IS or not to IS

I'm currently swithering between buying a 70-200 f4 L or to wait until the IS version comes out and drops below the ridivulously high launch price, probably not before Xmas.

This made me think, is IS really worth it? I love it on my 100-400 for handheld wildlife shots, but how does it affect IQ? Read some comments on charts re 70-200 f4 L IS were not very promising.

On a seperate note, this weeks review in Brithis Journal of Photography of the Noink 105mm Macro VR slates this lens. IQ of the old non-VR one is still streets ahead and even Sony's rebadged old Minolta 100 Macro is much better.

Is the old debate of IQ between primes and zooms now replaced by a debate over IS or not?

Well, reviews on the three Canon 70-200 lenses currently out are all over the place about which is better. So I don't think that you'll find IS has much impact on IQ apart from the boost it gives to stability at slow shutter speeds.

IS is for sissy's. LOL! Get the Sigma 70-200mm 2.8 EX DG HSM. Actually the 70-200mm 4L is a great lens at a great price. I have thought about getting it for when I do outside stuff that does not require the extra light gathering capabilites of my Sigma and is quite a bit lighter.

mdr,
Why? when you already have 100-200mm covered with IS with your 100-400L IS lens?
For the 70-100mm range? Seeing you have the 24-105L
It might be more worth having both if you got the f/2.8 lens to compliment your 100-400L
Just my opinion of course

John,

Valid point. So how come you have the 28-105, 75-300 and 100-400 yourself?

I am buying the 70-200 f4 L (IS) for three reasons:
1) Size, weight and obtrusiveness for specifically travel and people photography.
2) My upgrade path is 70-200 f4 L (IS) first, and later replace 100-400 L IS for 500 L IS or 600 L IS prime for wildlife.
3) My wife claims sole use of the 30D with 24-105 f4 L IS when on holidays or on day trips, giving me the 17-40 f4 L and 70-200 f4 L for my use.

Cheers,

Marc.

Hmm.. I've never missed having IS on my 70-200. If the shutter speed is getting too low for my taste, I'll just bump up the ISO and clear up any extra noise in PP.

For me the IQ of a IS shot is always better than the IQ of a shaky shot.

Personally I'm shaky so IS is my friend. Also If you can't quite get there you can still bump up the ISO giving you a few more stops to work with.

Maybe there will be a lot of used (and perfectly fine) 70-200/4's for sale once the newer IS version is out.