newer as well.

[LightRules]

If you want light, don't care for IS much, and want a great value lens overall, it's hard to beat the 7-2f4. It takes a 1.4x really well too.

[rhys]

I think you're right about the F4. It's the conclusion I came to. Bonus - the non-IS version is half the price of the IS model. I think I can live without IS since I use a tripod quite often.

[crn3371]

Well, if you didn't like the weight of the Canon 70-200 f2.8, you won't like the Sigma either.The 2 Canon 70-200 f4's are both excellant lenses, and lightweight when compared to their f2.8 bretheran. If money isn't the issue I'd go for the f4 IS. Don't discount it's advantages.

[rhys]

It would help if I had one locally to try but... we seem to be an Internet world where you buy sight unseen.

I just drove to a shop that swore they had the 70-200 f4 and f2.8 in stock both IS andnon IS. Turned out they only had the f2.8 IS. I couldn't get the IS to work.