Photography Thailand Forum

[Marc Schultz]

I remember I was discussing with David a month or two ago and saying I would buy a Canon EF 70-200 F4 lens if it was available in an IS version and replace my 70-200 F/2.8 non IS version with it.

Well it was just announced: http://www.dpreview.com/news/0608/06082414canon70-200f4lens.asp

But the motivation to give up a F/2.8 lens for an F/4 lens was to get the IS function and reduce size and weight as well.

The problem I see is that the F/4 IS lens that was just announced will sell for nearly the same price as the F/2.8 IS version. That and the size and weight is nearly the same as well.

So if the F/4 version only provides a small reduction in size and weight over the F/2.8 version and the price difference is marginal, then I don't really see enough of a benefit to buy the lesser F/4 version instead.

That is just me, and if others have a different view on it I would be interested to hear it. :)

[Chris Savery]

I don't know - I think the weight savings is pretty significant. According to that review it weighs about 750g compared to 1400g for the 2.8 IS version and 1300g for the non-IS. I have the non-IS 2.8 and probably the majority of my shots didn't need the 2.8 f/stop. I'd love to save that weight though. And they also claim now to have 4 f/stop advantage instead of 3. That sounds amazing to me. I'll waiting for a round of reviews on fredmiranda.com to see how people like them. The 2.8Ls are amoungst the highest rated lenses Canon makes.

Also at dpreview they announced that at PhotoTokina Canon is releasing the 10MPix 400D sug. retail at $799 body. That's a lot of MPix for that price - sure it's missing some things that pros would want but still that's going to force a huge number of 300Ds onto the used market because 10MPix is a meaningful real jump up from 6MPix IMO. If I had a 300D (which I did last year but sold), then I'd be selling right away before the great deluge forced the prices down, and next month I'd get the 400D. Makes me wonder about a 40D next spring though - 10MPix or 12MPix?

Chris :)

[David Salmanowitz]

Marc--Saw this on dpreview the other day and smiled knowing we had the conversation a few months back. I have some other type lenses I would like to see, maybe I should tell you about them and you could put them on your wish list as your lens wishes seem to come true before mine.    I was hoping for something a real lot lighter and smaller if it ever showed up (as long as I was dreaming), and though the 4 stop IS is better than the 2 or 3 stop I already have with my 70-200 f2.8 I don't see the need to change--especially since I just bought a another pricey Canon lens.
Chris--I too will be curious as to what will be said about it on fredmiranda.com and wherever else.

[David Salmanowitz]

Reichmann on luminous-landscape.com just put up a very brief report on the lens. Basically said less weight and easier to carry around all day, and the image quality seemed good. More was to eventually follow.

[Marc Schultz]

I would actually be interested to mount the lens onto a Canon body and see how it feels in the hand. Meaning if it feels if there is actually a noticeable difference in weight or not. Specs are on thing, but sometimes practical use is important too. Reichmann generally gives his opinions from the hands of a photographer in the field, so I would say if he feels there is a noticeable difference than I would tend to think there is. I will have a look at what he says about it as well.

[David Salmanowitz]

Marc--Seems most if not all of what I have read by Reichmann I agree with. As you said he is a photographer in the field, and just that alone gives more insight to what you, I, and others want to know. Some reviewers never leave their kitchen or laboratory, and while valid things can be learned there is nothing like taking the gear outside and getting a feel for it, with all the possible scenarios thrown in.