70-200 f4 is L vs 70-300 f4-5.6 is L

[Longshot]

Thinking of trading the 70-200 L f4 plus 1.4 11 extenders for the 70-300 L f4-5.6. What will I loose/gain is the question. It will be a bit heavier but I won't have to take extenders on/off and will gain a more variable apertures on 70-300 against jumping from f4 to 5.6 with extenders fitted to 70-200, I'll also loose a bit as well I know.
Trying to consolidate my kit on a 7D for general photo's/landscape but not sport. next to go would be the EF 85 1.8 with the EF 50 1.8 mk1 and replaced with the 50 1.4. may be, this I feel would give me the ideal 3 lens combination with the EF-S 17-55 f2.8 is.
Ideas/opinions please !!
Thanks
Graham

[colin C]

Re: 70-200 f4 is L vs 70-300 f4-5.6 is L

If you are not inclined towards sport or wildlife, I would look at:

17 - 55mm f2.8

24 - 105 f4

70 - 200 f4

Colin

[Muscat]

Re: 70-200 f4 is L vs 70-300 f4-5.6 is L

I went thruogh the debate that you are looking at, the decission I made was for the 70-300L.

My reasoning was that I had the extra reach in one lens and lost very little in the way of aperture over the range and with the same if not slightly better IQ. The 70-300 lens is fatter than the 70-200 but what was more important to me it was shorter.

The disadvantages were that the aperture values are not consistent throughout the focal range with the f5.6 coming in around the 200mm mark plus it is, as you note, heavier, it will not take any of the Canon extenders but will work on a crop format with the Kenko extender but with slight loss of IQ, other than that I personally haven't found any other downsides. I love the lens and use it a lot.

As for the 3 lens set for a 7D I agree with Colin for the other 2 lenses both of which are great.

[Hereford_EOS]

Re: 70-200 f4 is L vs 70-300 f4-5.6 is L

1. EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS; wide at 15mm and a good walkaround lens with IS.
2. EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS; L quality zoom giving superb results (see my review), extra reach when needed with IS.
3. EF 50mm f/1.4; great little prime, well built and great in low light.

Two zooms covering 15mm to 300mm and a little prime lens when needed.

I had the 17-40mm, 24-105mm & 70-200mm and found that I did not use the 24-105mm.

[mikep]

Re: 70-200 f4 is L vs 70-300 f4-5.6 is L

Hi

I agree with all the comments above, but as I have never had any of the lenses Colin mentioned, I can't comment on those. Interesting in that the lenses Stephen lists are exactly the lens combo I have ended up at!

As mentioned by Muscat, if you have the Kenko (DGX 300 Pro?) extender, it stills fits the 70-300 L (the Canon extender doesn't!!!), thus giving you up to 420mm, with a slight reduction in IQ and 1 f-stop. So 2 lenses cover 15-420! Quality of the 70-300L is very good IMHO, and even with the 1.4 Kenko on, I'm very pleased with results, but you ideally need good light for best results.

On a separate note, I should be getting a 7D later today... just thought I'd mention it as I'm quite excited! Sorry - not intending to hijack your thread! I mention it as this means I'll have the 15-85 on my 550D (everyday shots, landscape/family etc.), and the 70-300L on the 7D for wildlife/sports. Not sure whether you have 2 bodies, but even if you're on a 7D, these lenses should cover most of what you want, thus eliminating the need to change lenses too often, which is a bonus!

Good luck with your choices, whatever you go for!

All the best, Mike

[Nathaniel]

Re: 70-200 f4 is L vs 70-300 f4-5.6 is L

Welcome "two bodies" Mike! Join the club!

[tesarver]

Re: 70-200 f4 is L vs 70-300 f4-5.6 is L

Hi Longshot, I had the EF70-200mm f4L. It was a fabulous Lens, but when the 70-300 f/4-5.6L came out I had the same debate. The result was that I sold the 70-200 and bought the 70-300 and have not regret that decision. What did I lose? 1 stop, however I gained 100mm, for me the grain in the distance out ways the lose of 1 stop. I find that I use the 70-300 far more than I did the 70-200.

Tom

[DrJon]

Re: 70-200 f4 is L vs 70-300 f4-5.6 is L

Mike - enjoy!

[Longshot]

Re: 70-200 f4 is L vs 70-300 f4-5.6 is L

Hi
Thank you all for advice, think I'll go with the 70-300 L and trade the 70-200 and extenders.
Graham

[Hereford_EOS]

Re: 70-200 f4 is L vs 70-300 f4-5.6 is L

Hi
Thank you all for advice, think I'll go with the 70-300 L and trade the 70-200 and extenders.

I think you'll be very happy with your choice.

[Nathaniel]

Re: 70-200 f4 is L vs 70-300 f4-5.6 is L

I may be too late to offer my tuppence comment. I have got the 70-200mm f4L lens as well as a 1.4 extender. I take this lens when I am on holiday travelling abroad. Quite a light lens and the constant f4 throughout the range or f5 with the extender is a great boon to me. I have a prime 300mm f4 L lens for longer shots and I can use an extender on this as well.