Change my 70-200 F2.8 IS ver I for 135 F2.0L and 200 f2.8L

I am a hobbyist and once in a while being asked by my videographer friend to take some pictures if his clients need a photographer. recently I bought a 70-200 F2.8 IS ver I. It is sharp wide open, at least to my standards.

Would you advise me to change it to 135L and 200 F2.8L? I guess my concern is more on the convenience of using zooms compared to primes.

Any suggestions and advise are appreciated. Thanks guys.

Your duo will be better at 135mm and 200 mm.

At 70-134 and 136-199, the zoom will be better.


Also, a non-photographer won't see the difference. Unless you shoot in a studio, I'd get the zoom.

That is a tough choice, but since your asking opinions, I'd rather have the 2 excellent "L's"
and "zoom with your feet". There is also a convenience of portability and you also won't be allowed
in many professional venues with that zoom. 2.0 on the 135!!!

Joemt.

imho, a hobbist with 70-200f2.8IS is good enough.

GO for it!

I sold my 70-200 for the 135L and 300L and have not looked back... You feel "awkward" without a trusty 70-200 for like a day but then get over it... I have not wished I had the zoom since I got my primes... When I did have it, 200 was too short and the only other FL I used was around 135mm... So gaining two stops at 135 along with razor sharpness wide open was quite nice... Not to mention the macro capability and insane bokeh it has... I was SO close getting the 200 f/2.8 as well, but went with the 300 f/4 IS for more reach and IS... Very happy with that decision as well!

I vote for the primes... And trust me, I was a big zoom guy who thought I could not deal with primes... Now I have three of them and want more Your photos just gain so much using primes I can not explain it. Better composition and "pop" for one, and I think it honestly makes you a bit more creative. Even the most boring items at f/2 can look awesome...

Oh, and the AF on the 135L is like lightning... Best servo I have used. My keeper rate with it was higher then any other lens shooting rollercoasters and rides at up to 120mph

I have spent the last two months asking myself the same questions. For the resale price of the 70-200mm you could almost buy both the 135L and 200L. What helped finally make my choice is that the 200L is the same apature of the 700-200mm zoom. Although I am becoming a huge fan of primes I was not willing to give up the zoom for a lens of the same focal length and speed for maybe a little more sharpness. I am keeping my 70-200mm and just ordered the 135L, it should be here Friday!!!!Hope this helps.

Well, I'm going the other way. I never use my 200 2.8 prime. I always choose the 70-200 2.8 when 200 is called for. So I'm selling my 200.
The photos out of these two different lens are, technically slightly different, but from a practical standpoint, they are essentially the same.

these are good advise. I will take them and decide later on. I guess more practice with some of my primes would also help me decide on this.

Thanks guys for your responses! They are great!

135l and. 1.4tc will essentially give you a 190 2.8

I'd stick with the zoom, I had all three at the same time and used them all but the zoom and the IS got used a lot more.

Swapping lenses is a pain in the butt

All advice is moot when you don't say what you will mostly use it for. All you will get is advice from what people think is right for them, not for you. What makes up the bulk of your shooting ?

I have both zooms and primes. Depending what I am shooting, I will either use primes or zooms. In the last week or so I haven't even mounted a prime on my camera yet have shot about 5k images.

CosmoKid wrote in post #10492017
135l and. 1.4tc will essentially give you a 190 2.8

This. If you're going to buy the 135L, pair it with a x1.4, it will save you quite some money.

bohdank wrote in post #10493247
All advice is moot when you don't say what you will mostly use it for. All you will get is advice from what people think is right for them, not for you. What makes up the bulk of your shooting ?

I have both zooms and primes. Depending what I am shooting, I will either use primes or zooms. In the last week or so I haven't even mounted a prime on my camera yet have shot about 5k images.

I do some events with low light (weddings, birthdays, etc) when asked at times. Other than that, it is mostly portraiture, landscapes...pretty much anything.

Rsyx wrote in post #10493437
This. If you're going to buy the 135L, pair it with a x1.4, it will save you quite some money.

I calculated and yes, there will be a few hundred dollar savings when I go with this route. It may be short by 10mm (190mm FL with 1.4x TC) but it could be worth it. The savings may go to other lenses.