Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM Review
The Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM ($1,349 direct)($1,199.00 at Amazon) isn't as lauded as the company's f/2.8 IS lens with the same zoom range, but it's priced about $650 less, making it an attractive option for shooters who can live with a slower lens. It is similar in design and price to the Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/4G ED VR($1,396.95 at Amazon) lens. It's compatible with full-frame Canon cameras, and can also be used with APS-C bodies, where it acts more like a 112-320mm lens due to the 1.6x crop factor. It's very sharp across the frame at its widest focal length, but performance at the edges suffers when set to 200mm.
Like other Canon L zooms, the lens features a white finish rather than a traditional black. It measures 6.8 by 3 inches (HD) and weighs 1.7 pounds. A hood is included, but not a tripod collar. Adding one helps to better distribute weight when used with a tripod and adds $210 to the cost. It supports 67mm filters and can focus on objects as close as 3.9 feet; that's ...
The Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM lens captures impressively sharp images and is optically stabilized. It's a good option for shooters who can't afford an f/2.8 zoom.
Optical stabilization system; Fixed aperture through zoom range; Relatively light; Sharp images
Edges soft when zoomed; Adding a tripod collar is expensive