Help, please: Which 70-200 ?

I need a 70-200mm for my 5D !
Should I get the IS f2.8 or IS f4 ? I like travelling; so the weight is an issue (= f4). But also having f2.8 is an adventage ...
At Fred Miranda's page, I see the f4 is rated better/higher than f2.8 ...
Do you have any experience with these lenses - and can help me decide ?
Thank you !
Espen.

have you thought about the F4 IS?

Neither 70-200 is particularly compact, so I dont know whether it's the best lens for traveling. However, the F4 is very light, and very good in well lit conditions. The 2.8 is obviously heavier, but better in low light. It's really down to what you value more, and what conditions you shoot in.

i'd go with the 2.8L IS USM

I have an F4 and really do wish I had pushed my money and gotten the F2.8L IS. Yes the F2.8 is heavier, but its versatility makes it worth dealing with the weight variance. The F2.8 is something you can use both indoors and outdoors... where as the F4 best performs outdoors. Like Scott pointed out: it's the whole low light issue.

Can't have your cake and eat it two. 2.8 or light weight with IS.

You might see the f/4 rated higher than f/2.8, and technically its true, but only for the pixel peeper. It defintely is not better if you are shooting indoor stuff like basketball or volleyball. And with the 5D, you can do high noise and still get good shutter speeds with f/2.8 at your side.

I travelled with my two L lenses and it was heavy enough. Especially if you're hiking or walking for long, it will start to weigh you down.

I see IS as unecessary weight and bulk. I never needed any IS, ocasionally I just bumped up the ISO, but never to 1600.

The reason for me being able to get by without IS is that I never allowed myself to get used to it in the first place.

Sigma 70-200 f/2.8

Then I'll get my f2.8L IS this afternoon ! Living in Norway; it's more or less dark from october untill march, so ... Thank you !!
Espen.

grego wrote in post #2275344
Can't have your cake and eat it two. 2.8 or light weight with IS.

You might see the f/4 rated higher than f/2.8, and technically its true, but only for the pixel peeper. It defintely is not better if you are shooting indoor stuff like basketball or volleyball. And with the 5D, you can do high noise and still get good shutter speeds with f/2.8 at your side.

Thanks; this low light info is important to me !
Espen.

Olafshus wrote in post #2275235
I need a 70-200mm for my 5D !
Should I get the IS f2.8 or IS f4 ? I like travelling; so the weight is an issue (= f4). But also having f2.8 is an adventage ...
At Fred Miranda's page, I see the f4 is rated better/higher than f2.8 ...
Do you have any experience with these lenses - and can help me decide ?
Thank you !
Espen.

Yes but then its only had 10 reviews against over 100 for the f/2.8 IS so not a fare comparrison yet.

Why not get the f4 and a flash for the dark days?

mdr wrote in post #2275534
Why not get the f4 and a flash for the dark days?

Or move to Iceland

I would go for the F4 IS personally. Unless you are primarily shooting low light situations, the IS should more than make up for the times you find yourself in low light. And if you are traveling, the F4 version is much nicer to carry on long hikes and such.

If I could and had the money, I'd go for the f/2.8L IS, but the f/4 one is a good lens for the buck.