New 70-200/4L IS USM, Used Tamron 70-200/2.8 VC or New 200/2.8 L II USM

Hello
During this christmas one of my local shops have 20% off on Canon 70-200/4L IS USM and wondering if I gonna buy that one to my 7D now when I use my 150-600 VC to the 6D. But there are one other alternative and that is a used Tamron 70-200/2.8 VC (from a store with 6 month guarantee). I shot wildlife at most, not so much birds in flight even If I want to begin with that to the summer.

So:
Canon EF 70-200/4L IS USM (New) for 1050 USD
or
Tamron AF 70-200/2,8 SP Di VC USD (Used, 6 month guarantee from store) for 1030 USD
or
Canon EF 200/2,8 L II USM for 850 USD (New)

I loved 2.8 when I owned the Sigma 120-300, but I also love stabilization it's hard, I got some days left to think, the rebate of the 70-200 will end on Sunday.

what do you think?

Sometimes i don't know how to advise, but if i can then i will go into points then you think about it and decide later.

1. "I shot wildlife at most, not so much birds in flight", this line giving me a sign of long lens, so i don't think you will shoot wider more than longer, for example, with 70-200 i am sure you will keep using 200 a lot and even that will be short many times unless you can get closer but this is another issue to get closer.

2. "one of my local shops have 20% off on Canon 70-200/4L IS USM", so just because of that deal now you think about it, what if there is no deal? and did you think about this first place or before?

3. Canon EF 200/2,8 L II USM is a prime lens and very sharp, maybe sharper than all other lenses you mentioned, and you can use it with TCs, so you can get 280 f4 or 400 f5.6 if we assume you use a full frame, and still you can have sharp or acceptable results more than zoom, in wildlife/birds even if you have a longer teles you may add TC, so i assume with those shorter lenses you definitely will gonna use TC sooner or later, so in this case primes to me is the winner.

4. "I loved 2.8 when I owned the Sigma 120-300", believe me, when you go with f2.8 enough time, you will have difficult time to get used with f4 even it will do the job, so think carefully what you need to sacrifice, i wish if you can win that lottery then you will buy either 70-200 2.8IS or even 200 f2L IS and never look back, but if you really win the lottery and want a lens for wildlife/birds, then nothing less than 500-800 lenses.

So why not buy Sigma 120-300 again? there is a sport version which is better, what about Sigma 150-600 sports version then over your Tammy 150-600, and what is your Tammy lacks of that you need another lens for wildlife/birds?


If it was me, then i will look at f2.8 lenses options first, so the last 2 you posted, but let's give only cons of each lens then you think more wisely:

1. Canon 70-200 f4L IS, it is f4 and heavy lens than 200 f2.8, not sure how that lens compared to the Tamron one

2. Tamron 70-200, AF and sharpness is slightly less than Canon versions even it is f2.8, so i know if i have this Tammy i still will dream about Canon or even Sigma

3. EF 200 2.8II is a prime lens, means it is limited for distances, so you must be the zoom here, many prefer zooms even less quality just for FL range ability.

Thank you so much for the replies I will try to answer in every number

1. Yeah I shot much wildlife but not only so why I choose the 70-200 in this situation it's because it has a flexibel zoom range for both my 7D (that I will use it together with, mostly. I photographing a lot from my car so If I'm in a tight road in the forest a zoom is the best choice.

2. I've owned the 4L non-is before and it was a superb lens. The IS version is double the price so I've always felt that it's to expensive, so 20% give me a better chance to buy it. IS is magic for my hands.

3.Exactly. Spot on answer

4.Yeah but when I got the 120-300 I only got 6D as a camera and miss the reach cause I don't liked the 120-300 with the 2x converter cause 120-300 had hard times to find focus in long distances. I'm not gonna buy the 120-300, it's so heavy, too heavy!. And it was not even 300 mm it was maybe 280 mm. It was not so hard to change from the 120-300 to 150-600 when the VC on Tammy is so more effective then the sigma was for me and the lack of light in the lens it's not so bad when I use it with 6D, and that's the plan, to use Tammy on 6D which handles ISO very good and cause it's a ff camera it need those 600 mm.

Those 3 last replies:

1. The 200/2.8L II weights 790 gr and the 70-200/4L IS USM weights 760 gr. The tamron weights 1470 gr.

2. Okay, I've tested the Tamron 70-200 but after reading some reviews it's a less softer wider open at 200mm and the vignetting is bad too.

3. Yeah I know, the zoom has the advantage here and the 70-200/4L IS USM is also weatherproof and that's a good thing when I'm out in the wilderness.

It's hard to decide earlier I went out early mornings to shoot, when I had 2.8 but now I'm not going out early anymore if it's not good weather outside.
So maybe 200/2.8L II USM, is the choice, cause then I've one 2.8 alternative for those situations for both my 7D and 6D.

I can get one 200/2.8L II USM used (without guarantee) for 650 USD. One thing that's important here is that I don't want to change lenses between the two cameras all the time. I want a telephoto lens for both. So the 6D need most of the range so Tammy to the 6D and a 200mm (or 70-200) for the 7D which will be a 300 mm with the aps-c sensor.

Ok, thanks for the reply and clarifying something, sorry about weight and i didn't know you need the lens for something else rather than wildlife, i really thought this thread you started about the choice lens for wildlife and maybe birds later.

Well, in this case you have 70-200 as an excellent option, but 200 is not brainier too, and i don't know if you really die to have IS, why not think about Canon 70-200 f2.8 non IS used? are you really that bad shooting without IS or have issues?

I really feel sad of those who don't look at 70-200 f2.8 non IS and only look at that 2.8IS that they can't afford, what about f2.8 IS mk1 used?

No Time.
For me, the Canon 70-200 f/4 L IS.
I am not a fan of used equipment unless I know the original owner. I would rather just save and buy new.
The zoom over the prime may be versital for your needs, plus IS.
You have three good choices. One tough choice, but no wrong choice.

If you mean used, the Tamron 70-200 is used from a local shop with 6 month guarantee. I can return it If I want and etc...it's in mint condition.
Yeah, 2.8 is 2.8. Which of these handles focusing in bad light best?

Tamron 70-200/2.8 VC
Canon 70-200/2.8L
Canon 70-200/4L IS
Canon 200/2.8L II USM

I get 20% off of all the Canon 70-200 lenses. So I can get the 70-200/2.8L USM for the same price as the 70-200/4L IS USM. But there is no weather sealing on the 2.8L?

notimetochill wrote in post #17349055
I get 20% off of all the Canon 70-200 lenses. So I can get the 70-200/2.8L USM for the same price as the 70-200/4L IS USM. But there is no weather sealing on the 2.8L?

The 70-200/2.8 has some weather sealing around the switches but the 70-200/4 IS adds the flange mount gasket at the body connection for a better seal.

When I bought my 70-200/4 IS, the 2.8 non IS was the runner up and it was a hard choice. Most of my use for that lens is outside sports so the extra stop wasn't really needed and the weigh savings is huge. Also for indoor portraits, the IS really helps when balancing flash with indoor constant lighting by allowing a slower shutter speed.

Heya,

The Tammy 70-200 F2.8 VC is a very good all around lens to have.

But if you specifically want to just maintain telephoto, the 200F2.8 prime is excellent. It takes TC's well. So you can have a 200 F2.8 and make it a 400 F5.6 with a TC if you wish, which is a lot of reach on the APS-C, so you have two cameras with similar fields of view. The prime will focus faster and on the 7D will track better for moving wildlife, and it's faster aperture makes it ideal on the lesser sensor of the 7D's ISO abilities. The 6D with it's high ISO handling is great for the 600mm Tamron to make up for it's slower nature.

Very best,

MalVeauX wrote in post #17349181
Heya,

The Tammy 70-200 F2.8 VC is a very good all around lens to have.

But if you specifically want to just maintain telephoto, the 200F2.8 prime is excellent. It takes TC's well. So you can have a 200 F2.8 and make it a 400 F5.6 with a TC if you wish, which is a lot of reach on the APS-C, so you have two cameras with similar fields of view. The prime will focus faster and on the 7D will track better for moving wildlife, and it's faster aperture makes it ideal on the lesser sensor of the 7D's ISO abilities. The 6D with it's high ISO handling is great for the 600mm Tamron to make up for it's slower nature.

Very best,

Hello
This is a great and cheaper solution. In the most situations where I'm gonna use the prime (200/2.8) is in the car and in hides. In hides it's a great solution cause the 7D needs a faster lens so I don't need to push the ISO limits and as you say the 6D, which performs very well on high ISO, can take the tammy.
I think it will maybe be this choice and if the 200/2.8L II USM lens is good on 7D it will be better on 6D I love creamy bokeh too

notimetochill wrote in post #17349378
Hello
This is a great and cheaper solution. In the most situations where I'm gonna use the prime (200/2.8) is in the car and in hides. In hides it's a great solution cause the 7D needs a faster lens so I don't need to push the ISO limits and as you say the 6D, which performs very well on high ISO, can take the tammy.
I think it will maybe be this choice and if the 200/2.8L II USM lens is good on 7D it will be better on 6D I love creamy bokeh too

Heya,

I happen to run the Tamron 150-600 and the Canon 200 F2.8L prime side by side on two cameras for this very reason. The prime is fast to focus, even with a 2.0x TC onboard, so I bird with it a lot. It's my action lens. The 600mm Tamron is the reach out and touch stationary stuff (and can bird in good light, but generally isn't as fast to focus).

Handy combination.

Very best,

So is the 200 prime a good choice for either 7D and 6D then? is it hard to handheld without IS?

notimetochill wrote in post #17349605
So is the 200 prime a good choice for either 7D and 6D then? is it hard to handheld without IS?

Heya,

Like any lens without IS, if you're paying attention to the settings you're telling the camera to use, if you keep the shutter at a reasonable speed with respect to the effective focal length, then you'll have no issues.

I use the 200 prime with and without a TC, without issue. One of my favorite birding/action lenses. And portrait lenses.

Very best,

I tried the Tamron 70-200/2.8 VC this morning in the shop. I felt when I zoom in to full that it was short, not felt like 200 mm and it was even with a aps-c camera (D7100). I know about this problem with focus breath, I don't know what they call it but I didn't thought that it was so noticeable. I don't know about that one anymore so I came across the original 70-200/4L USM and began to think if it's not the best choice in the end. I know that it's good wide-open cause I owned it before together with the 7D.

Should I buy it brand new for 570 USD or a used for maybe 400 USD?
I feel that if it so little between a new and used then I maybe take a new one?

notimetochill wrote in post #17350033
I tried the Tamron 70-200/2.8 VC this morning in the shop. I felt when I zoom in to full that it was short, not felt like 200 mm and it was even with a aps-c camera (D7100). I know about this problem with focus breath, I don't know what they call it but I didn't thought that it was so noticeable. I don't know about that one anymore so I came across the original 70-200/4L USM and began to think if it's not the best choice in the end. I know that it's good wide-open cause I owned it before together with the 7D.

Should I buy it brand new for 570 USD or a used for maybe 400 USD?
I feel that if it so little between a new and used then I maybe take a new one?

The Tammy is known to be short on the long side, but the further away the subject is, the closer to 200 it gets. It's worse on close up stuff.