03-20-2012, 08:24 PM
Personally I have used the 70-200 F/4L and F/4L IS for anything I could possibly use a lens for, landscapes, sports, nature, birds, portraits, candids, etc., and even indoor portraits without flash. IMO, the F/2.8 version isn't really fast enough to make a real impact when it comes to additional shutter speed, or very thin DoF - fast primes are better at this, as they are generally faster (and lighter and cheaper too). Current camera models are very good at high isos, so personally I don't consider the extra 1 stop to be a meaningful difference - with primes it is different, where it becomes 2 or more stops.
The IS of the F/4L IS is very good: I am (was) capable of shooting at 1/15s to 1/20s handheld at 200 mm, no problem. Obviously, that doesn't help freezing motion, but I did shoot portraits, indoors, at 1/40s to 1/50s with it, at moments where people would be still - this would not have bene possible with the non-IS version.
The only advantage of the F/2.8 versions is the extra thin DoF, or slight increase in shutter speed, which IMO is neither here nor there: at 200 mm when doing a head and shoulder shot at F/4 DoF is too thin for both nose and eyes in focus anyway. And as mentioned, there always is good high iso for faster shutter speeds, or even better, fast primes. Possibly the bokeh of the F/2.8 versions is a little nicer, especially with the F/2.8L IS II (at a price).
As to the two different F/4 versions, where the non-IS shines is in close focus with or without extension tubes. Especially at the long end, the F/4L IS tends to get a little mushy at MFD, which doesn't improve when using extension tubes. Further away the F/4L IS is sharper wide open than the F/4L non-IS, especially towards the corners. Around F/5.6 they are very much the same.
In short, if you want to do a lot of close-up or close focus work at the long end, get the non-IS version, otherwise get the IS version.
I used to have the non-IS version, which I replaced with the IS version once I noticed the small differences and of course the IS. However, I did get rid of the latter eventually after I got a 135L, which performs beautifully up close (with or without extension tubes) and far away, is 2 stops faster and has incredible bokeh. Between this lens, a 1.4X Extender, and a 50L, the 70-200 F/4L IS I had did not get any use anymore, so I sold it. Very good lens, but it became superfluous for me.
HTH, kind regards, Wim
The IS of the F/4L IS is very good: I am (was) capable of shooting at 1/15s to 1/20s handheld at 200 mm, no problem. Obviously, that doesn't help freezing motion, but I did shoot portraits, indoors, at 1/40s to 1/50s with it, at moments where people would be still - this would not have bene possible with the non-IS version.
The only advantage of the F/2.8 versions is the extra thin DoF, or slight increase in shutter speed, which IMO is neither here nor there: at 200 mm when doing a head and shoulder shot at F/4 DoF is too thin for both nose and eyes in focus anyway. And as mentioned, there always is good high iso for faster shutter speeds, or even better, fast primes. Possibly the bokeh of the F/2.8 versions is a little nicer, especially with the F/2.8L IS II (at a price).
As to the two different F/4 versions, where the non-IS shines is in close focus with or without extension tubes. Especially at the long end, the F/4L IS tends to get a little mushy at MFD, which doesn't improve when using extension tubes. Further away the F/4L IS is sharper wide open than the F/4L non-IS, especially towards the corners. Around F/5.6 they are very much the same.
In short, if you want to do a lot of close-up or close focus work at the long end, get the non-IS version, otherwise get the IS version.
I used to have the non-IS version, which I replaced with the IS version once I noticed the small differences and of course the IS. However, I did get rid of the latter eventually after I got a 135L, which performs beautifully up close (with or without extension tubes) and far away, is 2 stops faster and has incredible bokeh. Between this lens, a 1.4X Extender, and a 50L, the 70-200 F/4L IS I had did not get any use anymore, so I sold it. Very good lens, but it became superfluous for me.
HTH, kind regards, Wim
Gear: Canon EOS R with 3 primes and 2 zooms, 4 EF-R adapters, Canon EOS 5 (analog), 9 Canon EF primes, a lone Canon EF zoom, 2 extenders, 2 converters, tubes; Olympus OM-D 1 Mk II & Pen F with 12 primes, 6 zooms, and 3 Metabones EF-MFT adapters ....