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

"Great lens."

"This is an OUTSTANDING lens. It is my first 'L' series. I was always a bit skeptical about the claims made about both 'L' series lenses and the IS features, until I used one! All doubts are now washed away.



I use this lens for almost everything... Wildlife and nature are my primary subjects, and this lens does not disappoint- Though some may find 200 mm kind of short, I find it very usable for those animals that allow me to get close.



It also excels for candids/street photography- I am able to get beautiful shots of people from far enough away that they seldom realize that they are being photographed, maintaining that 'candid' feel.



I can't say enough about the IS- It has at least tripled my 'keeper' rate as compared to a similar range non-stabilized zoom that I had. Bottom line- This lens is worth every cent!"

"I had purchased the Non IS version of this lens. But at long range especially in low light conditions I was finding it difficult to hold my hands steady. Also I realized unless it is very bright lit conditions it was difficult to get a sharp pictures without tripod. So I decided to get the IS version instead. WOW! what a change. Now I am able to take pretty sharp pictures at very low shutter speeds. I have takes few sharp pictures at 200mm at as low as 1/20s, thanks to the excellent IS.

I would definitely recommend this lens, if you have money to spend. Else the Non IS is also a good lens for the price.

One thing you have to keep in mind. Once you get a L series lens you will be addicted to it and will start looking in getting other L series lens.

I would recommend you get a nice filter for front element protection. I am using B & W 67mm UV Haze Multi Coated (2C) Glass Filter."

"If you are looking at this lens you are looking at the perfect alternative to the 70-200mm 2.8 for half the price. Note: if you shoot or plan to shoot a lot and I mean a lot of low light work then stop here and go buy the 2.8 version. Marking this lens down and comparing it to that lens is insane; buy that lens and mark it down. Two different products!

For those of you not making 2.8 money and shoot a wider range of light, not a whole lot of low light work, or you own a flash and know how to control it, you will be very happy with this lens. Believe me when I say I wanted the 2.8 version however; like most semi-pro photographers money is limited and I wanted to eat and have a roof over my head for the next few months while getting the shots I need.

I needed the reach and performance of that 2.8 without the price and this lens is it. This lens is smaller and lighter than the 2.8 which makes it nice to carry around all day especially if you are a location type photographer. It fits in my sling bag mounted to the camera (barely) keeping my load light. The lens performs excellent on my 40D and yes the IS does talk to you however; you begin to use the sound when focusing on the fly. Image quality is amazing, it made me wish I had purchased this lens sooner and I have no regrets not buying the 2.8 version. The colors come out amazing and the CA coating reduces noise seen from cropped sensor cameras . Sports Photographers will not be disappointed, I was able to shoot paraglider's from a cliff the other day and the color and sharpness at 200mm F/4 w/o a UV filter or tripod is amazing. Post processing was minimal in Lr and the prints were ready in no time. In addition, I have used this lens indoors with one 430EXII flash mounted on an umbrella combined with natural light and the shots came out just as good as being outside.

The lens comes with a hood, lens bag/pouch ( I don't like it) and no tripod ring. At first, I thought I needed that ring however; I would say it depends on what you are shooting and the size of your camera. I have the 40D with the battery pack bottom and the camera feels well balanced when this lens is mounted. I imagine if you did not have the battery pack it would feel a bit more front heavy but still manageable. If you own a smaller camera or will be shooting a lot in one day then consider the tripod ring. I was able to mount my camera using the stock camera mount with lens looking straight down and the tripod did not flip over so, I still do not need the ring. This lens is compatible with the Canon EF Extenders 2x and 4x along with the EF25II and EF12II Extension tubes. I have used it with the EF25II Extension tube and the zoom capability and image quality for macro work is amazing. You can shoot bugs at a nice distance without disturbing them and still get that close up detail. The lens comes with a manual explaining the F-stop loss using the Extenders 2x and 4x. Overall, the F-Stop loss is too great for me when starting at F/4 however; that depends on what you are shooting and the availability of light.

I did not buy this lens at B&H, I was able to buy it in new condition from another photographer who barely used it in her work flow and put it in a closet for 8-9 months. That is why I suggest taking a serious assessment of your current work flow before buying any lens. It is a lot of money to just put in a closet for 8-9months. I use this lens constantly know that I have it and I only take it off for wide angle shots. I hope this helps, I wanted to keep it short yet provide you with information that would help you make the best choice when buying this lens."

"I'm a photojournalist working in the field everyday for a newspaper, and I usually use my wide, but when I need the long glass, this almost always does the job. I hesitated for a long time about whether to spend the extra dough for the 2.8 IS, or just get the 2.8 non-IS instead of this lens, and needless to say I went with the f/4 IS. My thinking was, there are going to be a lot more situations where I need the 2-4 stop IS than the one stop aperture improvement.So far, I've had it for about 5 months, and I have no complaints. People who say it's heavy just aren't used to professional lenses. Carry a 2.8 IS around for a while, and you'll appreciate how light this lens is. It's about the size of a tall boy beverage can, fits easily in my bag and doesn't weigh it down too much.It's about the sharpest lens I've used in the realm of Canon 35mm-type, focus is sharp and fast. Works great for sports. Even indoors, for the most part. The extra stop would be nice when the arena you're shooting in is really dim, but even shooting basketball it's better to shoot at f/4 anyway. I'm sure at some point, when I have more money than I know what to do with (which I'm hoping will be soon...), I'll break down and buy the 2.8 IS, but in the meantime, this lens is beautiful, reliable, light, sharp, and the zoom is smooth, silky and well damped. I prefer primes anyway, so I think I'll probably just get the 135 f/2L, 85 f/1.2L or 200 f/2L for portraits or whatever.The only negative I can imagine is that the lens hood is ugly as sin. Works like a charm, but let's face it, an attractive camera and lens is just a littttle bit more fun to own.Hope that helps.[...]"

"So far it is a great lens. I'm a little weirded out by the IS feature of this lens. The image jumps and the thing is a little noisy, but not bad. I knew all these things before I bought it though. I have no regrets about spending the money and plan to get a teleconverter for it."

"This lens has a bigger brother but he is bigger and heavier With lower f stop but not better quality, This lens is a great lens. It is well built as you would expect from Canon. this is a must have for photographer who has an eye for the great things in life and wants to share their beauty with others with outstanding detail."

"This baby rocks. Expensive, yes, but the quality is unsurpassed. I'm no pro, but this lens makes you want to be a better photographer...because frankly you really have to try hard to take a bad picture with this lens. You get the picture framed properly, and this lens will do the rest.



Even wide open at f/4, it takes near-perfect photos. I can hardly tell any difference when you step down a stop or two. AF is always tack perfect!



If you primarily want something for action photos, consider getting it without IS (as it will save you a little weight and about $400+). If you really need the low-light capabilities, then consider the f/2.8 IS version (with additional weight and $600 extra!!!).



But if you plan on using it for portraits, stills, or basically anything under 1/250 shutter speed, then you're going want the IS. It's definitely worth it for what I often use it for. I've tested the f/2.8 and it's just not worth it for 95% of what I shoot, especially given the fact that the f/4 is considerably lighter!



Forgo those fancy dinners for 8 months, and just get it. You can survive on rice, beans, and salad....but you can't survive without this one in your back. You won't be disappointed."

"I replaced the non-IS predecessor with this lens. I can now shoot hand held what previously required a tripod or monopod. I have three f4 Canon IS lenses and the f4 is no problem on my full-frame 5D because it is relatively noise free at ISO 800 and 1600 even aggressively cropped and blown up.



A user with a 1.6 crop camera has to decide whether the 70-200 mm (effectively 112-320 mm) focal range is good for what he/she wants to shoot. These f4 L lenses are extremely good for a modest price."

"I chose the f/4.0 over the f/2.8 because of cost (approx half) and weight. Since I'm not as steady as I used to be and I like to take outdoor/wildlife photos the IS feature is more important than the larger aperture opening. The f/4.0 IS and F2.8 non IS are comparable in price.



The AF action is quick, smooth, and precise. The optics are excellent and pictures are of good quality.



I coupled the lens with a Canon 1.4X extender on my Canon XSi camera and got some good quality pictures on my cross country road trip.



I have since added the Lens "tripod" mount to better balance the lens and camera when using a monopod/tripod, and a Canon 2X extender. I would recommend the tripod lens mount especially when using the extenders.



The 2X Extender will cost you two full f stops and therefore disables the AF function of the lens (it works just fine with the 1.4X extender). If this is important to you go to the f/2.8 and choose between th IS and non IS versions.



Al in all a great lens."