My Photography Kit: The 70-200mm Lens
Should You Buy a
70-200mm Lens ?
My Thoughts and Experiences
By Sam Bugas - October 2023
As I dive into the realm of gear acquisition, what I shoot with, and what you may want to use to shoot, I think it’s imperative to lay a piece of groundwork by asking one question: Why should anyone buy a new lens? I’m going to do my best to first answer from a neutral, pragmatic perspective. A lens is effectively a combination of attributes that produce varying visual results. Through a combination of aperture and focal length, we unlock the ability to photograph our subjects in new ways, and from new perspectives. So, on a most fundamental level, we should buy a new lens when we are lacking a perspective in our photography that would otherwise allow us to produce a better visual representation of our subject.
With all this in mind, and at risk of immediately contradicting myself, I believe every photographer should have, or experiment with, a 70-200mm lens (or close equivalent). For the reasons I outline below, a 70-200mm lens is unlike any other, and may quickly become one of your most used pieces of kit. I’d argue using a 70-200mm is like trying out a new set of eyes. It slowly trains you to see the world in a remarkably different way. Keep reading to learn why I won’t leave the house without a 70-200mm.
Why buy a 70-200mm lens?
If it’s the combination of attributes that define a lens, I believe the attributes that characterize the 70-200mm are exactly why you would want to buy one. Some of the attributes I find most important, making me keep this lens with me on all of my adventures, are as follows:
Reach
With a focal range that reaches all the way to 200mm, a much larger portion of your environment is suddenly in reach. Climbers in the distance, mountains on the horizon, the fine details of your scene. So many more photos suddenly become possible, and this allows you to tell a far more complete visual story.
Compression
Going hand-in-hand with reach, a longer focal length, such as 200mm, allows you to compress elements together that would otherwise appear much further apart. These three climbers are close to a mile away from the rime covered cliffs beside them, but the compression from my 70-200mm brought the scene tightly together.
Versatility
The versatility that characterizes the 70-200mm lens does so much to increase the range of possible photos in any given scene. As an adventure photographer, a lens like this can feel wildly liberating! In this case, I’m shooting my climbing partner at the mouth of a mid-mountain ice cave. It could just as easily be a skier jumping a backcountry gap, or an ice climber pitching out the top of a frozen waterfall.
Optics
I’m no engineering wizard like the folks at Nikon, Canon, or any of the other camera companies, but I do know 70-200mm lenses are consistently at the top end of optical performance. Some combination of physics and brand vs brand oneupsmenship allow these lenses to be some of the sharpest and best performing in all optical categories. I don’t tend to put too much weight into lens sharpness as most lenses are remarkable these days, but there is an extra level of punch and quality that resolves every time I use my 70-200mm lens. As someone who uses cropping frequently, this extra resolution can also help me maintain excellent quality when large portions of the photo are removed.
I’ve built a style that absolutely demands the use of this lens. Furthermore, many of my favorite moments occur in places that suit this piece of equipment very well, and as a result, many of my favorite photographs have come from this lens. The gallery below is composed of some of my favorite photos from 70-200mm lenses.
Which 70-200mm Lens is Best?
As mentioned above, nearly all 70-200mm lenses are unwaveringly sharp. The optical potential of every lens in this category seems to reside near the top end of what’s available. The best 70-200mm lens is the one you have access to. The deciding factors I’ve leaned on while making my choice of 70-200mm are the following:
Size - Be on the lookout for the best size to performance ratio possible.
Aperture - 70-200mm lenses come in either F/4 or F/2.8 variations. If you can swing it, the F/2.8 buys you that extra bit of light and depth of field that can really make a difference in adventure photography. This becomes especially relevant for people who tend to shoot in lower light.
Price - The price of photography equipment has already climbed so high, that saving a chunk of money where you can really is worth it (take that chunk and buy a plane ticket or a bus ride to somewhere you want to shoot!)
So which 70-200mm lens is my favorite? The answer is slightly misleading as my favorite lens isn’t actually quite a 70-200mm…
The Nikon Z 70-180mm f/2.8!
In short order, Nikon has reasserted itself as one of the more compelling options for shooters of all genres. I won’t use this post to fully review the 70-180mm F/2.8 (that will come in a separate, dedicated post). Instead, I want to explain why this lens matters so much to me. All of the qualities that I value most (outlined above) are present and overwhelming in this lens. It is close enough to being a 70-200mm that I am able to take advantage of the versatility, the reach, the compression, and the optical quality 70-200mms are known for. All the while, it is smaller than most F/4 variations, it has a bright minimum aperture of F/2.8, and it costs less than any other new 70-200mm F/2.8 I’ve found.
Here are my favorite 70-200mm lenses for each brand that I’ve used!
Canon: The RF 70-200mm F/4 will always hold a place in my heart as being one of the best lenses I’ve ever used.
Fujifilm: The Fujinon XF 50-140mm F/2.8 is a great option for APSC shooters. It’s comparable in size to full frame models, but does such a good job that it’s worth the weight.
Alternatives to a 70-200mm Lens
The 100-400mm
The 100-400mm lens has at least as much (and arguably much more) versatility as the 70-200mm. With additional reach, it can be more practical for wildlife, certain types of action photography, and some landscape scenes. There is typically a compromise on optical quality, as well as a steep increase in weight and decrease in minimum aperture, but the increased range is essential for many photographers.
The 24-120mm
I fully intend to write another post about this lens alone as it is perhaps the most useful lens I’ve ever used. With a moderately wide minimum focal length at 24mm, and a respectably long maximum of 120mm, the 24-120mm checks the versatility box while still allowing for a good amount of compression and reach. Optically these lenses can be quite good as well, but typically a step below 70-200mm lenses.
Summary
I would urge almost anybody to avoid buying lenses with the expectation that they will make you a better, or happier, photographer. However, the 70-200mm lens is my exception to that rule. The way it allows you to capture the world, to compress a scene, to create diverse photo series, and to travel with you through any environment, is irreplaceable, and in my eyes essential.
About Me:
I have shot photos for around five years, with a consistent focus on capturing moments of action and environment while I am outside. I’ve dabbled in quite a few different genres of photography, and I’ve found that my favorite moment to take a photo is when the wind is whipping, the air is freezing, and I’m hanging onto a steep slope or wall by crampons or an ice axe. I’m not a professional in the sense that I am not paid to shoot, and everything I’ve written above is simply musings about my preferences and experience. With that in mind, I’d love to chat! You can email me using my email, swbugas@gmail.com, or reach out to me on Instagram, @swbugas (click the button below). I’m only just getting started with this blog, and I have a very open mind to criticism and critique.
Lastly, if you are a climber, backpacker, photographer, scuba diver or whatever else in the broader Washington/Oregon area, let’s get after it! I’d love to start some group journeys!