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Features

Looking for a 70-200mm Lens? We Like These, and You Will Too!

Brett Day
No Comments
01/10/2020
4 Mins read
Chris Gampat The Phoblographer Sony 70-200mm f2.8 G Master lens first image samples review (6 of 14)ISO 4001-200 sec at f - 11

Last Updated on 01/11/2020 by Mark Beckenbach

If you’re looking for glass that will have your back in multiple scenarios, take a closer look at 70-200mm lenses.

There are a few types of lenses that can be considered multi-tools thanks to them hitting the sweet spot(s) when it comes to focal ranges. Lenses in the 15-30mm range are great for multiple genres of photography from landscapes to environmental portraits, 35mm lenses are Goldilocks lenses great for just about everything, and the last multi-tool lens are 70-200mm lenses. Whether you shoot landscapes, portraits, events, weddings, sports, documentary photography, or you’re a photojournalist, the 70-200mm is one lens that should be part of your kit. After the break, we will share some 70-200mm lenses that will have your back no matter what.

70-200mm lenses - Canon
Captured with the Canon 70-200mm f4L IS USM II

There are, of course, many more 70-200mm lenses on the market than the few we highlight here, but out of the 70-200mm lenses we have reviewed, these are the créme de la créme. These 70-200mm lenses are perfect for so many genres of photography, and that makes them invaluable tools. Want to shoot sports? Go for it. Portraits? This lens is perfect. Need to grab some shots at an event where you can’t get too close? Grab a 70-200mm. Add in the fact that these lenses are also great for wildlife photography and landscapes, and you can see why 70-200mm lenses are loved by those who use them. Check out some of our favorite 70-200mm lenses below.

Fujifilm XF 50-140mm F2.8 (75-210mm equivalent)

70-200mm zoom lenses

Here are the pros and cons from our full review:

Pros

  • Internal zooming keeps things reasonably compact
  • Wonderfully sharp images
  • Very nice bokeh, if that matters to you
  • Tripod collar makes for a good grip
  • Weather-sealed

Cons

  • Prepare to drop serious cash; this lens ain’t cheap
  • The focusing ring moves a bit too slowly

Buy now: $1,599

Sony 70-200mm F4 OSS

70-200mm lenses - Sony

Here are the pros and cons from our full review:

Pros

  • Superbly sharp wide open
  • Optical stabilization works like a charm even with an older camera body
  • Fast-focusing abilities, again even with an older camera
  • Creamy bokeh
  • Internal zooming
  • Fairly compact size

Cons

  • Only f4. At the time of publishing this review Sony has yet to offer an f2.8 constant aperture telephoto zoom lens for the FE mount cameras

Buy now: $1,498

Tamron 70-210mm F4 Di VC USD

Tamron Lenses 70-210mm f4

Here are the pros and cons from our full review:

Pros

  • Weather sealing
  • Nice build
  • Small
  • Very good image stabilization
  • Good colors
  • Pretty good image quality, but I’ve seen better from Tamron

Cons

  • Autofocus can be a little wonky

Buy now Canon EF: $599

Buy now Nikon F: $599

Captured with the Olympus 40-150mm f2.8 Pro and the Olympus E-M1 II

Pro Tip: We recently talked about how to check your sensor for dust spots and how to clean it so your images can be speck free, but cleaning your lenses is just as important. If you see large specks of dust in your pictures while editing, it’s more than likely they are on your rear lens element. To keep your gear in excellent working order, and to save you time while editing, keep a lens cleaning kit in your camera bag so that you can clean while you’re out and about. It only takes a second, and it can save you from many ruined shots. This kit here is all you need, and it is incredibly affordable.

Canon 70-200mm F4 L IS USM II

Here are the pros and cons from our full review:

Pros

  • Sharp output
  • Fast and accurate focusing
  • Beautiful colors
  • Lightweight
  • Small, can be stuffed in a bag attached to the camera with ease
  • Weather sealing
  • Price isn’t bad

Cons

  • Honestly, not a thing

Buy now: $1,199

Tamron SP 70-200mm F2.8 Di VC USD G2

70-200mm zoom lenses tamron

Here are the pros and cons from our full review:

Pros

  • Great image quality
  • Good for skin tones
  • Delivers lens flare nicely
  • Sharp output
  • Fast autofocus capabilities
  • Weather sealing
  • Fairly lightweight
  • Image stabilization built-in

Cons

  • While we like the lens flare, others may complain about it

Buy now Canon EF: $1,299

Buy now Nikon F: $1,299

Olympus 40-150mm F2.8 PRO (80-300mm equivalent)

Here are the pros and cons from our full review:

Pros

  • Excellent build quality
  • You get an 80-300mm f2.8 lens in the size of a standard 24-70mm f2.8 from other manufacturers
  • Very sharp wide open
  • The retractable lens hood is very convenient

Cons

  • Focusing ring can be accidentally switched back for manual focusing

Buy now: $1,349

Sony 70-200mm F2.8 OSS G Master

Here are the pros and cons from our full review:

Pros

  • Great image quality
  • Nice bokeh
  • Fairly compact for a 70-200mm f2.8 lens
  • Good build quality
  • Can focus pretty fast with the latest cameras

Cons

  • Pretty pricey!

Buy now: $2,598

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