Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM 35mm Zoom

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM 35mm Zoom 

DESCRIPTION

The EF 70-200mm f4L USM lens is a compact, lightweight, high-performance L-series telephoto zoom. It offers a similar optical performance to the EF 70-200mm f2.8L USM, but at a lower cost, making the lens suitable for both professional and enthusiast photographers.

USER REVIEWS

Showing 81-90 of 138  
[Aug 11, 2002]
Edward Azuar
Intermediate

Strength:

Great quality. Sharp images. Flashy ( the white and black ). Great price.

Weakness:

Filter size ( I think only one other Canon autofocus lense has 67mm ). Flashy ( the white and black ).

After selling my first 3mp digital, and buying another with an 8x optical zoom, I was still dissatisfied with the quality of the final product. So, I jumped back into 35mm - did some research, found a great deal on an A2E ( dial is fine ), and started researching lenses. After obsessive research ( this site/camera stores/other websites), I woke up one morning, called Adorama, and ordered this lense. I think it is one of the wisest purchases I've ever made. The lense is sharp, and nice and contrasty. The size is good - the day after it arrived, I stuffed it in my backpack and biked to the S.F. Zoo.... No backache. It just traveled around the big island ( Hawaii ) and I never got tired of using it. Great size. Great weight. I held the 2.8 version of this lense ( attached to an EOS3 ) and the weight difference was significant. BTW - this site is great.

Similar Products Used:

Some Nikon lenses and a bunch of Bronica lenses.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jul 29, 2002]
Tom Field
Expert

Strength:

Size: easily sits in a vest pocket, possibly even a pants pocket (your mileage may vary). Fits nicely in hand, a comfortable diameter for hand holding, focusing, and mounting. Weight: far less than alternative zoom lenses. Optical Performance: it's not the top of the line but there's nothing to complain about here, considering both the relatively low cost and the size/weight. Versatility: nice all-around telephoto, and compatible with 1.4X and 2X converters.

Weakness:

"Missing" tripod collar Awkward hood mount 67mm filter size is a little unusual, and step-up rings (to 72mm) don't fit under the hood.

Focus (MF and AF) is great: very fast and a large, smooth-acting manual focus ring. And I agree with prior reviewers: the contrast and color are superb on the 70-200/4. Even the sharpness is really good, though definitely a notch or two below an "L" prime (do you care? it's still REALLY good). And comparing the size/weight/cost of the f/4 to its big brother f/2.8 (or my favorite boat-anchor 200/1.8) it's hard to complain about any performance aspect of this lens. Did I mention focus is great? In general, 70mm to 200mm is a nice and versatile range for medium telephoto, and a range that fits well with the good normal zooms. Actually I could wish the range was slightly wider, say 50-200. Then adding a wide angle zoom (17-35) would cover almost everything: a great travel pair. Used with a 2X teleconverter, the 70-200/4 gets perceptibly softer (even if you're not looking for it) and the viewfinder is, well, dark (effective f/8). But the lens will capture a colorful image if you don't happen to have a 400mm at hand. With the 2X mounted, autofocus on the EOS-3 uses only the center sensor, but accurate focus is achieved quickly if aimed at a contrasty subject. Although the 2X and 70-200/4 combination is really slow for wildlife, it works just fine for placid subjects where the image softness won't hurt. The lack of a tripod collar is an issue, especially with the hood attached to the lens. Adding a teleconverter makes it even worse. So far I haven't donated the exhorbitant price Canon wants for their precious bit of metal shaped as a collar. My little travel tripod wants to droop with this long lens sticking way out from the camera. The whole unbalanced rig wiggles as the wind catches the big hood. Sure, my 15-pound Bogen tripod fixes the problem, but so would a little collar. Popping off the hood helps, if lighting permits. Speaking of the hood, it's nice and long and works fine. I nearly always use it to maximize contrast. But I find it hard to mount even after LOTS of on/off cycles. The narrow bayonet slots refuse to mate if I'm in a hurry or distracted or wearing gloves. Very fiddly and frustrating. And the hood is so long that I tend to remove it to adjust graduated filters or CPL. Surely a better bayonet design could be used. Again, trading off price/size/weight against performance the 70-200/4 (with optional TC) is a sweet buy and just right

Similar Products Used:

Near this range I own and currently use the 28-135 IS zoom and various primes (50/1.4, 85/1.8, 200/2.8L II, 200/1.8L)

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jul 24, 2002]
dead2fred
Expert

Strength:

Lightweight, Love that Floride Crystal lens up front, 67mm filters, the same size as my Kowa 6!!!

Weakness:

Optional tripod mount $140.00 ??? What a ripoff!

I've had this lens almost a year now and I'm still patting myself on the back. This was my first 'L' lens and they're better than the old Canon S.S.C. FD lenses I had. I use this for portrait work & get strange looks because it's a tele-zoom but get oohs & aahs at the results. The sharpness & color rendition is WOW!!! It's been to Yankee games & got some nice shots of Roger Da Rocket, Derek Jeter & company. Okay, I'm NOT one of the guys sittin' on a stool in the press box lookin' thru some big glass but a few? rows up the fence. For the money this lens delivers shots you'll be proud of. Sure, I'd love one of those 70-200 IS 2.8 babies and be the envy of guys like me up in the cheap seats, BUT... I can afford this beauty & still eat! The good glass is well worth the extra bucks and this lense makes cents.

Customer Service

None needed

Similar Products Used:

Canon 300mm F4 IS Canon 28-135mm IS

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jul 12, 2002]
crowning
Intermediate

Strength:

Very sharp, good color and contrast, fast and silent AF

Weakness:

Feels a little bit unbalanced on my D60, but that's a personal preference.

The beginners first L lens. For it's prize it's a must have.

Similar Products Used:

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jul 05, 2002]
Cyan
Intermediate

Strength:

-high image quality -usm

Weakness:

seriously, i can't think of any

This lens produces extremely sharp images with vibrant colors. it's fast, quite, and very versatile. It gives you a lot of motivation to shoot with this lens whenever possible. i wish it were f/2.8 but for what this lens is i have nothing complain. try it yourself

Customer Service

haven't needed it yet

Similar Products Used:

various canon and tamron lenses

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jun 02, 2002]
Mankman
Expert

Strength:

Fast Focuing RAZOR sharp! Constant f/4 aperture

Weakness:

A bit larger than I'd like, but still not too big, and balances nicely on my D30. Still, it's smaller than the 2.8 version

AWESOME lens! Very, very sharp. Very fast focusing. Balances nicely on my D30. NO chromatic aberration whatsoever. This lens is a STEAL at it's new price, I was lucky to find a used one in decent shape at a nice discount. After using this lens, by Canon 24-85 has been relegated to backup duty...and this lens gets used more often. I now see what everyone fusses about the quality of Canon 'L' series glass....absolutely fabulous! Anyone who wants a Top quality telephoto lens should consider this lens...at <$600 it's an absolute steal!

Similar Products Used:

Tamron 28-200XR Tamron 70-300

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[May 29, 2002]
Stephane Camus
Intermediate

Strength:

Image Quality Solid metal body Constant aperture f4 USM is fast and silent Makes other photographers look at you with envy :)

Weakness:

The tripod collar is too expensive! Find a used one if you can. If you have a bad picture, you cannot blame it on the lens. ;)

Everything is great in this lens. Constant f4 aperture, image quality is incredible (fluorite lens), USM, internal focusing and zooming... This lens is a pleasure to use, its quality of built and the fast focusing is a real kick and I would say it helps you taking better photographs.

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 28-200mm

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[May 21, 2002]
mcoletti
Intermediate

Strength:

Ring USM! "L" build, quality, but still light enough (for me) to handhold and tote around. Crystal clear optics, no noticeable flare when using included hood.

Weakness:

White lens makes you stand out in a crowd. With hood attached, may give other photographers "lens envy".

This is my first "L" lens and I'd have to say it is the true bargain in Canon's lens lineup. It's was $559 after $100 mail-in rebate. I didn't really appreciate this lens until I compared it to similar shots taken with my Tokina ATXPro 28-80. The Canon lens delivers sharpness and color clarity that is apparent even in 4x6 prints. This is also evident when scanning the negatives so I can't wait to enlarge some of these. When using the tele end of the zoom range, f4 is more than adequate to blur the background. If fact, you'll need to stop down quite a bit when close to your subject to get good DOF. If you need a zoom in this range and can't justify/afford the 2.8L then don't worry. Buy faster film and know that you're gonna love this lens.

Customer Service

Never used.

Similar Products Used:

Various Minolta MD zoom lenses in the 80-200 range.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[May 16, 2002]
JeffHall
Casual

Strength:

Sharp as a tack, even great wide-open. Great range for portraits.

Weakness:

Too short for wildlife. I guess that''''s why I''''m saving up for for a 300 mm lens and TC.

This is the best lens I''''ve ever purchased for the range. So much better than a 75-300 in terms of sharpness, speed, color, and durability. Very easy to handhold. I definitely do not regret buying this lens. I''''ve used it for indoor and outdoor portraits as well as general outdoor shooting very successfully. It is a little too short for wildlife, my only problem with it.

Customer Service

Not needed yet.

Similar Products Used:

75-300 f4.5-5.6

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[May 16, 2002]
Stephen Lutz
Expert

Strength:

Optics are excellent. Weight is low compared to the 2.8 version. It is a great handling lens, as well. It won''t carve a notch in your shoulder, or wallet either for that matter. 99% of the time, this lens will do everything its larger 2.8 relative will do. You will lose NOTHING optically with the 70-200 f/4 lens.

Weakness:

I can''t think of any. What I WISH was that it was a 50-200 f/4. A little wider reach on the wide end would have been nice, and would have helped set this lens apart from the 70-200 2.8L

Sharp, light and quick. This is the value/quality lens to buy if you want one "L" zoom lens for your Canon system. It is as good as my 80-200 2.8L in re: image quality, and a lot lighter. When compared to the 70-200 2.8L (price-wise) the 70-200 f/4 is an exceptional bargain. As far as portraits are concerned, f/4 is more than acceptable when you shoot a portrait wide open at 100-200mm. Subject sharpness is outstanding, and background blur is excellent. For sports, the AF is quick and accurate on my EOS 3.

Customer Service

Not used

Similar Products Used:

80-200 2.8L, 75-300 IS zoom, 35-350 L (all three excellent lenses for their intended applications)

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
Showing 81-90 of 138  

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