Which Telephoto Zoom Under £1,000?

Thinking of:

1. Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM @ £745
   
2. Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM @ £910
   
3. Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6L IS USM @ £865
   
4. Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM @ £250
   

I know the DO is a favorite for many, but if you aren't worried about size, then the 70-300 L is a better lens.

of course it all depends on what your intended uses are...

putting a 2X TC on the 70-200f4IS is going to cost you auto focus...

i'd rank them
3,1,4,2...i don't think the DO is worth the money

70-300L.

Take 4 out of contention. It is not even in the same league as the other 3. I had one. Key word, HAD.

In my country 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6L IS USM is more expensive than 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM. If I can get the L cheaper than DO version, I will go for L and never go back. I always look to used market online for the 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6L but rarely show up.

don't even think about #4....I have often heard it called canon's worst lens...if you want cheap, get the 55-250 it is very sharp for the money, but the autofocus hunts a little so it gets a little frustrating once in a while if you are shooting moving objects..

08photog wrote in post #16133710
don't even think about #4....I have often heard it called canon's worst lens...if you want cheap, get the 55-250 it is very sharp for the money, but the autofocus hunts a little so it gets a little frustrating once in a while if you are shooting moving objects..

you're thinking of the 75-300mm...the 70-300IS is slightly better than the 55-250IS

Go for 1 or 3.

I would probably pick 3. I have 1 because when I bought it, 3 was still quite a bit more expensive (no used market).

I have 1 and 3, have had 2

2 was nice and compact but nothing special IQ wise, 1 is a great little lens ... compact, sharp as a needle wide open and very light.

But out of all 3 I would take the 70-300mm L ... great range, not that bulky and again sharp wide open.

deanbayley wrote in post #16132433
Thinking of:

1. Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM @ £745
   
2. Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM @ £910
   
3. Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6L IS USM @ £865
   
4. Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM @ £250

Like 1 because i could buy a 2x convertor to make it into a 224 - 640mm (APS-C), don't like the size

Like 2 because its really compact and as with 3 & 4 its already 112 - 480mm (APS-C), don't like that its a full stop slower

Like 3 because its more compact than the 70-200's

Like 4 because of the price but i expect its a you get what you pay for deal

Leaning towards 2 (Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM) opinions please.

Dean.

I spent a couple of years working with aCanon 70-300mm image stabilizer lens. The unit easily generated images such as these.

OK not a lot of love for the DO lens, 70-300mm L it is then..

The tamron will likely be the same as the canon budget lens?

Dean.

DreDaze wrote in post #16133722
you're thinking of the 75-300mm...the 70-300IS is slightly better than the 55-250IS

:o you are correct, that s exactly what i was thinking of...oops.

deanbayley wrote in post #16134098
OK not a lot of love for the DO lens, 70-300mm L it is then..

The tamron will likely be the same as the canon budget lens?

Dean.

From actual experience with the lenses, they're essentially identical performers. The Tamron version was used to create these images.

The 70-300 DO seems a good lens. I haven't used it myself, but a friend of mine does and she's happy with it, gets good shots with it.

Of the lenses you mention, I'd definitely choose the 70-200/4 IS. I just got one as a backup to my 70-200/2.8 IS and am finding it an excellent alternative. It's a real workhorse of a lens, like all the Canon 70-200s.

You can use the 70-200/4 IS with a 1.4X teleconverter. With very few exceptions I wouldn't recommend a 2X on it or any other zoom, since image quality will take a serious hit and most will not be able to autofocus, except with f2.8 zooms or using the lens on a 5DIII or 1D series camera. I have 70-200/2.8 "Mk I" and 2X Mark II, and will not use the combo... to much loss of IQ (I use the 2X on a couple other lenses). One exception regarding IQ is the latest 70-200/2.8 IS II and the 2X III, which seems to work pretty well together. Some people seem happy with it, others have not been. Of course, it's a very expensive and rather large combo.

All the 70-200 lenses are Internal Focusing (IF) and internal zooming. This means they don't change length when zoomed or focused, making them better balanced and more easily sealed against dust and moisture intrusion.

All the 70-300 lenses are not IF or interal zooming.... this allows them to be smaller when retracted all the way. Variable aperture designs (i.e., f3.5-5.6 instead of just f4 designation) also allow lenses to be smaller.

My recommedation would be the 70-300L. It's an outstanding lens.