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    70-200 upgrade dilemma!

    Hi,

    I am looking at possibly upgrading my 70-200 f4L lens. I have had this lens for 8 years and it's a great lens. However, I have recently been doing some second wedding shooter work and will be doing a few this year. In the low light situation the old lens struggles.

    I am considering upgrading to a 2.8 lens with IS but not sure my best option - my lenses only get amateur use. The canon 2.8 II is to expensive as I am not a pro. I have been looking at the Tamron 2.8 di VC and a used canon 2.8 IS v 1. The used versions do come up but the ones I have seen look pretty battered! Does anyone have any experience with either the tamron or canon.

    Another option is th canon f4 L Is - although not f2.8 it does have IS. Tamron have also just brought out a G2 version of the 70-200 - could be worth a look

    I will be going to the photo show next month and will have a look - but any views or comments from you would be gratefully received.

    Guy
    https://www.flickr.com/photos/123741420@N06/

    #2
    Re: 70-200 upgrade dilemma!

    Just a couple of general points which are meant as constructive even though they might sound critical:

    1) If your driver is that the current lens struggles in low light, then why are you considering another f/4?

    2) A lens is never too expensive just because you are not a pro. There are several Canon lenses which are too expensive for me, but that's simply because I can't afford them. However, if there is a particular lens I want then one way or another I will find the means to buy it. This might mean buying non-UK stock or perhaps using 24-month interest free credit.

    I will confess to being a "Canon-L" guy but there are definitely some excellent other brands out there which sometimes even outperform the Canon options. So, Sigma and Tamron might be worth exploring.

    Another option of course might be to consider another body with (perhaps) better ISO capability and stay with your current lens. Or even consider a prime such as 135 or 200 instead of a zoom. Obviously less convenient but still an option.

    Comment


      #3
      Re: 70-200 upgrade dilemma!

      For low light photography I would rather get a Canon 6D and use with your present lens. I use the 6D extensively for low light pictures and they are brilliant to say the least.
      Canon 6D; Canon 760D;Canon G15;Canon 40mm f2.8(Pancake);Canon 50mm f1.8(ii); Canon 17mm-40mm f4L;Canon EF-S 10-18mm f4.5-5.6 IS STM;Canon EF-S 55-250mm f4-5.6 STM lens;Canon 24mm-105mmf4L IS;Canon 70-300mm f4-f5.6 L IS USM;Kenko 1.4x HD TC;Canon 430EX ii flash;Giottos tripod;Manfretto monopod;Cokin P filters + bits and pieces!

      www.flickr.com/photos/nathaniel3390

      North Wales where music and the sea give a great concert!

      Comment


        #4
        Re: 70-200 upgrade dilemma!

        Would be helpful to know which body you are using......................
        EOS 6D, 6D Mk II, 80D, 70D, 100D, 200D, M50, M100. Canon 10-18, 18 - 55, 55 - 250 IS STM lenses, Canon 16 - 35 mm F4L, 35 mm EF-S macro, 50 mm F1.8 STM, 60 mm EF-S macro, MPE-65 macro, 85 mm F1.8, 200 mm F2.8 L II, M 15 - 45 mm, M 22mm F2, M 32mm F1.4. Sigma 24 - 35 F2 Art, 135 mm F1.8 Art, 17 - 50 F2.8 DC, 105 mm OS macro, 100 - 400 C, 150 - 600 C.

        Comment


          #5
          Re: 70-200 upgrade dilemma!

          Hi,

          thanks for the responses.

          Enigma - The f4 IS - is only an option for consideration. The IS will allow a slower shutter speed so would aid shooting in low light conditions as long as the subject was not moving to quickly. The canon 2.8 II (New) is out of my price range at almost £2k. Primes are consideration although I like the flexibility of the zoom.

          Nat: The 6D is a good camera - but my interests also include wildlife. My current camera is a 70D which I believe has better AF and frame rate than the 6D for wildlife.

          Thanks

          Guy
          https://www.flickr.com/photos/123741420@N06/

          Comment


            #6
            Re: 70-200 upgrade dilemma!

            My two penneth worth - sell a few bits, save a few pounds, wait a while until it all comes together and get the 70-200 2.8 mkII. You may not use any other lens, when you change the body in the future the lens will only improve. wife and I have one each and the majority of the time it is our 'go to' glass

            .DAVID.
            Take nothing but photo's - leave nothing but footprints!

            http://www.davidstallardphotography.com

            Comment


              #7
              Re: 70-200 upgrade dilemma!

              The canon 2.8 II is very good I am up nr junction 23A if you want to try one on your camera.
              Canon 1DX, 50D, EF500 F4.0 L, EF100-400 f/4.5-5.6L I , EF100-400 f/4.5-5.6L II, EF70-200 f/2.8L II, EF180 f3.5L Macro, EF 24-105 f/4L, EF17-40 f/4L, EF2.0X III, EF1.4X III, 430EX II, MR-14EX...

              Comment


                #8
                Re: 70-200 upgrade dilemma!

                AS FOR USED



                mK2 £1400

                The London Camera Exchange supplies second hand cameras, new cameras, digital cameras and other camera equipment and provides a camera part exchange in photographic shops all over England, UK.


                AND YOU CAN NORMALLY HAGGLE ON THE PRICE.
                Last edited by TonyT; 26-02-2017, 04:13.
                Canon 1DX, 50D, EF500 F4.0 L, EF100-400 f/4.5-5.6L I , EF100-400 f/4.5-5.6L II, EF70-200 f/2.8L II, EF180 f3.5L Macro, EF 24-105 f/4L, EF17-40 f/4L, EF2.0X III, EF1.4X III, 430EX II, MR-14EX...

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: 70-200 upgrade dilemma!

                  Originally posted by TonyT View Post
                  Or check out somewhere like HDEW, MkII is £1469
                  Canon 5D3, 7D2, 60D, Canon 70-200L f2.8 IS II, Canon 300 f4L IS, Canon 16-35 f4 L, Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM, Canon 1.4 MkIII extender, Sigma AF 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM, Sigma 150-600 Contemporary, Tamron SP AF 70-300 F/4-5.6 Di VC USD, Canon EF-S 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 IS
                  https://www.flickr.com/photos/16830751@N03/

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: 70-200 upgrade dilemma!

                    Personally I bought a s/h canon 70-200 f2.8L lens from a reputable camera shop and it is a superb lens.
                    My reasoning being that L lenses are pretty durable and that you have a 3 or 6 month warranty whilst any new lens I buy will be used so much in first few weeks / days, that any problems will be evident.
                    This approach bringing the cost of canon L lens within that of the other brands.
                    ps. This is a cracking lens, one of my favourites and whilst I'm sure the mark 2 is an improvement this lens is perfect for me and my budget
                    Neal

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: 70-200 upgrade dilemma!

                      as nat was recently told your using a sledgehammer to crack a nut ,the 70-200 f4 is a surprisingly sharp lens ,and only suffers in poor light so rather than spend hundreds of pounds to get the same basic results why not invest in a simple monopod .job done no i.s needed .
                      or rather than a new lens trade in your current 70D against the far superior 80D i have so far pushed mine in real time usage to a remarkable 10,000 iso and still got acceptable shots ,thats a extreme but the sensor in them is a completely different ball game to the 70D.
                      i.e one from the other week late evening taken through a double glazed window with the sigma 150-600 at 8000iso
                      not brilliant but acceptable results
                      siberian chiffchaff by jeff and jan cohen, on Flickr
                      Last edited by the black fox; 26-02-2017, 11:28.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: 70-200 upgrade dilemma!

                        Hi,

                        For my two pence worth - I'd look at the 70-300mm f4 L lens. That's as good, in my opinion, as the 70-200mm f2.8 L lens in poor light. You also have more focal length range, it's lighter and also smaller - a pretty good walk around lens. I think this is a very good lens.

                        TTFN,
                        Neil
                        Neilly's Flickr Page
                        http://www.flickr.com/photos/60833437@N08/
                        Facebook
                        https://www.facebook.com/pages/Neil-...67642190098333

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: 70-200 upgrade dilemma!

                          I wonder if a single stop increase from F4 - F2.8 is worth it? Also, IS is undoubtedly useful at times, but only if the subject is pretty still. I'd suggest that at weddings people are rarely actually that still, especially after a few drinks, and wonder what would be the minimum shutter speed you could get away with, even with IS.
                          I don't have any of the 70 - 200 lenses but if I were starting from scratch and could only afford a couple of lenses, one of them would be top of my list, probably the F4 IS and certainly used. One thing about "L" lenses is that even if they look a bit worn on the outside, the optics are likely to be fine as they are built to stand up to professional use (and abuse) and every one of the four 70 - 200 choices has received pretty much universal praise by reviewers and users, a most unusual situation.
                          EOS 6D, 6D Mk II, 80D, 70D, 100D, 200D, M50, M100. Canon 10-18, 18 - 55, 55 - 250 IS STM lenses, Canon 16 - 35 mm F4L, 35 mm EF-S macro, 50 mm F1.8 STM, 60 mm EF-S macro, MPE-65 macro, 85 mm F1.8, 200 mm F2.8 L II, M 15 - 45 mm, M 22mm F2, M 32mm F1.4. Sigma 24 - 35 F2 Art, 135 mm F1.8 Art, 17 - 50 F2.8 DC, 105 mm OS macro, 100 - 400 C, 150 - 600 C.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Re: 70-200 upgrade dilemma!

                            The 70-200 though is superb at portraiture.
                            Canon 1DX, 50D, EF500 F4.0 L, EF100-400 f/4.5-5.6L I , EF100-400 f/4.5-5.6L II, EF70-200 f/2.8L II, EF180 f3.5L Macro, EF 24-105 f/4L, EF17-40 f/4L, EF2.0X III, EF1.4X III, 430EX II, MR-14EX...

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Re: 70-200 upgrade dilemma!

                              Thanks all for comments and suggestions. As I thought there is no common fix as suggestions ranged from purchasing the f2.8 v2 to buying a monopod to buying a new camera! Plenty to think about although I am still interested in getting an f2.8 -I think!!!!!!


                              Guy
                              https://www.flickr.com/photos/123741420@N06/

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