lens choice for gift

Please help me decide on a lens gift for my wife, who I would rate on the high end of the consumer scale. She is in need of a new telephoto lens for her Canon Elan 7 (as she waits for the price of the 5D to come down), so I want to stay in the Canon family. She has indicated a preference for Canon lenses over a prior Sigma. I was looking at the EF 70-300 IS, but she rarely shoots really long distance. A prior 28-200 was fine for her uses. Would a 70-200 4.0 EF-L be a better choice for about the same price? I can see the value of the better glass in the L series, but am uncertain of the added cost for the IS. Thanks for your thoughts.

All three of the Canon 70-200 L lenses have excellent reviews. The thing that may help you choose between the 3 is how and where she will use it.

If there will be a lot of low light situations where she can't use a tripod the 2.8L IS might be the way to go. If she does frequently use a tripod you may not want to spend the extra money for the IS.

Lots of outdoor/hiking type shoots and the f4L may be better. (A little lighter and not QUITE as many tears if it takes a fall)

You could also take the easy way out and give her an IOU for a lens and let her choose.

Sounds like she has been shooting for awhile. If this is the case, then she probably has preferences on what she uses and how she uses it. I'd go for the B&H gift card!

Thank you for the very fast responses. I would go gift card, but this is a special gift and I was trying to put some thought into it. I am hoping to get bonus points for not only the choice, but the ability to articulate some reasoning as to why I made the choice, other than "the sales person told me this was what you need."

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Originally Posted by cjconrad

Thank you for the very fast responses. I would go gift card, but this is a special gift and I was trying to put some thought into it. I am hoping to get bonus points for not only the choice, but the ability to articulate some reasoning as to why I made the choice, other than "the sales person told me this was what you need."

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Tell us what she likes to shoot or what she would like to shoot with the new lens. What hobbies does she/you have that you like to photograph? Or what in your current hobbies you can't photograph due to the needed lens?

Tim

CJ, I recall very recently a similar question raised in the Canon Camera Forum. I think it was posted by TTT. Anyway, check it out as there were a lot of advice given over there.

My advice to you would be the same between the two lenses: go for the 70-200mm f/4L, especially if you don't think that your wife will need to go out to 300mm. Then, the lack of having IS will not be as big a factor.

Your wife should love having an "L" lens. The construction and quality difference between the two is like night and day.

A Gift certificate and eleven long stemmed roses.

The card should read: " The twelth beautiful flower is You"

Oh ! the 70 - 200 f4 would be great too

The prime uses are photos of the kids at play, including baseball, soccer and triathelon, scenery shots of travel, primarily light hiking in woods, lots of beach shots, and doors in city scenes (for which her 28-105 seems perfect). The extra reach for sports and vacation shots is where I was thinking the extra length would be appreciated. Don't know if 300 is necessary for this. One concern is weight, but these two are pretty similar. I did read the other post re: travel lenses, and certainly would put this question in that catagory. I am becoming more farmilliar with the terminology and the products. Frankly, this appears to be something where there is no "wrong" answer, so top vote getter wins.

I see your point, but I can't give you a specific Canon recommendation. However, a 300 to me usually means dragging out the tripod in "good" light conditions. This is true of shorter lenses too, but especially something that long. An f4 lens should be fine unless you're trying to shoot kids playing sports in low light. I've heard that the 70-200 f4 is a good lens but be sure to check out the reviews on this site too.

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Originally Posted by cjconrad

Thank you for the very fast responses. I would go gift card, but this is a special gift and I was trying to put some thought into it. I am hoping to get bonus points for not only the choice, but the ability to articulate some reasoning as to why I made the choice, other than "the sales person told me this was what you need."

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That's a nice sentiment, but...

Most knowledgable photographers that I know would want to make their own choice, especially with expensive gear. Were I you, I wouldn't want her to be thinking about the lens she'd rather have each time she puts the one she does have on the camera. Why not combine that gift card together with a shopping trip to pick out the lens in the Big Apple (or some nearby city with camera shops and shows and great restaurants).

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Originally Posted by cjconrad

Please help me decide on a lens gift for my wife, who I would rate on the high end of the consumer scale. She is in need of a new telephoto lens for her Canon Elan 7 (as she waits for the price of the 5D to come down), so I want to stay in the Canon family. She has indicated a preference for Canon lenses over a prior Sigma. I was looking at the EF 70-300 IS, but she rarely shoots really long distance. A prior 28-200 was fine for her uses. Would a 70-200 4.0 EF-L be a better choice for about the same price? I can see the value of the better glass in the L series, but am uncertain of the added cost for the IS. Thanks for your thoughts.

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I love my 70-300mm but it's too slow for poor lighting (indoor arena's horse photography) and it's too short for briding! I'm going purchase the 80-200mm F2.8 and a 50mm F1.4, I use Nikon but Canon has the same lenses the zoom range is about the same with the same F stops. So I guess I'm saying to get the fast glass.

I have been through all this lens stuff and got the 75-300 IS lens and was disappointed with the lens still have it, don't use it. I also have the 28-135 IS lens which is a good walk around lens is slightly big and gets noticed when on the camera. But

I recently purchased both the 17-40 f/4L and 70-200 f/4L lenses and am primarily using those instead of the other lenses. Why you ask, because they are just so much better than the other lenses, they focus faster the images are far better and they are just better lenses.

If you can the lenses to get are

50mm f/1.8 at a minimum f1/4 L would be better but 5 times the price

17-40 f/4L is a very good lens

70-200 f/4L is a very good light lens and it is cream coloured just like the pros.

70-200 f2.8L much better heavier lens, did I say heavier, yes heavier lens

70-200 f/2.8IS L much better certainly in low light and is a heavy lens as well.

I have heard that the 70-300 IS lens is better than the 75-300 IS lens that I have, newer technology as well, haven't tried it so can't comment.

Hope that helps in some way.

Thank you all for your help. It is clear that I have no ability to make this decision, so I ordered both with a 30 day return-no restocking penalty and will let her decide. I will let you know the victor.

After minimal research and some "hands on" the 70-300 IS was the easy winner. Range was important, but the IS was a big hit. I have neither the knowledge nor experience to offer a detailed review, but wanted to thank all who responded to my question for their knowledge, insight, and opinion. Oh yeah---MAJOR points scored!