F55: Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens Too Heavy for FS5?

Chadfish

Chadfish

Veteran
I'm about to get the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens for my FS5. It's a really great lens. I just don't know if 3.28 lb (1.49 kg) is too heavy for the camera's E mount. Do I need to get a whole rail situation going just to use this lens?
 
I feel it absolutely needs to be supported (I use the 70-200 Nikon often) There are other way to support heavy lenses if you do not want to go with a 15mm rod set up. check out the image (not sure if I should link Ebay sales here, just search for long lens support) you mount the lens for on the long plate and support the camera (smaller and lighter than the lens) with the adjustable arm or bracket If you are a little bit handy you could easily refit the bracket part to the long tripod plate of your choosing or just add QR clamps to it (front and rear) to match the lens plate and camera body plate you have. Best part of these systems is that they place the camera on the tripod at the balance point, many 15mm rod systems with large lenses end up really front heavy so you can't balance the camera/lens on the fluid head


Screen Shot 2016-03-19 at 1.26.08 AM.jpg
 
That's interesting. I can't find it though. It's OK to put product links up. They just don't want people selling there own stuff stuff here and pestering people without prior permission.
 
Is this different than it would be for an EF mount (C100, etc.)? I asked about this in another thread and most folks said they'd been using this lens for years on those EF mount cams with no issues. Different with FS5?
 
Is this different than it would be for an EF mount (C100, etc.)? I asked about this in another thread and most folks said they'd been using this lens unsupported for years on those EF mount cams with no issues. Different with FS5?
 
Josh Bass said:
Is this different than it would be for an EF mount (C100, etc.)? I asked about this in another thread and most folks said they'd been using this lens for years on those EF mount cams with no issues. Different with FS5?
Click to expand...

I have been hanging 70-200's from my Nikon pro DSLRs for years without issue, I just feel like the Sony (FS100, FS700, FS7 FS5...) cameras are designed with this in mind and feel its better safe than sorry, also we are using adapters sticking all that weight even farther out front creating more leverage :(
 
Last edited:
Don't know if this is possible on the FS5, but with the FS7 I hang Sony's 28-135mm's lens foot from short rails attached to a Wooden Camera top plate. I use a Letus Quick Snap Lens Support on the rails, which makes lens swaps relatively painless.
 
I need the f/2.8. I'm buying lenses for the long haul, and that extra stop makes a big difference in both low light as well as bokeh.
 
Chadfish said:
I need the f/2.8. I'm buying lenses for the long haul, and that extra stop makes a big difference in both low light as well as bokeh.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I agree! I wouldn't be without a 2.8 zoom, I realized by the end. I should have deleted, or rewritten at that point. Still waking up. :)

+++

If you aren't familiar, Canon Price Watch tracks sale prices on Canon items. They have a Canon 70-200 2.8 II "Street Price" of about $1,769 right now. Versus $1,699 for a "grey market" one:

http://www.canonpricewatch.com/blog/2016/03/100-400mm-ii-1699-70-200mm-ii-1699-grey-market-via-ebay/

The "Street Price" program is for a US lens from a Canon Authorized Dealer. They put you in touch with the dealer. It is a way to "get around" Canon's more recent Minimum Advertised Price restrictions.

They also track the Canon refurbished sales. Nothing really appealing price-wise right now, but the sales come and go.

Good luck.
 
Last edited:
Thanks! That looks cool! I could save 250.00 on gray market. I just set up a notification on a "street price". I guess they don't have any of those at this time.
 
Chadfish said:
Thanks! That looks cool! I could save 250.00 on gray market. I just set up a notification on a "street price". I guess they don't have any of those at this time.
Click to expand...

I don't know if you saw this. Canon Price Watch just posted an additional Canon rebate if you buy 2 lenses.

With a $100 rebate, the Street Price of the Canon USA 70-200 2.8 II is down to the same as grey market- $1,689 after rebate:

http://www.canonpricewatch.com/blog...ates-march-25th-through-april-2nd/#more-12892

+++

I am very tempted, but struggling with this. I sold my Canon 70-200 2.8 II and was hoping to get by using only the 70-200 4.0 IS on Canon & Sony. I still have a Nikon 70-200 2.8 II and a Nikon D810 I am using for low light when needed.

Owning both the Nikon & Canon copies means $3,500 tied up in just 2 lenses. I also want to hang onto the D810 until the 5D4 comes out, and until after the D500 is out so I can compare to my 7DII.

I better get off the internet for now. :(

Good luck!
 
Dang, well, I already ordered the Canon 70-200 2.8 IS II for 1,769.00. I'm happy with that, but another 10.00 would have been nice. The only other lens I'm wanting at the moment doesn't quite exist. I want a Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 but with IS. They have one now with no IS, and they have an f/4 with IS, but I want 2.8. So I'm waiting until NAB happens to see if Canon comes out with what I want. I have read rumors that there is a new 16-35 F/2.8 due this year from Canon, and it may have changed to a 15-35. So we'll see. I know the current f/4 model is newer design and is a lot sharper than the 2.8. We'll see.

I haven't got my 70-200 yet. Should come Tuesday the 29th.
 
If it is still on the way, most shops could probably re-bill you so that you could get the rebate.

The problem is that second lens. It probably isn't worthwhile to buy something that you don't want/need, just to save $100. The only one that looked particularly interesting to me, compared to used prices, is the Canon 85 1.8 at $294 after rebate. You could save the $100 plus $50 on the 85, if you need one. (I bought one refurbished last December to have in my kit.)

Either way, that is a really great price on the 70-200 2.8 II. I bought it a few years ago for over $2,000 after rebate. The Yen has lost quite a bit of value against the dollar in the last 2+ years- going from 80 to 113 Yen to the dollar now- so this is a good time to buy, no matter what. And that is a great lens! :)

Enjoy it.
 
Yes, I look at the 70-200 IS II as a bargain anyway because it came out at 2,500.00. I'm just hoping the new 16-35 isn't 2,500.00. If that's the case I'll go for a used f4 IS maybe.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top