Hi

Currently own a Canon 300d with Canon EFS18-55 and Sigma 18-125 f3.5-5.6.

Ive had some lovely pics using both these lenses and im very pleased with the quality of both, but now im looking to purchase a further lens to get me in a little bit closer.

Top of my list is a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L USM lens which ive found on e-bay at £659-00+pp. Does any body have any knowledge of this lens? Is it far superior to the equivelent F4 lens at nearly half the price?

My subject matter is mainly watersking and wakeboarding, so some distance work is required although image quality is top of my list.

Any help would be greatly appreciated before i blow stacks of cash!!

Regards

Paul Walker

Hi Paul,

By common consensus the 70-200 f/2.8 L USM in either IS or non IS versions as you appear to have found is an excellent lens.

I bought the F4 version a few weeks back and it is a fantastic lens.

One thng to note, you can import them from BH photo for $1196 us plus VAT but including delivery, which comes in around £660 plus VAT or £780.

That is brand new with global canon warranty if you buy the us lens and its from a well respected source.

Is the ebay one a hong kong import or second hand?

If its second hand I'd think carefully given the price difference.

The IS version is about $400 more.

Looking at the Canon website it suggests the f2.8 IS version is 1.5kgs, compared to less than half that weight for the f4 version.

Hi


Thanks for the replys. The lens would be imorted from Hong Kong via e-bay, is this a bad thing?

What is the difference between the F4 and the F2.8, I thought the f2.8 allowed more light into the lense at greater zoom, do you think the more expensive model is worth it? There has got to be some difference to warrent the extra cash. The one im looking at doesnt come with image stabilization, that is about another 400gbp.

This is all quite confusing when comeing from a Canon Ixus :)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4687&item=7522547619&tc=photo

Regards

Paul

Hi Paul,

The f2.8 allows more light than the f4 across the whole of the focal length range, so in simple terms will allow you to shoot with a higher shutter speed at max aperture than the f4 version at max aperture (or the same shutter speed in lower light)

What you should bear in mind though, is that if you are shooting at f4 and above (numerically) there will be little or no difference as both have great optics.

On a 300D the wider aperture will make no difference as far as the AF sensors are concerned.

IS is a different matter and allows you to shoot hand held at lower shutter speeds than you would otherwise.

Given you can crank up the ISO in low light with great quality at 800 thats not as much of an issue as it might otherwise be.

As for the hong kong import, chances are you'll get hit for the vat by uk customs so factor another 17.5% in sterling (plus the post office handling charge) into the price.

You'll also want to be sure the hong kong import has the global canon warranty.

hope this helps

You may get stung for import duty *as well as* VAT.

The f4 L can be bought cheaply as Canon are offering a £ 70 cashback rebate . You have to apply for a book of vouchers from the Canon website.

Hi Paul, no need to worry about buying from Hong Kong, there are several sellers with excellent feedback. It's also extremely unlikely that you will have to pay Duty and VAT, as the sellers make a false customs declaration, saying that the item is a gift or commercial sample with a low value. This declaration is used by the courier to assess the charges on behalf of customs, which will obviously be nil!

The chances of HM Customs examining your parcel are extremely low, and even then it is unlikely they would do anything. The only caveat is that you, as the importer, are legally responsible for what is written on the declaration, so in theory you could get into trouble ;)

As for the lens itself, the 70-200 f2.8 is actually supposed to be slightly sharper than the IS version, which is a bonus. You also need to decide if the extra size and weight over the f4 is worth it - my best advice is to go into a shop and try both before you buy :)

Daryl,

Thats what I originally thought (about the VAT/Duty) issue but it appears they are more on the ball now :(

Have bought a tripod collar this morning from a hong kong seller on ebay for about half the uk price :eek: ....interested to see what happans with that.

it appears they are more on the ball now :(

What makes you say that?

I've just got the superb Canon L 70-200mm F4 Lens for £329!!

From JESSOPS!! 8 miles away if anything goes wrong - UK Lens from a UK Shop - was £399 ...... but Canon pay me back £70.

I wouldn't even think about the Hong Kong route (or, the f2.8) at this price - it's pretty much a no-brainer, I would say?

Pete

Right thats it, im going for the F4 variation of the Canon 70-200mm L, its not worth me wasting my money on the others, as im no pro!!!

To get it at the price of £399 i need somewhere to pricematch it from, any ideas as wheres best to look?

Many thanks for all your help

Paul :)

What makes you say that?
We do a lot of work with HM Revenue and Customs (as they are now known) and was talking to one of their investigators recently about the whole ebay thing.

They are aware of the "non valuable/gift" type descriptions are are actively looking at ways to deal with it.

Right.............ive just rang around all the Jessops stores and have located one and the best price they can do it for is £479 :mad: , ive got to find a price match to get the price down further, any ideas where i can get that from, it would be great to get it for £399

Many thanks

Paul :)

They are aware of the "non valuable/gift" type descriptions are are actively looking at ways to deal with it.

By the time they get around to dealing with it, the horse will have bolted! Believe me, I know ;)

I think Pete just blagged his 399 deal - have a look at his thread in this forum for tips and hints.

Thats more or less what I paid though, still a fair deal with the voucher :)

the best price they can do it for is £479 :mad:

You'll do well to find a better price advertised on-line, I've been looking myself :(

Just go in and haggle hard - ask Pete, it does work :)

Right.............ive just rang around all the Jessops stores and have located one and the best price they can do it for is £479 :mad: , ive got to find a price match to get the price down further, any ideas where i can get that from, it would be great to get it for £399

Many thanks

Paul :)

When I rang around they dropped to £465 over the phone ..... so, I thought, there's plenty of mileage in more drops.

I eventually ground them down to £399 and have sent away my £70 Canon Voucher .... making a £329 bargain!

Ring more than one Jessops!! It helps if they have one or two in stock!! If they need to order it in, then they will harden up on the price ...... if its there cluttering up their stockroom then haggle HARD!!

Spend AGES with them and deal with the top dog if you can.

Tell them you can get it for £399 online and expect them to match it .... they will say no, BUT, make sure you have taken the Lens out/tried it on your camera/have other lenses out/and spent, at least, 30 minutes with them!!

They have invested a LOT in you then ...... and do NOT want you to walk away!!

All I can say is, it worked well for me, I was willing to pay £450 actually!!

Pete

T4 cameras are doing it for £468 - BEFORE haggling - £399 is well within reach! See T4 Cameras here:- http://www.t4cameras.co.uk/index.asp

Paul, you need to rationalise your lens range. Not sure why you have the Canon zoom at the mo, if you're happy with the Sigma?

But what you're looking at now is some serious top-end kit. If you want quality, I'd consider selling-on both your current lenses and getting a Canon EF-S 17-85mm IS zoom, plus a tele-zoom. The Canon 70-200mm F/2.8 is very good, but very big, heavy and expensive. I respectfully suggest that you would be better off in every sense with the f/4 version.

Personally, I am a big fan of Canon's IS technology and would look at their 75-300mm IS (£350?) or even the 70-300mm IS DO which is the option I went for (£850 UK, £650 from Hong Kong).

Having said that, the 70-200 F/4 L with £70 cash-back (someone on here will give you a £70-off voucher) is a bloody bargain :) Even Pete is happy with his, and that's unusual ;)

Richard.

Having said that, the 70-200 F/4 L with £70 cash-back (someone on here will give you a £70-off voucher) is a bloody bargain :) Even Pete is happy with his, and that's unusual ;)

Cheeky bugger ...... but, yes, I am hard to please and pleased I have been - £329 for that Lens is too cheap, but it brought it within my acceptable reach!

Pete

Hi All

Why oh why am i so impatient!!!!! Couldnt wait to go to Jessops, the one that they were holding the lens in stock is about 30 miles away. As i was in Bham yesterday i popped in to Calumet. I walkerd into the store and what was facing me, the very lens i was after, bugger, so i bought it. OK so i paid more than perhaps i should have, their price was £500 plus the dreaded, i told them that Jessops could do it for 470 inc vat and they agreed to match it. So all in all if i can get hold of voucher it will have cost me £400 for a great lens, they also knocked a tenner off a decent Lowepro camera bag for me.

Tried it with the Canon 2x mk2 converter as well, and was very impressed with that too, so that could be next on my wish list.

A big, big thanks to all you guys for the advise and help, as usual you can always rely on Scoobynet and its members!!!!! :)

Cheers once more

Paul Walker ( ex Type R and P1 owner )

Tried it with the Canon 2x mk2 converter as well, and was very impressed with that too, so that could be next on my wish list.

Bear in mind that you will suffer a big loss in quality using a 2x and, what's worse, you will also lose autofocus (because the 300D will not autofocus at less than f5.6).

However, the 1.4x is a worthwhile addition - it's better optically and still allows you to keep autofocus :)