What will provide better telephoto zoom quality?

[VirtualRain]

I currently own a Canon 70-300 IS USM for telephoto work. I find it perfectly acceptable for the amount that I use it.

I have a possible opportunity to buy a good used 70-200 f4L IS specimen, but I would almost certainly want to get a 1.4x extender which would give me near the same reach as my 70-300 and at the same f5.6 aperture.

The question is, would the 70-200 x1.4 provide worse, better, or similar image quality to the 70-300 at the long end?

 

[iBookG4user]

It will provide better image quality than your current lens, even with the 1.4x extender. You can look at comparison shots here, 280mm is the 70-200mm with the 1.4x extender.

 

[HBOC]

Yes, the 70-200 IS will be night and day difference in IQ from the 70-300IS. If it wasn't, no one would shell out 3x the cost for a lens that is 100mm shorter, ya know?

i see 70-300IS's going for $400-$450 range, and the 70-200IS for $900-$1000.

 

[VirtualRain]

It will provide better image quality than your current lens, even with the 1.4x extender. You can look at comparison shots here, 280mm is the 70-200mm with the 1.4x extender.

Thanks, that's very helpful... it is significantly sharper even with the extender.

Yes, the 70-200 IS will be night and day difference in IQ from the 70-300IS. If it wasn't, no one would shell out 3x the cost for a lens that is 100mm shorter, ya know?

i see 70-300IS's going for $400-$450 range, and the 70-200IS for $900-$1000.

I was aware of the L glass strengths in the 70-200 range, I just wasn't sure how it compared around 300 with the extender. But my question has been answered!

Cheers!