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Author Topic: URL for Canon 70-200/2.8 IS vs non IS comparison  (Read 7164 times)

PetterStahre

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URL for Canon 70-200/2.8 IS vs non IS comparison
« on: July 27, 2006, 03:53:44 am »

I know there is a test somewhere on the web which compares this Canon-lens with or without the IS. It contains pixel peeping images and I believe it's from a studio shot. I read it a year ago but cant find it now.

Does anyone have this URL? (Or any other similar URL?)

The reason for asking is I'm considering to downgrade/upgrade my lens to the non IS-version if it is notably sharper. As an alternative to the switch I'm considering buing the 200/2.8 (and/or the 135/2 which I might buy anyhow).

I do a lot of studiowork using flashes, so the IS is not really that important to me, but sharpness is. Opinions from users of any of these lenses are much welcome.

// Petter
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David Anderson

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URL for Canon 70-200/2.8 IS vs non IS comparison
« Reply #1 on: July 27, 2006, 05:26:02 am »

If you want my opinion,
the 70-200 IS ( a great lens ) is to heavy for the studio, the 135 is VERY sharp, lighter and easy to use.
For the same money as the IS you could add another prime lens or two as well.

The 70-200 IS is a very good lens for events or location work, I use one for gigs in low light all the time and am very happy with the sharpness and convienence of it...
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stever

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URL for Canon 70-200/2.8 IS vs non IS comparison
« Reply #2 on: July 27, 2006, 05:09:43 pm »

go to the photozone equipment tests

these tests are done with a digital rebel i believe with borrowed lenses - in one case that i know of (the 100-400), the sample isn't representative and he's planning to re-test
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PetterStahre

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URL for Canon 70-200/2.8 IS vs non IS comparison
« Reply #3 on: July 28, 2006, 02:54:32 am »

Thank you both, David and Stever, for your replies.

I already have the 70-200/2.8 IS so I'm specifically interested in a side by side comparison of the IS vs non-IS which I know is around somewhere on the web. (The 135/2 will probably end up in my bag anyhow.)

I've looked at Photozone but they state one of their tests (don't remember which) probably is not valid since they believe the lens was a bad copy.

Does this ring a bell to anyone - a side by side comparison of the IS vs non-IS version, with 1:1 image crops. Probably studioshots, from what I recall.

Cheers,
Petter
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cgf

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URL for Canon 70-200/2.8 IS vs non IS comparison
« Reply #4 on: July 28, 2006, 10:21:45 am »

Quote
Does this ring a bell to anyone - a side by side comparison of the IS vs non-IS version, with 1:1 image crops. Probably studioshots, from what I recall.
[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Not sure if this is what you're looking for: [a href=\"http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fsoujiin.com%2Fnambu%2F&langpair=ja%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=%2Flanguage_tools]http://translate.google.com/translate?u=ht...Flanguage_tools[/url]

Ignore the english on the site, it's a badly translated version of japanese (i think).

Anyway lots of lenses tested in a studio, there's the EF70-200 with and without IS. Or is it the same lens with IS turned off?

When you scroll down and find the lens you want, click once on the link to see the shot at screensize, then a second click opens up the full resolution image.

Hope this helps
Chris.
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jimhuber

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URL for Canon 70-200/2.8 IS vs non IS comparison
« Reply #5 on: July 30, 2006, 09:04:21 pm »

William Castleman did one a while back:

WLCastleman 70-200
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PetterStahre

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URL for Canon 70-200/2.8 IS vs non IS comparison
« Reply #6 on: July 31, 2006, 11:31:56 am »

Quote
William Castleman did one a while back:
WLCastleman 70-200

Ah, THANK U Jim... that was the one I was looking for. And thank you Chris for your reply.

// Petter
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pfigen

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URL for Canon 70-200/2.8 IS vs non IS comparison
« Reply #7 on: July 31, 2006, 01:56:40 pm »

I have both the IS and nonIS versions, and my comparisons are pretty much a perfect mirror of Castleman's results. The nonIS is noticeably sharper, especially wide open and one to two stops down. At 135 and at comparable apertures, there is very little difference between the nonIS and the 135L, but at 200, the 2001.8 is so, so much better than the zoom, that they don't really belong in the same comparison.
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PetterStahre

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URL for Canon 70-200/2.8 IS vs non IS comparison
« Reply #8 on: July 31, 2006, 04:00:43 pm »

Quote
I have both the IS and nonIS versions, and my comparisons are pretty much a perfect mirror of Castleman's results. The nonIS is noticeably sharper, especially wide open and one to two stops down. At 135 and at comparable apertures, there is very little difference between the nonIS and the 135L, but at 200, the 2001.8 is so, so much better than the zoom, that they don't really belong in the same comparison.

That is very interesting, thanks. I was first thinking of keeping my 70-200/2.8 IS and buy the 135/2 + maybe the 200/2.8.

But from what I've read about the non-IS 70-200/2.8 it seems very competitive/"nearly equal" to the 135/2 regarding image quality at large apertures. And I'm uncertain if the 200/2.8 is significantly better than the non-IS 70-200/2.8 at 200 mm.

Bottom line... I might be better of doing what you have done... buy another 70-200 and have both versions.

About the 200/1.8... yes, I've read (and dreamt) about it but its to expensive to justify for my kind of work.

Since you've used both lenses (and the 135/2 I assume?)... which of these packages would you keep/invest in:

A:
70-200/2.8 (non IS)
70-200/2.8 IS

B:
70-200/2.8 IS
135/2
200/2.8  (sorry, the /1.8 is not an option   )

...I'm only interested in image quality (sharpness mainly).

Thanks for your help!

// Petter
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jimhuber

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URL for Canon 70-200/2.8 IS vs non IS comparison
« Reply #9 on: August 01, 2006, 11:34:22 am »

The 135/2L and 200/2.8L are the sharpest lenses I've got, with the 200 actually a bit better than the 135. Not just the center, but all the way to the corners on a full-frame 5D. For comparison, I also have the 85/1.8 and 300/4L IS and while they're quite good, they're not up to the overall excellence at any aperture of the 135/2L and 200/2.8L. I always try to stop down at least one stop from max aperture with the 85/1.8 and 300/4L IS. I also have the 100/2.8 macro, which is a very good lens, but I use it for such different subject matter that I can't make a fair comparison.

I've never used the 70-200 zoom - just too big, heavy, WHITE, and expensive for me. For a zoom I use the 70-300DO, and I've been very pleased with it. Processed through DxO Optics software it's darn good except the extreme corners at wide-open apertures. It's relatively small, light, and unobtrusive.

I think it would have to come down to how you're going to use the lens. Primes are fantastic when you can control your position. For many landscape situations you can't position yourself precisely where you'd like, so a zoom can often get you slightly better framing than a prime. If the 70-200 is as good as it's rumored to be, better framing may be worth it. My experience has been that fewer pixels through better glass produces better prints, though. For example, if ideal framing required, say,  185mm then a 200mm prime would be too tight and you'd have to drop back to 135mm and crop later if using only prime lenses, or you could set the 70-200 zoom to 185mm and use all of the pixels your sensor has available. Which would produce the better print? It's probably splitting hairs, really - nothing that would be noticed until at least a 12x18 print, and maybe bigger.

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