EF 70~200mm f/2.8 IS USM (Y or N?)

[DonSchap]

Folks,

this is the big one... jump or no?

I have a chance to glom onto a Canon EF 70~200mm f/2.8L IS USM, right now, or should I wait until the TAmROn SP AF70~210mm f/2.8 XR Di LD, after Fotokina for half the cost of the Canon? Tough call, huh?

Sure, I can always sell the Canon lens later... after I have used it all summer... ;) (Yeah, right... me actually sell something? Man, that's rich.)

So... by use of the magic poll... you can help me make this hair-pulling and awful decision. :eek:

Thanks

[NewTekBuzz]

I would love a chance to use/own that lens!! the wife thought i was nutz spending 350 on a lens that does not zoom... canon 50mm/f1.4 there is no way in hell she would let me spend 1700 on a canon 70-200 f2.8 USM IS :(
it looks like you are no starnger to the tamron lens... only you can answer what you sohuld really do. I will leave you with this; it is much easier to look THROUGH a bright white lens then it is to look AT it!!
good luck, you will be happy no matter what

[aparmley]

Don - Its time you invested into a lens instead of just buying Tamron! ;) All kidding aside, you, everyone else here, and I all know at 70-200 there isn't a finer lens made today. . . why would you think twice about it if you have the chance to get this bad boy? In the wise words of Donny Brasco, "Forget'bout it."

[JMWallace]

Don, your disposable income for lenses is remarkable. This is one of the dream lenses. Never know...once you get to using it, you may never want to let it go. Are there any stats out on the Tamron to compare to the Canon??

[DonSchap]

The "new" TAmROn is kind of a worst kept secret. I suspected it was coming a couple of months ago, but it wasn't until I talked with Customer Service that my suspicions were confirmed. And, only more so, by recent conversations with corporate reps.

No one is being real precise on the specs... and when asked about "image stabilization" being offered... even they can't say for sure.

What I do "know" is this:

focal length: 70-210mm
max. aperture: f/2.8
length: ~7 inches
diameter: ~3 inches
weight: ~24 oz.

It'll be an SP have the XR & LD glass and Di coatings... and a price around $850~$900, but other than that, it's a crap shoot at this point. If they had one handy, it would've found a way into my bag. :D

The funny part was the discussion of using a length of rope to solve the "IS" issue. Where you take a eight-foot length of rope, tie a loop on one end, big enough to slide your shoe through (keep it adjustable) and the other end 'anchored' to the bottom of your camera, the rope-length just long enough to have the camera's viewfinder reach eye-level. Stretch a bit... and take the shot. Camera-shake solved! I know it probably looks strange, but the shots are near perfect. Who knew? Well... know you all do. :eek:

Anyway... this decision is looking lop-sided & pretty definite. You guys having lunch, together, or something? :rolleyes:

This will be hard to swallow... gulp :eek:
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Moving on... still have the rest of the day to fight through.

[TenD]

The Canon is a known quantity, and one of the finest lenses made.

[JMWallace]

Anyway... this decision is looking lop-sided & pretty definite. You guys having lunch, together, or something? :rolleyes:

Moving on... still have the rest of the day to fight through.

HA! Did you expect anything less from a dedicated Canon site?? Maybe you need to start a Tamron Lens forum...the teeter-totter may just tilt the other way...never know with such a renouned lens as the Canon though.

[DonSchap]

if I do go and get this "iffy" lens... you guys are going to hound me for test shots... (shaking head).

I mean, come on... it's just an L-glass zoom with IS... and low light capability... terrific color... great coating... proven performance... a standard against which all other lens are compared.

Okay, already... geesh, I talked me into it. :mad:

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I can't even get it out of the box w/o you guys pushin' and a shovin'... :rolleyes:

Honestly, it was this or the studio lighting kit... they both were around the same amount... and lighting is more 'indoorsy' type of stuff... so it can just wait until next Fall. Heck, it's Summer... air shows, camping, bald eagles... and a tons of fireworks.

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The lens boxes are now shelved in my computer room and the bag is ready... loaded with glass beyond imagination... (oh, my aching back.) :rolleyes:

BTW: The TAmROn AF18~200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II LD has been retired from active service. It's now on inactive reserve. :cool:

[noyjimi]

Canon 100-400 L IS :D

[JMWallace]

COME ON Don...it's been over an hour that you've had it....WHERE's the samples??? hahaha

[DonSchap]

Here's quick bokeh... at 5 feet.

200mm @ f/4 1/60sec. (handheld) IS0-400
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And a 100% crop... notice the red flare... on the flash... that's really not on the subject. CA? Hmmm...
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This is a 100% crop, same subject, with the TAmROn 18~200 @ 200 f/6.3 1/60 sec. ISO-400
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That's it, so far... Cold man... what do you think... reduce red channel? What's with this lens?

[JMWallace]

WOW - look at the clarity of the red & white stripes! Can really notice the difference in IQ & brightness between the two lenses.

[DonSchap]

I'm not debating that... but, now I have a "red flare" on flash reflections (lower right, under left breast) or "red halo" on the tunsten reflection (center of left breast). That is something I never noticed with the TAmROns. Perhaps that is how the lens brightens the color... some kind of side effect. Yeah, right. That's some kind of CA or something. Perhaps, this "wonder lens" isn't as wonderful as they say.

Besides, look at the f/stop settings being used, here... the 18~200 is automatically limited to f/6.3 at 200mm, while the 70~200 is at f/4. It really should be 2-f/stops brighter under the same flash intensity.

I also believe that my 18-200mm's gearing might be internally damaged. It's last stage (135~200mm) does not appear to kick in as it should. You notice these things when you do side-by-sides. Looks like it is being limited to about 180mm... and never reaches the full 200mm. It goes back to the local camera store, for a side-by-side with another copy.

Out of time for today, though, chaps... :(

[DonSchap]

Well, I haven't tried the 580EX or the 420EX yet, but that pop-up flash sure has that red flare or fringe... check this:

EF 70~200mm f/2.8 IS USM @ 70mm f/4 1/60 sec. ISO-400
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100% crop of above
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In fact, upon examination.. anywhere there is a reflection... it's there. Check the gold. Eek! :eek:

Now what? Obviously, external flashes... in a bit. :(

[DonSchap]

I took roughly the same shot, from the same angle... indoor 70mm+ shots are a little tight.

EF 70~200mm F/2.8 IS USM w/ 580EX on hot shoe @ 70mm f/4 1/60sec ISO-400. The 100% crop reveals:
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A much less defined fringe... nearly non-existant. So... no pop-up flash for the newest lens in my arsenal. The big lens demands a big flash. Well, that's something... get over it, eh?

Moving on... tomorrow... sunny skies, they say... Hmmm... "Takin' to the streets...", I guess.

[DonSchap]

Yeah... did the tree/contrast thing... and sure enough... "CA" (chromatic aberration)... it was slight, but still right there.

70mm @ f/11 1/500 sec ISO-200 w/ UV (MC)-filter (red crop square is on left hand side)
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100% crop... and there it is... blow it up a bit... but clearly present, even at f/11.
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It's in all the corners... just as Coldrain had demonstrated with his Tokina 12-24mm, just not quite as obvious. I guess if you want a little more color in your photographs, this is one way of getting it. :(

[Rhys]

I'd love to see the results from the Tamron.

I've been using the Tamron 70-300 with the Tamron 28-75 and Tamron 17-35. I took only Tamron with me on my current trip. I haven't had much opportunity to take many photos but those that I have have been crisp, crisp, crisp.

If the Tamron 70-200 f2.8 came out, would I buy it? Probably not. I have a 70-300 and can't really justify replacing it. I might sell my Canon 18-55 and Canon 50 f1.8 as they're not really lenses I have much use for. I might buy a Tamron Macro prime lens though.

[DonSchap]

On Thursday, I had a chance to "scope out" the TAmROn SP AF180mm f/3.5 Di LD (IF) 1:1 Macro (32.2 oz or 2 lbs) ($700).

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It really is quite a piece of glass... and definitely worth the price.

I was actually torn in my decision-making seeing this particular piece and conversation about it was both informative and quite enticing. Although it is a fixed focal length, it is perhaps one of the most awesome MACRO lenses out there. Nearly 300mm focal length, when strapped on to a APS-C sensor (1.6x multiplier) camera... you can do a lot more than just macro shots.

It can easily compete with a Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM (38 oz. or 2.4 lbs) ($1200) and, IMO, perhaps one of TAmROns finest lenses.

If you are serious.. this one is definitely worth a look, first. :D

[DonSchap]

I grabbed a couple of quick pics of the rig hooked up with my two new "big boy" lenses. "Yes, Virgina... size can be an issue." LOL

Canon EF 70~200 F/2.8 IS USM at both 70mm & 200mm (size does not change)
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TAmROn SP AF200~500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD at 200mm
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TAmROn SP AF200~500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD at 500mm
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Obviously, with this aimed in this direction you really can't appreciate the true sideways length of this lens, so...
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The little light-brown item attached to the bottom of the 70-200mm 's tripod ring is a Bogen-Manfrotto RC2 (Rapid Connect System 2) plate. If you don't use one of these, you should. They certainly do make life a lot easier with these larger lenses and tripods.

Now, there is an eight-inch lens hood that attaches to the front of the 200-500mm which I have painted psychodellic colors just to get even more attention drawn to it. Ah, the imagination goes wild, doesn't it? :D

Anyway... into the deep woods I go... the 4th of July, all glassey-eyed. :rolleyes:

[coldrain]

Flash obviously makes for very bright areas. With f2.8, a LOT of light is let through. These two factors will indeed increase the possibility of purple fringing (bright light reflected from sensor/IR filter surface getting back into the picture via reflections).
Of course you will not be able to try that with the Tamron since it does not let as much light in (no f2.8).

The popup flash is a lot closer to the lens, so the light reflected in the objects naturally reflects more into the lens... with the higher external flash the reflections will ens up more below the lens. This explains why the external flash minimizes the "purple" fringing.

Of course, it is not needed to use f2.8 with flash, so the problem in real life situations will not be there....

The intensity of the red compared to the Tamron is because the Tamron dows not let all light through the same, giving the pics a very slight veil. When you have your post processing geared to give the Tamron pics some "pop" you will notice that with the "L" there may at some point be too much "pop" because the "L" has its own natural pop.

[Vich]

Tamnon, or will it be Canron? Don, what you doin' up there with that gear. Dis 'ere z a family station!

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[Wesan]

Holy macaroni! At full tele, the Tamron lens looks like one of the "Canons" of Navarone or something :eek: (pun intended... :D )! Are you sure you didn't buy something from a gun store? ;) Anyhow, I'm sure you'll get some real good "shooting" done with that one... :p

Sorry, I just couldn't resist posting this comment. Hope you don't mind. :)

[DonSchap]

Vich, I do not believe these two lenses are breeding stock. Each has it's own way of getting the job done... so the DNA-strands might not be compatible. :rolleyes:

All kidding aside, the Canon weighs in at 52 oz... the Tamron is only 43.6. It's that metal jacket that Canon uses... but still the pair are an awesome combo.

Distance to subject: 10 feet

TAmROn SP AF 200~500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD @ 500mm f/6.3 1/60sec ISO-400 580EX flash
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100% Crop of above shot
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100% crop - Canon 70~200mm F/2.8 IS USM (IS off - tripod used) 200mm f/4 1/60sec ISO-400 580EX flash
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Turning in great long-range results: $2400 - More than all my other glass thrown together - kersmash!

Okay... I shall keep the Canon lens for now... and see just how well the TAmROn is designed, when it is released. I am pleased with these results.

Coldrain - I suspect the angle of flash will be directly involved, as you surmised. I do have an off-camera cord I can use for these problematic flares and when the studio-lighting kit shows up in September, it'll probably solve the tabletop problems, too.

Hey, thanks for the supportive comments. The photgraphs are definitely improving... so there is something to be said for pricey glass (but, you didn't hear me say it).

Happy Father's Day to all you picture-taking Dads. Enjoy the tots... they grow up way too fast. Women, weapons... far away lands... the adventure awaits... as they reach 18. My son is nearly there... and look at this?
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GET THE SHOT! :D