Canon 70-210 F/4 vs Canon 70-200 F/4

[KHogan]

Hi,

Does anyone here have any experience with Canon's older 70-210 F/4 zoom lens? Also does anyone know if the newer 70-200 F/4 L is the replacement for this 70-210 which is no longer made by Canon? I'd be interested in hearing how the older 70-210 compares with the newer 70-200.

I really like the 70-200 F/4 although (and you may think this is ludicrous) I am not attracted by the white lenses. I would prefer Sigma's 70-200 F/2.8 to Canon's equivalent just because it's black (all other things considered of course). That said, both F/2.8 versions (Sigma's and Canon's) are too heavy for what I want. Hence the 70-200 F/4. But, I had a chance to try out the older 70-210 F/4 and was really quite impressed. I'm wondering what I'd be giving up by opting for the older lens over the newer 70-200 F/4.

Thanks for any insight...
Kharim

[Rudi]

Kharim,

I have not tried the older zoom (unless you mean the FD mount), but I did purchase the 70-200 f/4 L, and it's my favourite zoom. It is the closest you're going to get to a prime lens without actually buying a prime. Optically and mechanically it's the best zoom I own (and the two versions of this lens, the f/4 and the f/2.8 versions are considered to be the best zoom lenses in the Canon line-up). I, too, think that the white lens attracts unwarranted attention, but hey, I'm willing to live with it if it gives the performance that I want... :)

(I used to own the older FD 70-210 f/4 lens with my Canon A1, and that was a very nice lens, but not as nice as this L lens...).

BTW, a friend of mine has the f/2.8 version of this zoom, and that is a great lens, but I actually prefer the f/4 version. It handles much better in my hands, and is a pleasure to use, where the f/2.8 is just not as easy to handle. Unfortunately, this is one of the situations where the f/2.8 version replaces so many prime lenses, I will probably eventually end up with one. Even more unfortunately, this is also one of those situations where I will most probably want to keep the f/4 version as a travel lens, because of the size and weight. :)

Seems strange to have two zooms of exactly the same focal range, but I don't think I'll want to part with the 70-200 f/4 L...

HTH,

[KHogan]

Hi Rudi,

Thanks so much for such a detailed response. The older 70-210 F/4 is indeed an EF lens. It's also a push-pull type zoom which I don't normally care for but I didn't find it a problem in this case. I was able to try out the lens for a few days.

I really like the newer 70-200 F/4 but if I can have the same or very similar optical quality in a smaller non-white version, I prefer that. The F/2.8 lenses are simply too heavy for me. I rarely use a tripod for what I do and it's just way too much weight to lug around all day long. At least for me...I'm not that big. So until the day I really absolutely can't do without a heavy 2.8 zoom lens, I'll probably stick with the smaller lighter F/4's. :) I can understand you keeping both lenses in the same focal range. Makes perfect sense to me. :)

Thanks again,
Kharim

[oops]

I also have the 70-200 f/4 and would never part with it. But, hey, I still have my G1 because it's my bud. Like the 70-200 f/4, we have seen a lot of dirt and a lot of action and it's paid for.:)

I could have been a wine collector and my shelves could be lined with the very best that I am horrified to open. As it is my shelves could also be lined with lenses that have been opened, tasted, tasted, and capped for another tasting of my choosing.

My point? If it tastes good and you can afford it, buy it. Promise your wife she can bury you with all those "damned lenses"!8)

Buy 'em both.

[rootcausefound]

Hi Kharim,

Ah! 70-210 F/4! That was one of my first EF lenses when I bought EOS630 and I still keep it because no one wants that!

Well, I have stopped using it ever since I got EF 85mm, 135mm, 200mm lenses. Yeah, I am a kind of fixed length lens guy.

I don't know about 70-200 so I cannot write comparison but here are some reasons why I stopped using 70-210.

1. The quality at open f stop is not good. I always tried to use f/8 or down bellow.

2. Very dirty "bokeh" or double line effect in background blur.

3. Cannot use circular PL filter.

4. AF is slow and noisy.

5. Squeeze itself if you don't hold the lens like on the tripod and aim up above.

Well, that's my impression.

Yasu

[KHogan]

Yasu and Chris,

Thanks for sharing your experiences with these lenses. I suppose the bad news is that the white lens seems to be the clear winner between the two. :( The good news is that I won't be spending money I would've regretted later. :)

Thanks again!
Kharim