 BetterPhoto Member |
Lens Quality - Which Should I Buy? I am looking at buying a telephoto lens. The two I am most intersted in are a 70-200mm f/2.8 or an 70-200mm f/4. I am curious as to what the difference is between the f/2.8 and f/4. I have been told it has to do with aperture openings. Is there anything else? Also a few tips on what exactly to look for when buying an excellent quality lens. Thanks
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Jon Close |
Without knowing the specific models you are comparing (and assuming f/4 is available at all zoom settings rather than a f/4-5.6 lens), the differences between a f/2.8 and f/4 70-200 zoom are: (1) the larger aperture of the f/2.8 allows shooting with 1 stop faster shutter speed (say 1/125 @ f/2.8 v. 1/60 @ f/4) that may allow handheld shooting in lower light, (2) the shallower depth of field of f/2.8 v. f/4. (3) the f/4 will weigh about 1/2 as much as the f/2.8 zoom (~1.5 lb v. ~3 lb) because the smaller maximum aperture allows correspondingly smaller/lighter glass elements.
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Jon Close |
P.S. (4) the f/2.8 zoom when used with a 2x teleconverter will have an effective maximum aperture of f/5.6 and retain autofocus, while the f/4 with 2x TC will be f/8 and AF will become non-functional (except with a limited number of sensors in the most expensive cameras).
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Michael Kaplan |
I will add a couple more things to the answers above. I had to come to terms with the same question as you but I will add one more variable to the mix. The F2.8... with or without IS (Image Stabilization)? 1st of all weight is a consideration. The F4 is only 1.56 lbs, the F2.8 weighs 2.9 lbs and the F2.8IS weighs 3.2 lbs. On the 2 F2.8's add .3 lb more for the tripod collar mount which comes with it (the F4 it is a $150-$200 option). 2nd, for me, it was important to get the most wide open lens I could. I like to shoot concerts and they are always lower light and also most importantly contain a lot of movement. Even if you were to shoot on a tripod so you can shoot for longer exposures any movement from dancers or singers would be blurred because of slower shutter speeds. That is why I got the 2.8IS as every stop counts. Then there is the importance of IS. The general rule for handholding is the reciprocal of the MM in 35mmm terms. If you are shooting with a lens at 200mm, you should be shooting with a shutter speed of at least 1/200th second. The IS will let you hand hold the lens all the way down to about 3-4 stops below that. You would be able to get a good picture at maybe 1/15-1/30 second rather than 1/250th. If you shoot only on a tripod that may not be important but for hand holding you won't know how you ever did without it. It is a lot more money but it is a one time purchase. This the lens to trade up to not trade in for better unless you like primes. My decision was to invest only 1 time and get the 70-200L F2.8 IS which I will get delivery of withing the next day or 2. Hope this helps you with your decision.
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Debra Weisheit |
I have the Canon 70-200 f2.8L IS Zoom lens, and it's incredible! It was also incredibly expensive at $1650.00 as was my other f2.8 lens, the Canon 35-70 f2.8L, but both are incredible lenses. I also own the Canon 100-300 5.6 IS, which is a lot less money but is no where's near the quality of lens that the 70-200 2.8L IS has proven to be. I'm a working wedding photographer, shooting 50+ weddings per year as well as portraits, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, etc. and working with moving objects (people) in the dark has made the f2.8 an absolute necessity on all of my lenses. I think that whatever you're doing with the lens and where you're doing it will make the decision as to whether you think 4.0/5.6 can handle the situation or if you'll need to go to 2.8, which in my experience can literally SEE in the dark!!!
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