70-200 Users: f/4 IS or f/2.8 non IS?

[Jon-Luke]

I use the 70-200 ƒ4 for a lot of wild life photography. I would agree that for birding it would be better to get at least a 300mm but budget can be an issue. You can look into getting a doubler but then the amount of image quality loss and loss of ƒ-stop can make that decision null and void.

This shot was taken with the 70-200 ƒ4 and then cropped almost 200% and I think the sharpness hold beautifully, which is the main reason I chose the ƒ4 over the ƒ2.8. It may be great having the extra stops in low light but in practice try getting good focus on a moving object at ƒ2.8 with a 200mm or longer lens I dare you (Especially birds).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jon-luke/4711629662/in/photostream/

 

[RaceTripper]

...You can look into getting a doubler but then the amount of image quality loss and loss of ƒ-stop can make that decision null and void.

Not to mention that with a tele-convertor (doubler) many lenses that aren't /2.8 or better lose the ability to autofocus. An f/4 with a 1.4 TC will be f/5.6. That's about the limit before autofocus starts to fail.

 

[RaceTripper]

Good breakdown of the limitations of IS but to suggest (in rule #1) that it can create image quality issues is fear mongering in my opinion...

The point to really take from it is that VR/IS is not alway the magic pill people make it out to be, and isn't always worth the premium price.

 

[Designer Dale]

Thanks for all the comments. When I opened this thread, the 100-400 or 120-400 lenses weren't on my list due to price. I was trying to keep it to ~1000 USD. While talking about this, the two used 70-200 2.8 IS mark I lenses on the used page at B&H were sold, as was the 100-400 L at 1250 USD. I need a faster trigger on my wallet, as I could have afforded either...

The last time I shot at the Nisqually Delta, the longest lens I saw was a 600 L prime. Several folks had the 100-400 L. Since I already have the 100 mm macro L, the 100-400 may be a better deal in the long run as I could buy one 1.4 extender and use it on both lenses. I will have that 70-200 some time, too.

But all that money

Dale