Which Lens Is a Better Choice?

Goldenstars08 · 28th February 2005

Is the Canon 70-200 L F/4 a better choice
or the Tokina 80-200 F/2.8 a better choice.

I am saying in term of the Quality, Sharpness, F-stop and so on.

Thanks in advance for any reply...

mpenza · 1st March 2005

Instead of Tokina, most people consider the Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 EX HSM as the 3rd party alternative to Canon for this range due to the faster focussing and generally good optical performance.

mpenza · 1st March 2005

if you need the f2.8 and don't mind the weight, go for the Sigma. Else go for the 70-200F4L.

zhangyb · 1st March 2005

tried all 3 before and in my very personal preference, i like the F4/L that i own, not because bias due to ownership. I dun remember much about the tokina as i didn't play much but the sigma 2.8 is much heavier and overall i like the feel of the f4/L more. The edge sigma has over the F4 is the F2.8, sharpness for sigma also good as long as you don't get a lemon copy.

if you want a walkaround lens, the f4 wld be ideal

nightwolf75 · 1st March 2005

dunno which cam u are currently using. but, if u do happened to buy a tokina, do make sure it can work on ur current canon body(s). i used to have a 80-200mm (red ring) which worked on my 10D but not on my EOS 30. later found out dat this older lens (compare to the current gold ring version) don't work some of the EOS bodies. the current gold ring version shld work on all bodies.

dat aside, the tokina is heavy! very solid construction - ie can take a bit of punishment without a whimper. the focusing on my red ring is a tad slower than canon's USM. however, dat is to be expected of any 3rd party lenses. slightly soft at f2.8, also expected. nothing dat can't be cured with a bit of sharpening in PS. the colours on my ex-tokina was netural. not excessively muted or faded. with a little colour adjustmens to my RAW files, the colours can be restored to its original.

in the end, tho i was quite okie with the lens, i sold it off to another EOS 1N user becos i wanted a lens to be able to work on both my cam. the tokina is a little cheaper than the sigma. but, depends on u whether u mind the weight. the sigma, with the HSM motor, focuses faster than the tokina. also, its much lighter. my sports/events shooting colleagues in office swear by this lens. come to think of it, except for one richer guy who has the f2.8 IS USM lens, the other 2 all uses sigma. if u buy the sigma, do make sure u test for back-focusing problems? there are some known issues regarding back-focusing problems with some batches of this sigma lens.

megaweb · 1st March 2005

If you dun shoot a lot of indoor, get 70-200mm f4L.

ghost77 · 1st March 2005

Get the 70-200mm f4L.

I love this lens...

ghost77 · 1st March 2005

dkw · 1st March 2005

Originally Posted by ghost77

Get the 70-200mm f4L.

I love this lens...

Excellent! What shutter speed if you don't mind, and do you miss the IS?

Cheers,

ghost77 · 1st March 2005

For the first pic
Tv( Shutter Speed )
1/200
Av( Aperture Value )
4.0
ISO Speed
800
Lens
70.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length
200.0 mm

For the sec. pic
Tv( Shutter Speed )
1/400
Av( Aperture Value )
4.0
ISO Speed
1600
Lens
70.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length
200.0 mm

For the Third Pic
Tv( Shutter Speed )
1/160
Av( Aperture Value )
4.0
ISO Speed
800
Lens
70.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length
70.0 mm

For the fourth pic
Tv( Shutter Speed )
1/320
Av( Aperture Value )
4.0
ISO Speed
1600
Lens
70.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length
188.0 mm

Thanks.

ghost77 · 1st March 2005

For the last pic
Tv( Shutter Speed )
1/400
Av( Aperture Value )
4.0
ISO Speed
1600
Lens
70.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length
200.0 mm

Thanks.

centrino · 1st March 2005

used both canon f4L and sigma f2.8. personally prefer sigma.
f2.8 and f4 is quite big difference to me especially for tele lens.

u should try both before decide.

user111 · 1st March 2005

take the canon f4

Goldenstars08 · 1st March 2005

Thanks all for reply.

Any more......reply...

theITguy · 1st March 2005

Want my reply? Buy my F4L

hard sell

But seriously, try both lens first, see which you like.

Goldenstars08 · 2nd March 2005

Thanks all for reply...

I think i will save up for the Canon F/4L.

Belle&Sebastain · 2nd March 2005

Originally Posted by Goldenstars08

Thanks all for reply...
I think i will save up for the Canon F/4L.

buy theITguy's lens!!!

theITguy · 2nd March 2005

Originally Posted by Belle&Sebastain

buy theITguy's lens!!!

Good idea. Seriously, Goldenstars08 if you are interested in having a try on the 70-200/4.0, you can pop in at our meetup for the 50+36 gathering when we view our photos. I will be bringing my len over let you try try. Of course no buying lah, coz I say liao let you try try.

I think the best is whether the person likes the len or not, not because someone else like it. I do not like zoom lens, or rather I used them like prime

Belle&Sebastain · 2nd March 2005

Originally Posted by theITguy

Good idea. Seriously, Goldenstars08 if you are interested in having a try on the 70-200/4.0, you can pop in at our meetup for the 50+36 gathering when we view our photos. I will be bringing my len over let you try try. Of course no buying lah, coz I say liao let you try try.

I think the best is whether the person likes the len or not, not because someone else like it. I do not like zoom lens, or rather I used them like prime

you are suppose to bring ONLY your 50mm lens for the outing!!!
JUST PULLING YOUR LEG MAN!

Keltzar · 3rd March 2005

The most likely important advantage of the 70-200/4 L is that its probably more portable (well, at least it was when I compared it to my 80-200/2.8L) and that 5 years from now it will probably work on your new EOS camera.

Don't underestimate the importance of weight. You won't use a lens you don't carry.

Don't underestimate the importance of compatibility, unless you plan to change your equipment every 2-3 years (which is the problem with sigma and some tokina lenses due to compatibility issues).

And depending on what you usually shoot ... unless you need the bokeh of f2.8 at 200mm, your loss of one-stop is easily made up for in a DSLR by upping the ASA by one stop (couldn't do that with film so easily).

I have had my 80-200/2.8L for 10years and am happy with it. It was a replacement for a Sigma 70-210/2.8 then which broke-down 2weeks after purchase. That Sigma would have been incompatible with today's cameras. I'm sure the new Sigmas are better optically and mechanically ... but the electronics are the issue.

28th February 2005	#1
Goldenstars08 Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,139	Which Lens Is a Better Choice Canon 70-200 F/4 or Tokina 80-200 F/2.8 ? Is the Canon 70-200 L F/4 a better choice or the Tokina 80-200 F/2.8 a better choice. I am saying in term of the Quality, Sharpness, F-stop and so on. Thanks in advance for any reply... Last edited by Goldenstars08; 28th February 2005 at 11:48 PM.

1st March 2005	#5
nightwolf75 Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: in bet MORE diaper changes... Posts: 14,564	dunno which cam u are currently using. but, if u do happened to buy a tokina, do make sure it can work on ur current canon body(s). i used to have a 80-200mm (red ring) which worked on my 10D but not on my EOS 30. later found out dat this older lens (compare to the current gold ring version) don't work some of the EOS bodies. the current gold ring version shld work on all bodies. dat aside, the tokina is heavy! very solid construction - ie can take a bit of punishment without a whimper. the focusing on my red ring is a tad slower than canon's USM. however, dat is to be expected of any 3rd party lenses. slightly soft at f2.8, also expected. nothing dat can't be cured with a bit of sharpening in PS. the colours on my ex-tokina was netural. not excessively muted or faded. with a little colour adjustmens to my RAW files, the colours can be restored to its original. in the end, tho i was quite okie with the lens, i sold it off to another EOS 1N user becos i wanted a lens to be able to work on both my cam. the tokina is a little cheaper than the sigma. but, depends on u whether u mind the weight. the sigma, with the HSM motor, focuses faster than the tokina. also, its much lighter. my sports/events shooting colleagues in office swear by this lens. come to think of it, except for one richer guy who has the f2.8 IS USM lens, the other 2 all uses sigma. if u buy the sigma, do make sure u test for back-focusing problems? there are some known issues regarding back-focusing problems with some batches of this sigma lens. __________________ When did ignorance become a point of view? - Dilbert budget AD/ROM shooter, anyone?

1st March 2005	#6
megaweb Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: East Posts: 8,106	If you dun shoot a lot of indoor, get 70-200mm f4L. __________________ See my Photo Gallery at the Clubsnap \| Pbase

1st March 2005	#7
ghost77 Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Singapore Posts: 464	70-200mm f4L. Get the 70-200mm f4L. I love this lens... Last edited by ghost77; 1st March 2005 at 11:42 AM.

1st March 2005	#8
ghost77 Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Singapore Posts: 464	more..

1st March 2005	#2
mpenza Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: New York City Posts: 13,397	Instead of Tokina, most people consider the Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 EX HSM as the 3rd party alternative to Canon for this range due to the faster focussing and generally good optical performance.

1st March 2005	#4
zhangyb Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 775	tried all 3 before and in my very personal preference, i like the F4/L that i own, not because bias due to ownership. I dun remember much about the tokina as i didn't play much but the sigma 2.8 is much heavier and overall i like the feel of the f4/L more. The edge sigma has over the F4 is the F2.8, sharpness for sigma also good as long as you don't get a lemon copy. if you want a walkaround lens, the f4 wld be ideal

1st March 2005	#10
ghost77 Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Singapore Posts: 464	70-200 L4 For the first pic Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/200 Av( Aperture Value ) 4.0 ISO Speed 800 Lens 70.0 - 200.0 mm Focal Length 200.0 mm For the sec. pic Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/400 Av( Aperture Value ) 4.0 ISO Speed 1600 Lens 70.0 - 200.0 mm Focal Length 200.0 mm For the Third Pic Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/160 Av( Aperture Value ) 4.0 ISO Speed 800 Lens 70.0 - 200.0 mm Focal Length 70.0 mm For the fourth pic Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/320 Av( Aperture Value ) 4.0 ISO Speed 1600 Lens 70.0 - 200.0 mm Focal Length 188.0 mm Thanks.

1st March 2005	#11
ghost77 Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Singapore Posts: 464	70-200 L4 For the last pic Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/400 Av( Aperture Value ) 4.0 ISO Speed 1600 Lens 70.0 - 200.0 mm Focal Length 200.0 mm Thanks.

1st March 2005	#12
centrino Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 332	used both canon f4L and sigma f2.8. personally prefer sigma. f2.8 and f4 is quite big difference to me especially for tele lens. u should try both before decide.

1st March 2005	#13
user111 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 4,719	take the canon f4

1st March 2005	#15
theITguy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: In this small world Posts: 2,042	Want my reply? Buy my F4L hard sell But seriously, try both lens first, see which you like.

2nd March 2005	#16
Goldenstars08 Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,139	Thanks all for reply... I think i will save up for the Canon F/4L.

3rd March 2005	#20
Keltzar Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: West Posts: 3,161	The most likely important advantage of the 70-200/4 L is that its probably more portable (well, at least it was when I compared it to my 80-200/2.8L) and that 5 years from now it will probably work on your new EOS camera. Don't underestimate the importance of weight. You won't use a lens you don't carry. Don't underestimate the importance of compatibility, unless you plan to change your equipment every 2-3 years (which is the problem with sigma and some tokina lenses due to compatibility issues). And depending on what you usually shoot ... unless you need the bokeh of f2.8 at 200mm, your loss of one-stop is easily made up for in a DSLR by upping the ASA by one stop (couldn't do that with film so easily). I have had my 80-200/2.8L for 10years and am happy with it. It was a replacement for a Sigma 70-210/2.8 then which broke-down 2weeks after purchase. That Sigma would have been incompatible with today's cameras. I'm sure the new Sigmas are better optically and mechanically ... but the electronics are the issue.