Recommend a Canon 70 200

It seems like a lot of people are sold on this lens. I am sold, but I am having a hard time choosing which one. One of my main uses would be shooting watersports from a boat, but I am not sure which one to buy. I have narrowed it down to the Canon 70-200 2.8 or the 4.0IS. I feel like the 2.8 IS might be over kill for me, and my hobbies. Help me justify my decision.

If you view photography as a hobby, go with the F/4. If you view photography as a profession, go with the F/2.8. My F 2.8 has paid for itself in my book. It's the lens that gets me the money shots.

I have owned the 70-200 f2.8 and own the f4 IS now, I personally will take IS over f2.8 but I don't shoot much indoors or shoot portraits so I don't need the f2.8 or it's great bokeh. I get more keepers at long focal lengths or with a TC on having the IS which is good up to 4 stops now. Shoot at 200mm at less then 250th of a second and see how many keepers you get. With IS your shots will be good down to 1/15th-1/30th. If you think you're going to shoot indoor sports or weddings get the f2.8. One more thing to think about, the f4 L IS is weather proofed, the straight f2.8 isn't.

I actually meant, the 70-200mm F2.8 IS version.

That's another point to consider...

70-200mm L f2.8 IS is around $1650
70-200mm L f2.8 (no IS) is around $1350
70-200mm L f4 (does the F4 have IS?) $450

That right Rich?
:-)

swami, the new f4 which goes for around 1k ( i think) has IS

The 70-200 f4 L IS is a little over a grand at most places.

rick,

i was orginally going to get the 70-200 f2.8 but you got me thinking about the f4 IS....

what are your thoughts on the following lens combo..

24-70 f2.8 & 70-200 f4IS....

i sold my 17-40....it just didnt have the reach..

The IQ is fantastic on the f4 L IS, I've compared it to the 100 macro and 45 TS/E and it's just as good. Edge to edge at f4 is great, no real IQ gain stopping it down. Copy to copy variation seems to be great as well, have yet to hear of anyone that got a bad one. The 70-200 f2.8 I had was soft at f2.8 so I just never shot it at that. One more thing the f4 L IS is great with 1.4 TC's.

I've owned both the 24-70L and 24-105 L and I'm a big 24-105L fan. If you need f2.8 though obviously the 24-70 is a great lens - just kind of clunky. If you need a wide angle to replace the 17-40 I can recommend the 17-35 Tamron f2.8-4, here's a shot from it. It's not bad for a $270 lens. (sorry same old shot I know!)

thanks for the reccomendation on the tamaron 17-35 for $270... if that is the typical quality , then that is pretty darn good and a great deal for the price..