Luminous Landscape Forum
Equipment & Techniques => Cameras, Lenses and Shooting gear => Topic started by: FrankG on March 09, 2012, 12:26:18 pm
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70-300mm / 4-5.6 IS
70-300mm / 4-5.6 IS L
70-300mm / 4-5.6 IS DO (the compact physical design)
Can anyone comment on any compelling reasons to choose one over the others?
Obviously the L version is almost 3x the price of the regular. Are the pictures much better?
The DO version is nice & small (a great advantage when walking the city) but doesn't cost much less than the L.
I'm open to finding used gear.
Mainly I'll be using it either for landscapes where I'll stop down to f11 more or less.
AND, more frequently, I'll be using it for city scenes with tight 'graphic' compositions ala Jay Maisel (who I understand uses the Nikon versions 70-300mm & 28-300mm VR, 4.5-5.6 & 3.5-5.6 respectively).
I'd be much wider open & mostly hand held (e.g. f4 or 5.6) in this scenario.
I love great quality (5D2) and this would be my first zoom. I only have primes.
Thanks
Frank
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Hello Frank.
I haven't tried the DO version but have used the other two on a 5D2. I think it depends a bit on your output. If you are shooting for the web then any one of the three will do a fine job. If you are printing and need resolution then the L version is much sharper and the difference is obvious. As good as the 70-200L. It is also much faster to focus, almost instantaneous in good light. And the IS really is a step above the earlier lens.
David
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Yes, to be able to make decent size prints - at last 16 in x...
The web is a byproduct.
Thanks for the recommendation to consider the L.
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You might want to check two reviews for the L lens:
The legendary Eric Meola's Review of 70-300L (http://ericmeola.blogspot.com/2010/12/canons-new-70-300mm-l-lens.html)
Canon Rumors Review of 70-300L (http://www.canonrumors.com/reviews/ef-70-300-f4-5-6l-is-review/)
I used the other two. Both are excellent optically. I returned the DO one for poor (for me) ergonomics (zoom ring too tight and way too close to camera body for comfortable zooming). If I would be buying today, I would probably go for the L version.
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Obviously the L version is almost 3x the price of the regular. Are the pictures much better?
Yes. The L version is far far better than the non-L version (I haven't used the DO). In fact, my 70-300L was better than my 70-200 f/4 IS L on full frame.
Stephen