Canon 70-200 2.8L non-IS or Sigma 70-200 2.8 OS

Home · Register · Search · Software · Hosting · Software · Join Upload & Sell

Moderated by: Fred Miranda

Pre-order new Rokinon 16mm f/2.0 ED AS UMC lens

Pre-order new Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM lens

Bower 35mm f/1.4 price dropped to $379

FM Forums \| Canon-mount SLRs \| Join Upload & Sell
1 2 3 end

Canon 70-200 2.8L non-IS or Sigma 70-200 2.8 OS

kezeka
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.3 #1 · Canon 70-200 2.8L non-IS or Sigma 70-200 2.8 OS

Using TDP's lens comparison tool it looks to me like the sigma has sharper edges while the canon has a significantly sharper center at 2.8 at 70mm and are about equal in center sharpness at 200mm. At 100mm the canon takes the cake:

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=806&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=242&CameraComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0

Feb 26, 2013 at 02:16 AM

leftymgp
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.3 #2 · Canon 70-200 2.8L non-IS or Sigma 70-200 2.8 OS

Well, I've never tried the Sigma, but I own the 2.8 non-IS. I have to say that it is very very good. I remember when I bought it I felt like I was stretching myself a little to afford it. But then the first day I took it out and looked at the photos I decided it was worth every penny. So that's my vote, although I'll admit that for all I know the Sigma is twice as good (as I haven't tried it).

Feb 26, 2013 at 02:59 AM

trumpet_guy
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.3 #3 · Canon 70-200 2.8L non-IS or Sigma 70-200 2.8 OS

The Canon 2.8 non-IS is very good. If IS is not needed, there is not much reason to look elsewhere. Of course if you find a Magic Drainpipe (Canon 80-200/2.8) in good condition
and are willing to risk the fact that Canon won't service it anymore, it is superb.

I would get the Canon 2.8 non-IS without hesitation, as long as the price is reasonable.

Feb 26, 2013 at 06:59 AM

Snopchenko
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.3 #4 · Canon 70-200 2.8L non-IS or Sigma 70-200 2.8 OS

Imagemaster wrote:

Too many depend on IS instead of using a tripod.

Go for the Canon.
There are many situations when the tripod isn't practical. It also adds weight and bulk beyond pretty much any lens and takes time to set up. Tripod and IS aren't mutually exclusive.

I wonder if the used 70-200/2.8 L IS (non-II) can be squeezed into the budget somehow? I have it - it's a great lens and I don't plan on getting rid of it any time soon despite the mk.2 (which just isn't affordable to me, much less justifiable with mk.1 still delivering superb results. For me, IS is invaluable for shooting in a theatre where the shutter speed is getting borderline at times. Even if non-IS is a smidge sharper, I would've lost a lot of photos to motion blur. Not to mention the ability to shoot at night without having to set up a tripod for every shot.

Feb 26, 2013 at 07:25 AM

15Bit
Online
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.3 #5 · Canon 70-200 2.8L non-IS or Sigma 70-200 2.8 OS

I've had a canon 70-200mm f/2.8L non-IS for maybe 5 years, using it on both crop and FF cameras. It is without doubt my most-used lens and i would heartily recommend it on either crop or FF.

With respect to IS/OS, i do miss it sometimes, but less than might be anticipated reading many comments i've seen on the topic: IS/OS is really most useful for static subjects in low light, but if you shoot anything that is moving you need a higher shutter speed anyway. Personally i just push up the ISO to keep the shutter speed as high as i can, and live with the noise. Certainly a sharp noisy picture is a lot more useful than a clean blurry one. I also have "poor mans IS" in the form of a monopod, which comes in handy for indoor events like school plays and such.

I would also comment that i bought my 70-200mm used and if i were to sell it tomorrow i would get back all the money i paid for it.

Feb 26, 2013 at 08:21 AM

maxx9photo
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.3 #6 · Canon 70-200 2.8L non-IS or Sigma 70-200 2.8 OS

Put it this way, if money is no object then get Canon 70-200 L II, if it is then Sigma woud be sufficient. Would your client or prospective client know if you use either lenses? I don't think so, perhaps if you have a photo session and they ask what lenses are you going to use? Never had that kind of question in my semi professional experience. The end result is the most important thing.

I just got myself Sigma 70-200 OS yesterday and my initial test was impressive and for the price is even better. And with the extra money I save I can get another lens to play around. I spent less than $3.5k on my lenses and here's what i have Tamron 24-70 VC, Sigma 70-200 OS, Sigma 35/1.4 (awesome lens!), and sSigma 85/1.4 (another awesome lens). With Canon brand I won't get anything closer to the number I've spent.

Feb 27, 2013 at 01:14 PM

charityd
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: Off

p.3 #7 · Canon 70-200 2.8L non-IS or Sigma 70-200 2.8 OS

Well guys...

This image is copyrighted by the owner

:-D! Thanks in large part to all your great comments, I was finally able to make a decision (thanks to all the folks at the end...I never responded, but all your comments were greatly appreciated)! It was a really tough call, but I think the Canon is going to work out well. I was able to pick this one up used locally (it showed up at just the right time!) and it seems to be in pristine condition! I'm excited (and may not make it to work on time tomorrow because I'll be too busy taking pictures)! Thanks again for all the great help!
-CHARITY-

Feb 28, 2013 at 06:01 AM

15Bit
Online
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.3 #8 · Canon 70-200 2.8L non-IS or Sigma 70-200 2.8 OS

Glad to be of help. Have fun with it, i know i love mine. Just to check - you did get the hood and tripod ring with it?

Feb 28, 2013 at 06:05 AM

charityd
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: Off

p.3 #9 · Canon 70-200 2.8L non-IS or Sigma 70-200 2.8 OS

Yep! I sure did (and the case and box). And thanks again for your help...your comments helped pushed me over the edge in the end.

Feb 28, 2013 at 06:24 AM

kezeka
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.3 #10 · Canon 70-200 2.8L non-IS or Sigma 70-200 2.8 OS

Congratulations! I think you will be more than pleased with your decision for a good many years

Feb 28, 2013 at 06:28 PM

ComicDom1
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: On

p.3 #11 · Canon 70-200 2.8L non-IS or Sigma 70-200 2.8 OS

Yep I think you made the right choice. As an engineer, I think you will be able to really appreciate things are are designed to work together.

By the way where did you receive your degree? After the military I was pursuing in one of the fields of Aviation along with the computer technology I was interested in. I know there are not that many schools that offer degrees in the aviation field so that is why I am curious.

Jason

Feb 28, 2013 at 10:20 PM

charityd
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: Off

p.3 #12 · Canon 70-200 2.8L non-IS or Sigma 70-200 2.8 OS

Jason-
Yeah, so for I've really been loving the sharpness! The lack of IS is taking some getting used to. It's not so much that I'm worried about getting a blurry pictures (I've been keeping my shutter speeds high), but sometimes it's hard to get the autofocus point in the right place because the image is jumping around in the viewfinder. I'm sure I'll get used to it!

I got my bachelor's from Georgia Tech and master's from Stanford. My degrees actually covered very little aviation and mostly focused on aeronautics and astronautics. I agree that I don't know many schools that offer degrees in aviation (although I believe Embry-Riddle is one of them).

Mar 07, 2013 at 04:58 AM

15Bit
Online
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.3 #13 · Canon 70-200 2.8L non-IS or Sigma 70-200 2.8 OS

charityd wrote:
Jason-
Yeah, so for I've really been loving the sharpness! The lack of IS is taking some getting used to. It's not so much that I'm worried about getting a blurry pictures (I've been keeping my shutter speeds high), but sometimes it's hard to get the autofocus point in the right place because the image is jumping around in the viewfinder. I'm sure I'll get used to it!

Just takes a bit of practice to get the technique.

Mar 07, 2013 at 11:10 AM

1 2 3 end
FM Forums \| Canon-mount SLRs \| Join Upload & Sell 1 2 3 end