200mm L prime or 70-200mm L f/4.0

[hedphonz]

hey everyone i am having problems deciding whether or not i should get the 200mm L lens or the 70-200L f/4.0. i know the 200 will be sharper, though i am curious as to where i can get a good lens test of the two. please leave your advice.

[Steve Parr]

hey everyone i am having problems deciding whether or not i should get the 200mm L lens or the 70-200L f/4.0. i know the 200 will be sharper, though i am curious as to where i can get a good lens test of the two. please leave your advice.

I went lens shopping yesterday, and it was between the 70-200L f/4 and the 85mm f/1.8. I ended up with the 85mm, only because I'll use it far more often (the L-glass will come in time).

I can say this, though: I was real tempted by the 70-200L...

Steve

[CyberDyneSystems]

Whats more important to you,..

The speed of the prime?

Or the flexibility of the Zoom?

[drisley]

CDS is right.
The speed (both focus and aperture) vs flexibility is far more important than the sharpness in this case.
Both lenses are extremely sharp (with a slight edge to the prime), so that part of it isn't that big of a deal.

[clicky]

I've had the EF 200 f2.8L and it's a h##L of a lens. It's razorsharp and above anything I've ever seen, it's lightweight, small and compact. So why did I sell it? In my opinion the 200 prime is flawless, the only thing "wrong" in my opinion was the limited flexibility as a 200 prime, duh....

Sometimes, not often I regret selling it but I sold it and went for the 70-200 f/4L, and some other nifty accessories like the 1.4TC. So if the zoom-flexibility is important the 70-200 f/4L should be your choice. Are you tempted by the 200 prime and you think you'll be pleased with it's "limitations" - go for it!

Nowadays my eyes gaze at the 70-200 f/2.8IS....

You'll find a wide range of specs/tests/user opinions at the LENS section at: http://www.canonians.com/

[wiselion]

See my post http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/misc/paperclip.gif Canon EF 2.8 200mm USM L (http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=63895) on this forum list. I cannot believe the sharpness. It is unreal. Quality over quanity. I may be a newbie, but I learned this quickly.

[DaveG]

hey everyone i am having problems deciding whether or not i should get the 200mm L lens or the 70-200L f/4.0. i know the 200 will be sharper, though i am curious as to where i can get a good lens test of the two. please leave your advice.


I'm presuming that you are using this lens on a 1.6 camera.

The 200 then becomes a 320 f2.8 lens. That's great except how often will you use a 320 mm lens, that can be ONLY a 320mm lens? I had a Nikkor 300 f2.8 for my film Nikon's. I also had a 180 f2.8 and an 85mm f1.8. The zoom can be anything between 70mm and 200mm (112mm to 320mm) and that is likely to be a lot more useful even if it is a stop slower.

If you save a bit (or just jump in) and buy the non IS 70-200 f2.8L, it'll be about $400US more expensive than the 200. That gives you speed, flexibility and an empty wallet. But also - perhaps - what you need.

[hedphonz]

thanks for your help guys. i have a 75-300 and have been pleased with the results so far. so i wouldn't mind having the just the prime at straight 200 though i guess it would be nice to shoot with the flexibility just in case something came up and i wish i had the flexibility of the zoom. what i mainly find so far wen i use a zoom i am zoomed in all of the way. and i don't like to move out of it. so i love the zoom. though now what i have to decide is that i am not sure if i will want to get a better looking picture through the 70-200. i don't take sports picutres yet. i mainly take a lot of night pictures and a lot of people just walking around. i will eventually go back to chicago, cause now i teach english in korea, and take pictures of bands from far. so from hearing this info, is it still bettter to get teh 70-200?

[mgash]

Depends on what you are doing. I hike in a lot to take picures and wanted more light weight and versilaty. I really like my 70-200 f4