obudu wrote:
I just saw this lens review on Christopher Frost YouTube. Interesting lens but I just got 70-200 GM ii lens last week and love it. I am not even sure this lens can surpass old 70-200 GM 1.
“Surpass” is definitely up to each photographer interpretation. The 2 areas where I see the 70-200 f2.8 “Surpass” the new f4 Macro version are that it can shoot at f2.8 and the corners are a bit sharper up until about f8. Maybe these are the most important things for you and that is fine, no argument from me. Enjoy your new 70-200 f2.8, it is a beautiful lens.
But for me and my intended use of the 70-200 f4 for traveling as my longer FL zoom I see 6 ways it “Surpasses” the 70-200 f2.8 GM V1 or II. I have listed these advantages in my order of preference:
1. Smaller size and compactness. This lens fits mounted to my A7RIV standing up in only 1 slot of my travel bag. The 70-200 f2.8 either version will not fit mounted in my travel bag and requires a larger and heavier bag. I can fit 2 bodies with mounted lenses in my bag standing up, so either is ready at a moments notice to shoot away.
2. Cost Savings. In the US the f4 version is $1,100 less than the f2.8 V II. With this savings I plan on buying the brand new A6700 AND the 70-200 f4 lens for only $298 more than the 70-200 f2.8 V II alone. I now have instantly a 105-300mm f4 lens at the ready on the 2nd body in my travel bag.
3. Full 1:2 Macro capabilities at all focal lengths. Plus with my existing 1.4x TC and in the crop mode of the A6700 or my A7RIV it is a 1:1 macro. The 70-200 f2.8 does not have any way near the Macro capabilities on this new lens.
4. Weight savings. When traveling via air, every ounce counts and the 251 grams savings of the f4 vs the f2.8 V II (no tripod collars) means I can bring another fast f2 prime lens in my kit for the same weight. For 99% of my intended shooting it will be used without the collar and when needed on a tripod the setup can be used via mounting the camera body to the tripod. With the 70-200 f2.8 you need to add the tripod collar for shooting on a tripod and that adds over 100 grams.
5. Close focus ability. The new 70-200 f4 can close focus at less than 1 foot, the 70-200 f2.8 close focus is approx. 2 times longer at the short end and 3 times longer at 200mm.
6. AF speed acquisition. Per the 2 videos Patrick Murphy Racy put out yesterday, he is Sony’s US top sports shooter Ambassador, he says the new 70-200 f4 AF speed is the best of any Sony lens he has and surpasses the 70-200 f2.8 VII.
obudu wrote:
I just saw this lens review on Christopher Frost YouTube. Interesting lens but I just got 70-200 GM ii lens last week and love it. I am not even sure this lens can surpass old 70-200 GM 1.
“Surpass” is definitely up to each photographer interpretation. The 2 areas where I see the 70-200 f2.8 “Surpass” the new f4 Macro version are that it can shoot at f2.8 and the corners are a bit sharper up until about f8. Maybe these are the most important things for you and that is fine, no argument from me. Enjoy your new 70-200 f2.8, it is a beautiful lens.
But for me and my intended use of the 70-200 f4 for traveling as my longer FL zoom I see 6 ways it “Surpasses” the 70-200 f2.8 GM V1 or II. I have listed these advantages in my order of preference:
1. Smaller size and compactness. This lens fits mounted to my A7RIV standing up in only 1 slot of my travel bag. The 70-200 f2.8 either version will not fit mounted in my travel bag and requires a larger and heavier bag. I can fit 2 bodies with mounted lenses in my bag standing up, so either is ready at a moments notice to shoot away.
2. Cost Savings. In the US the f4 version is $1,100 less than the f2.8 V II. With this savings I plan on buying the brand new A6700 AND the 70-200 f4 lens for only $298 more than the 70-200 f2.8 V II alone. I now have instantly a 105-300mm f4 lens at the ready on the 2nd body in my travel bag.
3. Full 1:2 Macro capabilities at all focal lengths. Plus with my existing 1.4x TC and in the crop mode of the A6700 or my A7RIV it is a 1:1 macro. The 70-200 f2.8 does not have any way near the Macro capabilities on this new lens.
4. Weight savings. When traveling via air, every ounce counts and the 251 grams savings of the f4 vs the f2.8 V II (no tripod collars) means I can bring another fast f2 prime lens in my kit for the same weight. For 99% of my intended shooting it will be used without the collar and when needed on a tripod the setup can be used via mounting the camera body to the tripod. With the 70-200 f2.8 you need to add the tripod collar for shooting on a tripod and that adds over 100 grams.
5. Close focus ability. The new 70-200 f4 can close focus at less than 1 foot, the 70-200 f2.8 close focus is approx. 2 times longer at the short end and 3 times longer at 200mm.
6. AF speed acquisition. Per the 2 videos Patrick Murphy Racy put out yesterday, he is Sony’s US top sports shooter Ambassador, he says the new 70-200 f4 AF speed is the best of any Sony lens he has and surpasses the 70-200 f2.8 VII.
Jul 13, 2023 at 09:01 AM
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