Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS USM Lens

If you follow my blog then you’ll know that my Sigma 18-200mm zoom lens was laid to rest almost a year ago. It was a good lens that served me well over the years but all of a sudden the images that I was producing were soft. I brought the lens to Sigma and sure enough one of the rollers in the lens barrel had broken. Sigma replaced the roller but when I went to pick it up the representative at Sigma told me that there was an issue with the zoom barrel itself. My images would be ok but not 100%. Fixing the zoom barrel would cost as much as a new lens. I declined.

It was then that I made the decision that the next piece of glass I would invest in would be of exceptional quality even if I had to wait a while to get it. I had just purchased the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L but I still needed more reach.

I rented the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L a few times and I was in love. That lens was sharp and it was fast. The only problem with it (for me) was the weight. It was then that I started looking into the Canon 70-200mm  f/4L IS USM lens.

I asked other photographers for advice. I asked my peers at my photography club fr advice. Here’s what they told me… “if you’re going to get a 70-200mm lens then you have to get the f/2.8. It’s an amazing lens. You won’t regret it.”

Here’s the beauty of asking for advice you can take it or you can leave it. Were my fellow photographers right? yes of course they were. The Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 is a fantastic lens. i know because I’ve used it but I also know myself and the same question kept nagging away at me. ‘Would I carry it around with me everyday while traveling?’ The answer wasn’t “no” but it wasn’t a resolute “yes” either.

The process I went through in making my decision was to think about how, when, where and what I was going to shoot with it.

Landscapes – When I’m shooting landscapes (or even cityscapes for that matter) I prefer to shoot at the edge of day (sunrise or sunset) which means that I would be using a tripod and would typically shoot at an f-stop of 8 or 11 to maximize my depth of field and sharpness.

Night Photography/Long Exposures – Once again I know that if I was doing any type of night-time work or long exposures I would be using a tripod so the 2.8 wasn’t critical.

Street Photography – Yes the extra stop would be beneficial depending on where I’m shooting and the conditions of the day. When weighing the pros and cons I have to take into consideration the image stabilization that the lens is equipped with. This will allow me to shoot with a slower shutter speed (about 3 – 4 steps slower) then I would normally hand-held. The difference in weight of the f/4, 1.67lbs versus the f/2.8 which weights in at 3.28lbs, is huge especially when around with all day.

Why I love My Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS USM Lens

I’ve been using this lens for a couple of months now and it hasn’t disappointed. This baby is sharp! I’ve been very pleased with the imagines I’m producing.

The autofocus is fast and silent. I put this lens through its paces shooting my dog in the park and the quality of the images (color and all) speak for themselves. I love the fact that the weight isn’t too cumbersome. As a matter of fact it’s lighter to carry around than my Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L  which is my go to lens that lives on my DSLR. I wouldn’t hesitate packing this lens when going on a trip and as a matter of fact just did. I just got back from California where I spent a week exploring the coast and the 70-200 was a great addition to my kit.

What I’m Not Crazy About

Honestly there’s really only one thing that bothers me about this piece of glass…the IS. Let me clarify that it’s the noise the IS makes when engaged. It’s loud. When I first attached the lens to my camera I thought that I had received a defective lens. I don’t know why the IS motor is so loud (in comparison with the autofocus which is so quiet) but I hope that Canon corrects this in its next reiteration of this lens.  After travelling I realized that when you’re out shooting the streets you don’t even really hear the IS and when I’m set up on a tripod I turn it off anyway so really it’s not a big draw back and it certainly doesn’t take away from the quality of the lens.

Overall I’m very pleased with my choice and I know that the 70-200 f/4L is going to serve me well over the years. The difference in price between the f/2.8L and the f/4L is approximately $1400 and for me that was a big consideration.

Here’s another image shot with my Canon 7D and the 70-200mm f/4L USM lens. Click on the image to enlarge and see all the detail.

You can purchase this lens at B&H Photo. Click here to read more about this lens and reviews.

Product Specifications & Features

Focal Length	70 – 200 mm
Aperture	Maximum: f/4 Minimum: f/32
Camera Mount Type	Canon EF
Format Compatibility	35mm Film / Full-Frame Digital Sensor Canon (APS-C)
Angle of View	34° – 12°
Minimum Focus Distance	3.94′ (1.2 m)
Magnification	0.21x
Maximum Reproduction Ratio	1:4.76
Groups/Elements	15/20
Diaphragm Blades	8

Image Stabilization	Yes
Autofocus	Yes

Filter Thread	67 mm
Dimensions (DxL)	Approx. 3.0 x 6.8″ (7.62 x 17.27 cm)
Weight	1.67 lb (760 g)

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