70-200 2.8 IS w/TC or 100-400 IS??

Ok, heres the deal. I have been wanting to upgrade from my 70-200 F/4 L that I got not to long ago even though it is a super sharp copy! BUT I don't know whether to go with the 70-200 2.8 IS w/tele-converter or go with the 100-400 F/4-5.6L IS! I am shooting with a 20D. I shoot mostly sports and weddings, and granted the new 70-200 setup will cost me about $600 more than the 100-400, I have used the 70-200 @ weddings before (rental), and I was very impressed with the IQ. BUT I've also been lookin at sample pics from the 100-400 and have been very impressed!!! If I go with the 70-200 I'll have to save up a little longer. So what do my POTN peeps have to say?

I am sure I will be in the minority here but I would say keep the 70-200 you have and get the 100-400 (assuming that is possible)

I dont know what to say really. I mean its a trade off.

70-200+TC will have worse IQ than the 100-400 at 200+

70-200 by itself will be ( in my experience ) sharper and faster than the 100-400 at anything 200-

I guess it comes down to what you feel youll shoot more. Super tele, or just moderately tele? In the end, both are very good lenses ( although I personally hate the slide zoom )

I went through the same debate, went for the 70-200,, F2.8 IS + 1.4 TC combo. 280mm IQ from this lens should be very acceptable, especially with some PP to make the colour/contrast pop.

In my opinion 100-400 can only be an addition to 70-200, not a replacement.

There is a popular opinion that the 300 f/4 +1.4 extender is worse than the 100-400 @ 400mm. I dont own a 100-400 but ive just realised my 70-200 f/2.8 + 2x extender is also better than the 300 1.4 extender combo, so it cant be that far short of the 100-400 over 200mm

Which TC? With the 1.4x you will be at f/3.5 with 280mm or with the 2x you will be at f/4 with 400mm. Personally I would agree with the keep the 70-200 f/4 and grab the 100-400 if you feel you need it.

I personally have used my 100-400 very little since getting but I won't sell it because I would only miss it if I did. The 100-400 is also f/4.5-5.6 so slower than all variations of the 70-200 f/2.8 & TC combo's, something to bear in mind. The IQ will be better on the 100-400 than the TC'd 70-200 though, it's always a trade off.

Which suits your needs more? Do you feel you always need for reach than the 200mm you currently have? Have you considered the 70-300 DO IS? Very very nice lense!

if you're shooting weddings, no question go for the 70-200 2.8. whether or not you choose to go with the IS or non-IS version is worth thinking about. you can get the non-IS much cheaper, and some say it's sharper than the IS version...which I have and think it's just freaking fabulous.

My F4 L was superbly sharp, if my F2.8 IS (coming today I hope) is as sharp I'd be very very pleased.

I have the 70-200 f2.8 IS and the images are superb. I have the 2x converter and I have to say I'm dissappointed in the IQ when combined with the main lense.

I'd considering selling the 2x converter for a 100-400 lense, but I'd just end up leaving one of the larger lenses at home .... and I don't think it would be the 70-200 !

400d_newbie wrote in post #4061592
I have the 70-200 f2.8 IS and the images are superb. I have the 2x converter and I have to say I'm dissappointed in the IQ when combined with the main lense.

This is whats stopped me getting a TC and losing the 100-400, the IQ isn't great at 2x, 1.4x doesn't present a great drop but conversely doesn't present a great leap in focal length either.

400d_newbie wrote in post #4061592
I'd considering selling the 2x converter for a 100-400 lense, but I'd just end up leaving one of the larger lenses at home .... and I don't think it would be the 70-200 !

They are both lardy and to be honest there isn't a great deal of difference in wieght between them. The 100-400 normally sits in the boot so it's available for use if I need it but rarely in the bag.

The damn bag weighs bearly 38 kilos as it is without that in there too

Neither of the TC's allow AF on the 100-400 and dropping 2 stops at the 400 end would make it damn near unuseable in less than ideal lighting.

The wife just called, my 70-200mm F2.8 IS + 1.4TC have arrived from Kerso

h4rri wrote in post #4061618
Neither of the TC's allow AF on the 100-400

Yeah they do - just tape the pins.

Keith R wrote in post #4061675
Yeah they do - just tape the pins.

Thanks for the tip, might just pick one up now Was swaying toward the cheaper Kenko ones as the results from there were good too.

h4rri wrote in post #4061362
Which TC? With the 1.4x you will be at f/3.5 with 280mm or with the 2x you will be at f/4 with 400mm. Personally I would agree with the keep the 70-200 f/4 and grab the 100-400 if you feel you need it.

How do you get f4 at 400mm, when you're dropping two stops with the 2x.

It's 5.6.

Instead of reading through this, let's just say, save up and add the 100-400. You really can't say 70-200 w/ 1.4 or 2.0 TC to be a one over the other comparison. They are different focal lengths and although you can get away with one over the other, it depends on what you are trying to shoot or what you are trying to achieve. A 70-200 w/ TC can be enough or in my case, sometimes not enough and need to pull out the 100-400.