i'm going to buy one of these 2 lenses on ebay (they both go for about the same price - around 500€)
i'm just not sure if the 2.8 is worth it? what are your thoughts? considering sigma's sharpness at 2.8 do you think i would also shoot a lot in 2.8 or is the lens a lot sharper at f4 and would that make me just shoot at F4?

optical quality, is there really almost no difference?

Hi Pen,
I have been using the Canon 70-200 f4L for about 7 years and i can thoroughly recommend it. It's a super sharp lense and if you read the reviews done in many magazines and forums it will confirm it. It has been suggested that this is one of the best L series optics that Canon make when you consider the price tag compared to other L series lenses. One slight drawback is that the lense is not surplied with the tripod ring which costs a further £85.00 in the UK. The close focus is excellent at only 1.2m.
I have also read many reviews of the Sigma 70-200 2.8 and this lense is also very sharp but quite a bit heavier than the Canon and not so close focusing. f 2.8 is nice and bright through the viewfinder but it would depend on how often you need such shallow DOF.
If i had the choice again?........ i would still go for the Canon 70-200 f4, and if you decide to go for the Canon, i can assure you, you will not be disappointed :)
Regards
Vic.

I agree with Vic as the Canon 70-200 f4 is a very fine lens. For me the extra weight of the Sigma 2.8 would not be good. The tripod ring for the Canon would be a must for me but hands down for the Canon.

pen, I have the Sigma and when it works it is a fine lens. I bought it new but have had focus motor problems and it has been back twice to get fixed, I think it is playing up again. I am a committed Sigma lens user, all my 4 lenses are Sigma and I rate them all highly except for the faults with my 70-200mm. It is heavy but I usually use on a tripod anyway and I find it sharp even at f/16 so I wouldn't limit yourself by thinking you only need to shoot at wide open apertures, of course you may just prefer this style of photography. I always prioritise creative effects and DOF as choice for aperture rather than what the lens sharpness characteristics may be.

JP

I have used both & I own the Sigma. Both are great though the Sigma was troublesome with back focusing issues it still has its odd moments! Also a big consideration is using a non Canon lens on my machines I find I get terrible dust issues on windy days that I don't get with proprietary Canon lenses because the seal to the body is not a calibrated fit. I found I can wiggle the Sigma & it moves which explains the ingress of dust versus the much better fitting Canon lens. But for its price its relatively inexpensive it is still sharp & I find it easy to use on the street because its its black! The Canon is far lighter excellent quality I used it for a wedding where having IS produced many more images I would never have got with the Sigma. Frankly I am with Vic Canon lenses are better in build quality & in image sharpness & seeing as it is so light I would certainly choose the Canon lens over the Sigma now that I have used both. I might just spray it black though!

Hello pen.

Read this : http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/999/cat/11

And this : http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/217/cat/31

If you ask me I would choose the Canon :-)

/Wulff

If that lens is the one with the L on, I would go for it

I used the Sigma 70-200/2.8 for a while, if you look at my 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th published images here on 1x, they were taken with such a lens at f/2.8 or a stop higher. However, I had a camera body which provided internal stabilization (Pentax K20D) and you instead use Canon, which doesn't provide it. So, the Sigma advantage in terms of aperture would be levelled by the fact it doesn't have optical stabilization which is important, especially on 200mm focal legths which I bet is why you're buying such a tele-zoom. I'm assuming the Canon you want to buy is the IS version.
So, if you think you'll use it in particular low light scene, rainy/overcast days where the subjects don't move very fast go for the Sigma, otherwise choose the Canon and you won't be certainly disappointed.

PS. just wrote 5th instead of 6th. The 5th is clearly wide angle photo, sorry for the mistake..