Editor's Choice 2007: Imaging Essentials

EDITOR'S CHOICE SLR Lenses

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM

We were always willing to trade a stop of speed for a smaller, lighter version of Canon's bread-and-butter 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom. In fact, the existing EF 70-200mm f/4 has become one of our favorite lenses, and this new version adds Canon's built-in Image Stabilizer (IS) -- greatly mitigating the tradeoff in speed. The f/4 lens's smaller size makes it easier to hold steady than its f/2.8 counterpart, as well as more transportable for outdoor and travel photography. It's also the first EF lens to offer an extra stop of stabilized range -- four stops total, says Canon, rather than three. Even that one-stop advantage over the f/2.8 version makes up the difference, unless you need a higher shutter speed to capture fast action or want especially shallow depth of field. IS or not, this is one of the sharpest lenses we've seen. About $1,060.

Read more on the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM. Next product: Tamron AF 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II LD ASPH (IF) Macro