70-210 f4

[phil vaughan - yorkshire u]

How does this lens compare to the newer 100 - 300?

 

Does anyone have any practical experience of the 70-210 f4

particularly? The old one f4 throughout the zoom range.

 

I'd rather buy the 2.8L but unfortunately budget leans towards one

of these to replace my Sigma 100-300.

[PuppyDigs]

Yeah, I remember that zoom. It was among the first consumer zooms Canon produced in the late 1980s. It also was a real bow-wow--slow AF, no FTM, loud, not that good optically--and was quickly replaced by the EF 70-210 3.5-4.5 USM in 1990. The EF 70-210 3.5-4.5 USM that replaced it is better in every way: ultra fast ring-AF, rear element focus (front element doesn't turn!), twist zoom and decent optical performance. In fact, the EF 70-210 3.5-4.5 USM is better optically than its evil twin, the EF 100-300 4.5-5.6 USM.

 

The EF 70-210 3.5-4.5 USM sells used for about $150. In 1990 I paid $325 for one at B&H!

[PuppyDigs]

correction: ultra fast ring-USM AF

[catchlight]

Don't overlook the Canon 70-200mm f/4L, which delivers professional quality for only a bit more than the lenses you've mentioned. I saw one for sale on this site the other day for well under $500.<p>

 

I owned the Canon 70-210mm f/4, and there is no comparison--the L lens is superior in every way.<p>

 

All of <a href="http://ronbridge.com/wedding_page6/index.htm">these shots </a>were taken with the 70-200mm f/4L on an EOS3. Even with the mediocre scanning job, I think you can see the sharp detail, saturated colours, and smooth bokeh this lens delivers.<p>

http://ronbridge.com/wedding_page6/index.htm<p>

 

It's also very well built, and shows no sign of the annoying "zoom creep" which plagues consumer zooms. If you need more reach, you can add the Canon 1.4X teleconverter, and still retain professional image quality and fast autofocus.

[phil vaughan - yorkshire u]

Thanks Puppy face.

You've just saved me from buying one.

I'd thought about the 100-300 but thought the older one would be better because of the f4 throughout.

Thanks again.

[phil vaughan - yorkshire u]

Sorry Brent

I guess we crossed in the post.

 

If I could find inexpensive L lenses in England I'd snap 'em up, unfortunately they're still wish list.

[oliver_s.]

What about buying abroad? Aside from B&H and Adorama (follow the Photo.net links to them), consider <a href="http://www.ny-camera.net">New York Camera</a> and <a href="http://www.internet-foto.de">AC-Foto</a>. Both are located in Germany, where VAT is 16 per cent and Canon prices are somewhat reasonable on occasion. The EF 70-200mm/f:4.0L goes for � 767 at <a href="http://www.internet-foto.de">AC-Foto</a> right now.