Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM 35mm Zoom
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM 35mm Zoom
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[Nov 06, 2000]
Sanders Wong
Expert
Strength:
1. Light weight
Weakness:
Slightly overpriced with it's zoom range and aperture wyhen comparing to its alternatives. (e.g. Tokina AT-X 100-300 F.4 IF & AT-x Pro 70-200 F.2.8) As a budgeted photographer, I think it is value for money for the overall image quality it delivers. I believe my 70-210 will stay at home forever since this lens is more or less the same weight of the 70-210 but the difference in outcome is quite obvious. If you are looking for a turely professional looking and quality EF lens and dreaming of having a "white" lense with limited budget, you have no alternatives. Another major advantage of this lens is it's weight, so if you are taking on-site pictures especially for people, I promise you'll get total satisfaction from it. It has all common strengths of all USM lens like fast, slient and accurate focusing, full time manual as well as internal focusing features. The zoom range and the aperture are not so value for money since you can have a longer and faster lens from other manufacturers with reasonable optical quality at a considerablely lower price. In general, it is reallyan extremely high quality telephoto zoom lens for serious photography and professional pictures. Buy it if you can stand with zoom range and aperture for its price and I promise you won't regret. Customer Service I haven't tried because my Canon products didn't need any service since I bought my 1st EOS at about 7 years ago. Similar Products Used: EF 28-105 F/3.5-4.5 |
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[Nov 14, 2000]
Remi Lemarchand
Intermediate
Strength:
Superb optical and build quality
Weakness:
No tripod collar, although it's not very heavy, so it doesn't really need it. Superb quality, but sometimes I wish it was 2.8 (could justify the price difference). Can't tell the difference between zoom and macro lens quality-wise. Extremely sharp! Customer Service never needed Similar Products Used: Minolta MD 135 2.8, Canon EF 100 2.8 Macro |
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[Dec 28, 2000]
Bill Servatius
Expert
Strength:
Light weight but very solid. Nice looking with solid feel to the controls and really positive action. Sharp as a tack, contrasty and bright.
Weakness:
None to speak of. This is a winner. Much lighter than the 2.8. Terrific performance for a zoom. Haven't really needed the speed of the 2.8 so far. A Canon L , Ultrasonic Zoom for $700. What's not to like? I use this one alot when compressing those medium shots in landscapes. Hope to see Canon put out a few more of these L lenses at a price mere mortals can afford. Customer Service Haven't needed Similar Products Used: Tamron, Tokina, Canon |
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[Jan 20, 2001]
Dr. Benjamin Chang
Professional
Strength:
weight speed ease of handling and resolution power
Weakness:
None Best compromise when travelling. Optically it is the same as the 2.8. I used to have the 2.8 until sombody took it from my car. Comparing shots taken comtrol condition I really cannot tell the difference under a loupe. I did have slight suspicion initially but all that is out the window after the first roll. Never looked back the 2.8. If I need the speed I will rent one for a particular assingment. Must use a hood though..... Customer Service Never needed Similar Products Used: None |
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[Feb 06, 2001]
Eric Wo
Intermediate
Strength:
fast,usm,ftm,Superb performance,1.2m close focus,nice looking,and everything u'll need with a tele-lens!
Weakness:
no tripod collar this is definitely a winner! Customer Service never needed! Similar Products Used: 70-200f2.8L... |
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[Feb 26, 2001]
J Ritter
Intermediate
Strength:
Excellent quality "L" lens. Great color, Contrast and especially sharpness.
Weakness:
Tripod collar is extra. A really great lens for the money. It was really above my expections. I've never used a lens with the Flouride element, but I believe it's responsible for the incredible sharpness. For me the f/4 is at times a little slow, but the "lightness" and incredible handling of the lens make up for it. It can even be used without the tripod mount for many situraions. If I were to "b***h" about anything, and I'm really not, it's the 67mm filter size. I guess if I could change one thing I would have made it 72mm like many other lens in the line. It would have made more sence to me. But for the money ~ 600-629.00 for Grey market~ who can complain. The sharpness is even better than the Nikon version I've used so often. It's an easy 5 star lens Similar Products Used: Nikon AF-D 70-200 f/2.8 |
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[Mar 04, 2001]
Ethan Trieu
Intermediate
Strength:
Excellent picture quality, nice build. Much lighter than F2.8 cousin and just as sharp if not better at 200mm wide open.
Weakness:
F4, and no tripod collar A remarkable lense for the money you pay. I would easily buy two of these than one Canon f2.8L. The extra F stop is worth it at times in low light conditions. I use this lense for portrait work and it does it very well... Highly recommended lense. Customer Service None needed Similar Products Used: 70-200 Sigma F2.8 EX, 70-200 Canon f2.8L |
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[Mar 14, 2001]
Darryl Isherwood
Intermediate
Strength:
-Image Quality great at all apertures
Weakness:
-67mm size I LOVE this lens. This has become my favorite lens to use, by far! I bought it as an alternative to the 70-200 2.8 model and have not regretted it. I have taken it up with me on a ski lift and on a Mt. Bike and the weight and size were not prohibitive. The 67mm filters are a pain and buying new filters will add to the price of the lens, but I still think it is worth it. I have the tripod collar, but I don't find that the lens is big enough or heavy enough to warrant it on a sturdy tripod. BUY THIS LENS. For the price of the 2.8 model, you can have this lens and the 28-135, or a good Macro. Customer Service Used them for my A2E- not overly impressed, but they were helpful when I had questions Similar Products Used: 400 5.6L |
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[Mar 21, 2001]
Rob Helm
Intermediate
Strength:
Outstanding Sharpness
Weakness:
As with many other reviewers thre are a few things I would have changed. Why not include the tripod mount and charge $75.00 dollars more. No instead you have to buy one for $120.00. 67mm filters, come on, it's the only lens in the line up with 67mm filters. Make it 72mm. Great lens. I guess it was "J. Ritter" who wrote that he thought it was the Flouite element that makes this razor sharp. I don't know, but it sounds right to me. I have an EOS 3 & 5, and this lens works magic. It is by far as close to a perfect lens, at least for quality, as I think I will ever own. It's even sharper than my "L" 135 f/2, or 200mm f/2.8. There are a few things is would like to have seen changed, but all in all this is a 5 star lens. So I bought a tripod mount, and some new filters. I don't regret it in the least Customer Service Haven't used it yet, but bought a Mack 3 year warranty Similar Products Used: Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 |
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[Mar 25, 2001]
Chuck/Loftis
Intermediate
Strength:
Quite sharp, constant aperture, light weight. Half the weight of it’s f/2.8 brother.
Weakness:
Wish it were f/2.8 when you mount the 2x tele-converter. EOS-3 will AF using the center point only. Filter size is an oddball 67mm. (Why not 72 or 77 ?) Larger than the 80-200 f/4L FD which is 58 mm. Tripod collar is additional $. I have been a zoom fanatic for 30 years and THIS is my “toy lens”. This is the longer lens I use when I don’t want to be tied down to a tripod and need something more than the 28-135 IS and need a light weight tool. It is faster by 1 stop at 135mm and is also more rugged and exudes much higher quality. At 1.6 lb., it is not a burden around the neck. The tripod collar is not supplied, but tripod mounting of the camera body is OK for this lightweight lens. With a 1.4x TC, this provided edge-to-edge sharp slides with Provia F100. Coupled to a 2x TC, it is good to very good across the emulsion. The 100-400 IS is too heavy for tourism and somewhat too conspicuous in certain circumstances (and not heavy enough in other circumstances!) However, I enjoy using both of these. Customer Service N/A Similar Products Used: FD 80-200 f/4, EF 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS USM, EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 IS USM |