The 70-200mm lens is one of the most versatile lenses for photography — and in this video I’ll show you exactly how to use it for portraits, mountain photography, weddings, compression, subject isolation, and more. Free Focal Length Field Guide: https://www.bergreenphotography.com/focal-length/ If you've ever wondered: • Why photographers LOVE the 70-200mm • Whether the f/2.8 is actually worth it • How to create better compression and background blur • How to shoot more intentional compositions • Or whether this lens is right for your style of photography... ...this video is for you. 📷 Recommended 70-200mm lenses: • Sony 70-200mm f/4 G II →https://amzn.to/3DUeXQV • Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM II →https://amzn.to/41v1BUE • Canon 70-200mm f/4 → https://amzn.to/4uhZWO0 • Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 RF → https://amzn.to/49YJc6a My Favorite Cameras • Sony A7V → https://amzn.to/4tU1cX7 • Sony A7CR → https://amzn.to/3GirwqC My Favorite Lenses • Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 DG DN II → https://amzn.to/4fSQLvy • Sony 70–200mm f/4 G II → https://amzn.to/3DUeXQV • Sony 35mm f/1.8 → https://amzn.to/3PyKxpI Photography Accessories I Love • Peak Design Capture Clip → https://amzn.to/3C8RWJm • Peak Design Camera Strap → https://amzn.to/4jhmWaY • SanDisk Extreme Pro Cards → https://amzn.to/4i9slAx • My favorite lightweight tripod → https://amzn.to/4wHuFpe 🏔️ Travel & Outdoor Essentials • Hiking backpack I use → https://amzn.to/3DVNbU3 • Headlamp for sunrise/sunset hikes → https://amzn.to/3E4KzDi 📸 Get Our FREE Focal Length Field Guide: https://www.bergreenphotography.com/focal-length/ 📘 Get Our Travel Photography Guide: https://www.bergreenphotography.com/product/shoot-your-adventures-travel-photography-guide/ 💰 Get Our FREE Money and Gear Guide: https://www.bergreenphotography.com/money/ In this video, we cover: • How to use a 70-200mm lens • Compression and subject isolation • 70-200 f/4 vs f/2.8 • Portrait photography tips • Wedding photography techniques • Mountain photography composition • Sharpness and stabilization tips • Telephoto lens techniques • Environmental portraits with a long lens 💌 Subscribe for More Photography Tips We are Marc and Brenda Bergreen, professional photographers + videographers helping you learn, create, and elevate your photography. Subscribe for weekly videos: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBergreens 🔥 Let’s Connect: Instagram – https://instagram.com/bergreenphotography Website – https://www.bergreenphotography.com Some of the links above are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the channel! TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Why the 70-200mm Is Worth Carrying 00:28 What Makes This Lens So Powerful 01:18 Why Photographers Love the 70-200 02:02 70-200 vs 35mm, 50mm, 85mm & 100-400 02:50 Why Fixed Aperture Matters 03:12 The Biggest Zoom Lens Mistake 03:38 Choose Your Focal Length First 04:05 70-200 f/4 vs f/2.8 05:04 f/1.8 vs f/2.8 Explained 05:23 Why f/4 Might Actually Be Better 06:17 Alternatives to the 70-200 06:39 How to Actually Use This Lens 06:57 Subject Isolation Tips 07:16 Compression Explained 07:43 Sharpness & Stability Tips 08:44 Using Foreground Layers 09:12 Using Sun Flare with a 70-200 09:34 Tiny Subject Technique 10:17 Real-World Uses 10:37 Wedding Photography Tips 11:02 Portrait Photography Tips 11:21 Mountain Photography with a Telephoto Lens 11:46 Final Thoughts #70200 #PhotographyTips #SonyPhotography #TelephotoLens #PortraitPhotography #WeddingPhotography #LandscapePhotography #PhotographyTutorial #CompressionPhotography #LensTutorial
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I use my Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8 E VR FL lens quite a bit with my gripped D500. I am a hobbyist that does a variety of photography but I lean towards birds and wildlife. Lots of times I use my Tamron 150-600 f/5-6.3 usd vc G2 and many of those times I used a monopod or tripod. At 73 years old with that setup it helps to have support especially if out for hours at a time. Now where the 70-200 comes in handy is on my DX camera that gives me the reach of a 105-300mm at f/2.8 which works ok for birds & wildlife and is very hand holdable & lighter when hiking a distance. If I want more reach then I add my 1.7 teleconverter for up to 510mm of reach at f/4.8 which is pretty good and with little to no effect on photo quality. It is pretty easy to carry and switch the teleconverter off or on as required. All the same positive aspects as noted on this video still apply. If I am in less than ideal light I use f/2.8. At 510mm I still haves f/4.8 which beats my Tamron at 500mm but on the DX sensor in good light the Tamron gives me up to 900mm of reach and that is hard to top. Really good video and this is my experience with my 70-200.
On those days where you’re not taking the 70-200 for nonprofessional shoots due to weight etc, what lens are you taking - a 50 prime?
My cameras are APS-C I have settled on a two lens setup a 16-50 2.8 and a 55-300 4.5-6.3 it gives me the equivalent of 24MM- 450 MM for travel as it keeps the weight down on my kit . The 16-50 2.8 has proven its worth on night and low light photography it is very rarely ive need a longer focal length then this lens for night photography. If for some reason I need a longer low light lens I have a legacy manuel focus 35-105 3.5 which gives me a 52MM- 150 MM Equivalent lens
I find myself grabbing a 135/2 over a 70-200/4 most of the time. I'm always afraid of not having enough light.
Great update
I recently bought the new f4 version, for my r6 mk2.
👍👍👍 EXCELLENT
I recently started doing a little of (amateur) photography after an 8 year break (no photography). I was able to purchase 2nd hand material : Nikon d810, Tamron 24-70 f2.8, Nikkor 70-200 f2.8 and Nikkor 200-500 f5.6. Currently my main attempts have been in bird photography ie using the 200-500. I will soon be on vacation so a lot more landscape photography in view. Getting used to using the camera is challenging and now I'm not sure whether to take the 24-70 or the 70-200 along when I go out for walks. Somehow the 70-200 could easily get sweezed out of the mix. So thank you for this video which helps clarify things for me.
I agree with you on the F4. I currently have a Canon 70-200 F4 lens (EF), and I also used to have a Sigma 70-200 F2.8 which I used to use heavily for portraits, and I loved it. But a few years ago its autofocus stopped working and so I stopped using it, and switched to the F4. Honestly, I don't really miss the F2.8. Most of the time I do want the environment to show through in the image, and the F4 has just the right amount of background blur for it. BTW, this 7:51 is an amazing shot!
My favourite zoom 70-200 2.8
Point. Click. If you’re shooting canon.