Peter, I have a friend who has a 70-200/4 and I have the 70-200/2.8 IS. They are both lenses of superb optical quality. I haven't done any pixel peeping to compare the two lenses, I've just looked at the images directly. There's nothing that would push me in the direction of one lens over the other for use at smaller apertures for landscape shots. I have not compared the two wide open.
I second everyone else's opinion that the 70-200/2.8 is absolutely amazing wide open. My friend bought the f/4 because he likes to go on week long backpacking trips and needed light weight gear. He also didn't want to spend $1.6k on a lens... I bought my f/2.8 because I'm a sucker for expensive gear, wanted f/2.8 IS for available darkness photography and sports. I've shot some college level hockey and really needed the f/2.8 for that purpose. Now, I'm just limited by the autofocus capabilities of my 10D. I recently rented a 1D II and shot a hockey game with it. Its AF capabilities are **MILES** beyond what you can do with the 10D (in terms of accuracy, ability to track a moving target, low-light focusing, etc.) Just having that cloud of AF points covering the majority of the frame really helps. For portraits with a 1.6x crop body, I'd suggest the 85/1.8 (which is amazing) or the 135/2.0 (which is super amazing ultra plus!!) Seriously, the 135/2 I rented truly blew me away. The sharpness wide open is phenomenal. Nice bokeh. I have compared the 85/1.8 and 100/2 and found them to be nearly identical. Optically, they're both solid performers. Fast, quiet AF, all that good stuff. Their field of view on a 1.6x body is near identical. So if you're looking at those two lenses, I'd suggest saving the $75 and going with the 85/1.8. But that's an aside... Tom On 3/14/06, Nanou Peter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hello, > > I'm trying to decide between these two lensen but I > can't make up my mind. Weight vs. optical quality seem > to be my twe concerns to decide on. I'd like it for > portraits and some travel around on a digital 1.6x > body. * **** ******* *********************************************************** * For list instructions, including unsubscribe, see: * http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/eos_list.htm ***********************************************************
