Getting a Canon 70-200mm F4L IS USM LENS


LexenZ

New Member
Feb 25, 2014
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Hi everyone!

I am curious in about getting a new zoom lens which is the canon 70-200mm F4L IS USM lens. However I already have a kit lens which is 18-200mm..


To be honest is it still worth the buy???? I would think that the zoom length is still the same..... oo.
 

Then ask back yourself why do you want the 70-200?

If all you think is that the focal length overlaps, then it's NOT worth the money.
 

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Agree...think about what's holding you back with 18-200mm except for the looks and coolness of having L lens.
 

Hi everyone!

I am curious in about getting a new zoom lens which is the canon 70-200mm F4L IS USM lens. However I already have a kit lens which is 18-200mm..


To be honest is it still worth the buy???? I would think that the zoom length is still the same..... oo.

Whether it is worth to buy or not doesn't depend on us... but yourself. I used to own a 55-250mm, but gotten the 70-200mm f4L IS in the end and find that purchase worth every bit of the money I spend. But I am not sure about it in your case. Do your own homework, ask yourself the question and maybe rent a 70-200mm and test it to see if it suits you.
 

depends on yourself actually....
what do you think the 70-200 f4 can do for you that your current 18-200 can't do?
personally though, given the choice, i wouldn't get 2 lenses with overlapping lengths
 

Thanks for the replies everyone! :D

When I start to think again, i feel that what everyone said is kind of true haha..... what i wanted was a good zoom l lens. (I have a canon f1.8 50mm and the kit lens 18-200mm)

I tried shooting aerial displays with the kit lens but didnt achieve the standard I wanted. (Maybe my skills too lousy LOL)

I hoped for a 70-200mm f2.8 is mark ii instead, but its kind of the atas price standard.... any suggestions on this? oo
 

Thanks for the replies everyone! :D

When I start to think again, i feel that what everyone said is kind of true haha..... what i wanted was a good zoom l lens. (I have a canon f1.8 50mm and the kit lens 18-200mm)

I tried shooting aerial displays with the kit lens but didnt achieve the standard I wanted. (Maybe my skills too lousy LOL)

I hoped for a 70-200mm f2.8 is mark ii instead, but its kind of the atas price standard.... any suggestions on this? oo

Maybe you would want to upload some shots of what you mean by not up to your standard. For bright days like the during the Air Show, at f8 you should be able to get pretty sharp and nice pics thou.
 

Hi,

I have not come into newbies corner for a while.
First thing to ask yourself: what you really want out of your camera, and what you can afford.

How long you have been using your 18-200? I used to own it with my 60D and it is quite good under bright daylight.
There is another Senior member here has been using his 18-200 for some great shot.

IMO, you may not master with exposure compensation, correctly focus, white balance, metering yet, thus getting a not so good photo.
As someone suggest, perhaps you can upload one critical photo here, that you feel not good enough.
 

Thanks for the replies everyone! :D
When I start to think again, i feel that what everyone said is kind of true haha..... what i wanted was a good zoom l lens. (I have a canon f1.8 50mm and the kit lens 18-200mm)
...

I hoped for a 70-200mm f2.8 is mark ii instead, but its kind of the atas price standard.... any suggestions on this? oo

You are one funny guy. The first part made me think, "okay, he gets it". THEN you go on to ask about more expensive glass!
It's pretty simple. If you have to come here and ask if you need [insert any gear name here], then you most likely DON'T. If you find the shortcomings of your gear (EVERY piece of gear has shortcomings, no matter how expensive or well-rated) prevent you from getting the shot you want to get, then look for a solution. That may be new gear, but it could also be skill, knowledge or opportunity.

Gear is the first thing most people think of upgrading, because for many, it is the easiest way out ;)
 

You are one funny guy. The first part made me think, "okay, he gets it". THEN you go on to ask about more expensive glass!
It's pretty simple. If you have to come here and ask if you need [insert any gear name here], then you most likely DON'T. If you find the shortcomings of your gear (EVERY piece of gear has shortcomings, no matter how expensive or well-rated) prevent you from getting the shot you want to get, then look for a solution. That may be new gear, but it could also be skill, knowledge or opportunity.

Gear is the first thing most people think of upgrading, because for many, it is the easiest way out ;)

So..... I shouldn't get any I guess????? hahahha ;)
 

So..... I shouldn't get any I guess????? hahahha ;)

Putting on salesman's hat:

No. No. No. No... you should get a new lens. Get the Canon 70-200mm f2.8L II, while you are at that, you should also get the 300mm f2.8L and if can, get the new 200-400mm lens. With that combination, you can take sharp pic of aircraft far far away.

Putting on economist hat:

You really should spend more money, that will keep our economy going and save thousands of jobs, from the operators to the designers to the salesman and the sweeper, packers, etc etc.

Putting on friend hat:

After you buy the 70-200mm f2.8L II, can lent me for a couple of days? Pretty please?

Putting on adviser hat:

Yes, you probably shouldn't buy anything now. Go out and rent a 70-200mm f2.8L lens, see, play for awhile and see if it can achieve what you like. if cannot, then stay with your 18-200mm, if it can... then ditch your 18-200mm and get the 70-200mm f2.8L. Please also note the weight of a 70-200mm f2.8L is significantly more as compared to the relatively light weight 18-200mm.

Okay LexenZ, choose from the above advises - salesman, economist, friend and adviser... see which one suits you better.
 

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So..... I shouldn't get any I guess????? hahahha ;)

I would think not. BUT ... people rarely do what they SHOULD. If you have money to burn, go ahead. You can still sell it later if it's not for you. Just don't go in thinking, "this new piece of gear is gonna vastly improve my photography".

If you had posted the question, "is the 70-200/4 sharper at 200mm than the 18-200?", or "will the AF be faster with the 70-200", you would get useful answers, and we'd know that you are looking for specific improvements. (Oh BTW, don't read anything into those examples). But questions like "should I get it", "is it better" are vague and give the impression that you don't know what you want. Hence the advice not to buy anything. As suggested earlier, renting might be a good option for you to test out a prospective purchase.
 

Putting on salesman's hat:

No. No. No. No... you should get a new lens. Get the Canon 70-200mm f2.8L II, while you are at that, you should also get the 300mm f2.8L and if can, get the new 200-400mm lens. With that combination, you can take sharp pic of aircraft far far away.

Putting on economist hat:

You really should spend more money, that will keep our economy going and save thousands of jobs, from the operators to the designers to the salesman and the sweeper, packers, etc etc.

Putting on friend hat:

After you buy the 70-200mm f2.8L II, can lent me for a couple of days? Pretty please?

Putting on adviser hat:

Yes, you probably shouldn't buy anything now. Go out and rent a 70-200mm f2.8L lens, see, play for awhile and see if it can achieve what you like. if cannot, then stay with your 18-200mm, if it can... then ditch your 18-200mm and get the 70-200mm f2.8L. Please also note the weight of a 70-200mm f2.8L is significantly more as compared to the relatively light weight 18-200mm.

Okay LexenZ, choose from the above advises - salesman, economist, friend and adviser... see which one suits you better.

You just made my day :bsmilie: BTW I also wanna get one 70-200 f4 IS, but now too broke to get one :(

TS, if you just want the zoom length the 18-200 is good enough. If you want to get better IQ then go ahead with the 70-200 f4. If you want even better IQ and dont mind the size and weight then go for the 70-200 f2.8.
 

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Most superzoom kit lenses are pretty crappy in the IQ department, not to mention that slower max aperture too. The 70-200/4 IS would probably step up the IQ by quite abit, given that it is faster, and is a FF lens, so centre sharpness on crop camera would be more pronounced.

And while you're at it, u may want to sell ur 18-200 and fund for a standard APSC f2.8 zoom. That would be a reasonable gear upgrade, if you must.
 

Putting on adviser hat:

Yes, you probably shouldn't buy anything now. Go out and rent a 70-200mm f2.8L lens, see, play for awhile and see if it can achieve what you like. if cannot, then stay with your 18-200mm, if it can... then ditch your 18-200mm and get the 70-200mm f2.8L. Please also note the weight of a 70-200mm f2.8L is significantly more as compared to the relatively light weight 18-200mm.

Okay LexenZ, choose from the above advises - salesman, economist, friend and adviser... see which one suits you better.

Hhahahas from this point of view i would choose the advisor option. Though where could i rent a lens in Singapore? Not really sure of this xD
 

The 70-200 f/4 IS is a good tele for most people's needs with a good balance between iq and weight. If you can afford one, get it as your only tele in this range and you won't regret it.

Don't bother about the f/2.8 tele. Unless you're shooting for work, you wouldn't even be tempted to carry it around.