70-200 f/4 L IS USM

[barbara]

Salve !
Vi chiedo un consiglio
Ho una CANON 550D
Mi interessa il 70-200 f/4
Non riesco capire se conviene spendere il doppio per stabilizzatore
Lo userei per i miei viaggi
Grazie

[Daniel Flather]

Translated from Italian via Google:

Hi!
I ask for advice
I have a Canon 550D
I am interested in the 70-200 f / 4
I can not figure out whether it makes sense to spend twice as stabilizer
I'd use it for my travels
thanks

Yes, IS is worth the extra cost if you can afford it.  Remember, IS does nothing for subject movement. 

[stilscream]

I spent the extra $ for the IS ii and the f2.8 because it had the weather sealing to match with the 7d.
However, it is a lot heavier. So, yes, it helps, but if you plan on hiking with it, maybe the weight will be too much difference.
The EF-S 55-250mm is cheap, but a great value in that range and has IS. Lightweight too.

[!Xabbu]

I have the 70-200mm f/4 L non-IS and it's rare that I don't get a speed above 1/200s outdoors. So, for me it works perfectly without the IS, but if you want to use it in low light conditions without a tripod the IS will be a huge help.

[well_dunno]

Salve !
Vi chiedo un consiglio
Ho una CANON 550D
Mi interessa il 70-200 f/4
Non riesco capire se conviene spendere il doppio per stabilizzatore
Lo userei per i miei viaggi
Grazie

Ciao Barbara!

Se utilizerai trepiedi o fai immagini durante il giorno, va bene senza stabilizzatore pero il versione con stabilizzatore da anche risultati piu nitidi.

Grazie

(What I tried to say in Italian above: if you use tripod or shoot during the day, it would be ok without the IS but the IS version also gives sharper results.) 

[D.Sim]

IMO the IS is absolutely worth the additional price... especially at that length. I have it and I love it... Except theres that nagging knowledge that I could also have the 2.8 

[Steve Campbell]

I have the IS version of this lens and love it. It's very sharp. Do some research. The IS version is not just the old version with the latest generation IS added. It is also weather sealed and has had a number of other improvements made to it from what I have read.

[skitron]

Remember, IS does nothing for subject movement.

This is true. IS can be thought of as a tripod substitute and it is very effective in many situations. It is highly desireable for traveling with camera and lens only...especially if lens is f4 and shooting in less than daylight.

[Cosk]

Yes - IS is invaluable for travel. 
Sì - E 'un valore inestimabile per i viaggi.

[getalife]

Hi there I am also a 550d user.  I was having exactly the same question like you when I was thinking to get a canon tele lens.  I decided on a 70-200 f4 IS in the end and I like it.  IS is useful.  I can get sharp images at 1/50s at 200mm, which is great for handheld shooting. 

[HarryWintergreen]

At any rate I would go for the IS Version. It's tack sharp and only surpassed by the 70-200 2,8 II albeit by a small margin. And the advantages of a four stop IS cannot be overestimated. It frees you from several restraints among these the indispensable prerequisite for working with tele lenses, a stabilized view through the finder. Thus, the IS version definitely would be my choice.

[FarQinell]

The f/4 IS is preferable to the f/2.8 IS.
Why?
The f/4 is half the weight.
The f/4 is half the price.
The f/4 is sharper wide open than the f/2.8 is wide open.
The f/4 IS is one of those rare zooms - sharp wide open and sharp at the top end as well.
OK - if you want to look good with a big heavy zoom lens around your neck then get the f/2.8!

If you really want f/2.8 consider buying the two Canon lightweight primes - 85/1.8 and the 200/2.8.

A Canon prime will always beat a zoom!

[D.Sim]

The f/4 IS is preferable to the f/2.8 IS.
Why?
The f/4 is half the weight.
The f/4 is half the price.
The f/4 lets half the light in
The f/4 is sharper wide open than the f/2.8 is wide open.
The f/4 IS is one of those rare zooms - sharp wide open and sharp at the top end as well.
OK - if you want to look good with a big heavy zoom lens around your neck then get the f/2.8!

If you really want f/2.8 consider buying the two Canon lightweight primes - 85/1.8 and the 200/2.8.

A Canon prime will always beat a zoom!

Fixed.

And I'd argue on that "Sharper wide open" thing... at f/4 the 2.8 is as sharp, if not sharper. at f/2.8, its at least as good as the f/4 is at f/4.
And if you're going to go with the Prime will beat a zoom thing, might as well just suggest the primes over the f/4 as well.

[Matthew19]

The f/4 IS is sharper than the non-IS version : http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=404&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=3&API=2&LensComp=104&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=3&APIComp=0

[!Xabbu]

The f/4 IS is sharper than the non-IS version : http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=404&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=3&API=2&LensComp=104&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=3&APIComp=0

Yes, but it is considerably cheaper and still an excellent lens. I really love my non-L and believe that it's one of Canon's best value-for-money lenses.