Canon T3i + EF 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM Lens?

[WolfheartFilms]

I am a young photographer who currently owns the T3i Costco kit (Comes with the 18-55 IS II and 55-250 IS II). I am very interested in buying the EF 70-200 f/4 L IS USM lens, because I love doing up-close photos. Would the lens work well with the T3i, and would it be any better than the 55-250 IS II?

Thanks,

WolfheartFilms (Caleb)

[cicopo]

Yes it will work & Yes it's a great lens sharpness & AF speed wise. It will however be a little shorter on the long end than your 55-250.

[cale_kat]

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@WolfheartFilms wrote:

I am a young photographer who currently owns the T3i Costco kit (Comes with the 18-55 IS II and 55-250 IS II). I am very interested in buying the EF 70-200 f/4 L IS USM lens, because I love doing up-close photos. Would the lens work well with the T3i, and would it be any better than the 55-250 IS II?

Thanks,

WolfheartFilms (Caleb)

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It'll work great but that's a range you already have covered. Is there something about the 70-200 f/4 that you could really use? Are you disappointed with your current lenses?

[jrhoffman75]

Do you mean close-up photos (i.e. camera is close to subject) or bringing distance objects close?

[WolfheartFilms]

I'm not necessarily disappointed, I'm just wondering if it's any better than what I already have.

[WolfheartFilms]

Well, delving into the detail of the subject, and bringing objects close.

[jrhoffman75]

Reason I asked was that bringing distant objects closer is task for telephoto lenses, but getting close to an oblect and seeing great detail is generally a macro lens.

[TCampbell]

The 70-200mm f/4L is a noticeable upgrade over the 55-250.

The 55-250 is a consumer grade lens where affordability is an important consideration.  The 70-200 is an L series lens.

You will likely notice much improvement in contrast and ability to resolve fine detail over the 55-250.

[cale_kat]

There are a few generalizations that most photographers agree on where it comes to the engineering of lenses. Heavier lenses typically contain more glass and therefore are engineered to a higher level of precision. Another one is, a shorter zoom range is easier to control for optical aberrations over its entire range than a lens of similar build quality over a longer zoom range".

So, yeah, the 70-200mm f/4L is better controled, optically, over its entire range than the more far reaching 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II but as cicopo has pointed out, you lose a bit of range on both ends in return.

Edited to add: I will not suggest that it is preferable to execute quality post-processing in response to less than desired results, but it is considered entirely acceptable. I spent 5 years photographing and printing images with my 35mm camera equipped with a 50mm lens. I experimented constantly in the darkroom with paper offering differing levels of contrast, dodging and burning images, and in general creating my images. No one ever suggested that my prints were anything less than genuine. Make your own art.

[ebiggs1]

It really comes down to how serious are you.  Is this just a hobby or are you interested in taking it farther?

If you are a hobbists keep what you have and spend the money on other equipment.  But if you are ready to move to the next level by all means buy it.  The 'kit' lens is designed for the masses and the 'L' is designed for the advanced and pros.

Beside the obivious IQ improvement, an 'L' lens is designed for day in day out use.  It is designed to work and work every time for a long time.  The average 'just for funsey' person doesn't need that.

If you are that guy that wants to take it farther, I doubt the 70-200mm will be the only lens you will want but it fills it's intended roll very well.