Canon 70-200 2.8 IS weight

I just received my new Canon 70-200 and after reading all the post referring to the lens weight being so heavy I was a little concerned. But to tell you the truth there is NO issue with the lens weight, If you cant make a day shooting with this lens then you really need to be in the gym. With the tripod ring attached it makes the lens even easier to support.
So glad I didn't wimp out and buy the F/4 because of the weight difference. Great choice.

But do you like the IQ? Did you buy it locally?

I think the lens is a great addition with no regrets, IQ outstanding, Price @ BH with discounts, fantastic. Next I'm adding a 1.4x next. Haven't had this much fun spending money in a long time.

k9trainer wrote in post #4242398
I think the lens is a great addition with no regrets, IQ outstanding, Price @ BH with discounts, fantastic. Next I'm adding a 1.4x next. Haven't had this much fun spending money in a long time.

Hi!
I rented this for a wedding and have to say, it wasn't bad at all...carried it around for 12 hours. However, from what I understand, it provides 3 stops IS, while the F4 provides 4 stops, so they are more or less equal speed lenses. I also found that at F2.8 anywhere near the 200mm end was nearly impossible to shoot with. This is because when people move even slightly, that kind of razor thin DOF moves out to quickly, so I wound up shooting at F4 for almost the whole time. So while I think it's worth considering, the F4 is as well given the most likely shooting scenarios with it.

Good luck with it..it's an unbelievable piece of hardware.

tfitz wrote in post #4242445
Hi!
I rented this for a wedding and have to say, it wasn't bad at all...carried it around for 12 hours. However, from what I understand, it provides 3 stops IS, while the F4 provides 4 stops, so they are more or less equal speed lenses. I also found that at F2.8 anywhere near the 200mm end was nearly impossible to shoot with. This is because when people move even slightly, that kind of razor thin DOF moves out to quickly, so I wound up shooting at F4 for almost the whole time. So while I think it's worth considering, the F4 is as well given the most likely shooting scenarios with it.

Good luck with it..it's an unbelievable piece of hardware.

Then how do guys shoot at 300/400mm at f/2.8? Its not impossible...You just cant focus and then wait to take a picture. Once you get focus, you need to take it or else there is a good chance your subject will move in/out of the DOF.

EDIT: And FWIW, Id rent that 1.4x before you buy it. I rented it myself and found it made my images too soft for me personally. The length is great if its something you just have to have, but you will be sacrificing IQ to get it. Its up to you if the trade-off is worth it. Wasnt for me...

Does anything really stick out, as being somewhat annoying, or do you have any thoughts about buying it? I think i'm gonna take the plunge soon, and would appreciate any/all info you'd have to say about your first thoughts!

Definately recommend this lens. Its my only L so far and it was the wrong one to buy first, because now im addicted and will have to buy more L's soon lol.

marcus769 wrote in post #4242672
Does anything really stick out, as being somewhat annoying, or do you have any thoughts about buying it? I think i'm gonna take the plunge soon, and would appreciate any/all info you'd have to say about your first thoughts!

Carrying it on your shoulder all day with the regular strap can get heavy, but for me personally, there is absolutely no downside to this lens whatsoever. I went from the Sigma 70-200 F2.8 which was unacceptably soft @2.8 to this and am SOOOO glad I did. The non IS version is supposed to be a little sharper, and saves you some weight but is something I dont think I would ever give up. thats what smart sharpen is for!

i bought mine last night... and cant wait to get sore biceps from holding this up!

But... you train dogs! That implies that you have a decent standard of physical fitness, one would think.

seriously, i played with this lens for about an hour at work yesterday and i was getting some tightness. i surf 4-5 days a week usually and im not really a slouch, and this lens was heavy....also in reply to the poster talking about thin DOF @ 2.8 and having to stop down to f/4...while that is a good reason to perhaps go with the 70-200 f/4 IS, the 2.8 will actually get sharper the more you stop it down (to about f/eight), so a shot with a 2.8IS at f4 will theoretically be sharper than a image with a f/4IS at f/4. just a theory. congrats on your new lens.

Congrats on the lens! It's a must have in the collection. Now go out and shoot something will ya! =)

tfitz wrote in post #4242445
Hi!
... I also found that at F2.8 anywhere near the 200mm end was nearly impossible to shoot with. This is because when people move even slightly, that kind of razor thin DOF moves out to quickly, so I wound up shooting at F4 for almost the whole time. So while I think it's worth considering, the F4 is as well given the most likely shooting scenarios with it...

If you are "budgeting" for shutter speed, then you can *almost* consider the lenses equal. For static subjects yes. But this extra real stop can allow you to shoot at 1/500 instead of 1/250 and freeze moving subjects.

Now, there are other factors to consider as well. An f/2.8 lens will benefit from special AF points and sensors and give faster AF with EOS bodies that support this feature. Also, the wider apperture will allow the lens to behave better in low light AF, something that can be very important for certain applications, such as indoor sports, weddings, etc.

The lens is big but not as heavy in holding it as it weighs. The balance is good and the lens gives good grips. Weight is something that can be considered subjective. Larger people can always cary it with ease. But size is something more objective, especially when it comes to fitting the kit in a small gear bag.

I used to have the Sigma 80-400, and while that lens was heavier than the 7-200/2.8, I was able to carry it easily and hand hold it for hours. But I hated the big size of an "all-round-medium-zoom-telephoto". It was all I had for shooting longer than 85mm, and it was big. I sometimes carried with me the 75-300 instead.

So, my choice on the f/4IS was the fact it is as big as the normal 70-300 telephotos and easy to carry with me everywhere.

When it comes to heavy everyone speaks from their own level. I'm 6'3" and can run up a mountain while carrying my 5 year old and 25lbs of camera equipment (did this 2 weeks ago), so keep in mind your own fitness and strength when hearing these things.

I will say that just because it seem light at first, after you take 4000 shots at a gymnastics meet it does get heavy enough to cause you to shake more, hence a monopod comes in handy.

This lens might be a touch on the "heavy" side, but the results are more than worth it. In all honesty, I don't really find it that heavy. I would call it... "Beefy." :P