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Selecting a Canon 70-200mm
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I’ve been saving up, throwing all my xmas money in a little envelope and considering my next move lens wise. I spent some time over xmas readin up on the 70-200mm range of canon lenses, the f2.8 and f4 catching my attention mainly.
Now its down to, which to buy. I intend working outside alot, so im not sure if i’d make full use of the 2.8, even though it would be nice for portraits. Im not really considering the IS version as I have a mono and tripod i’d be mostly using for everything.
Im after sharp pictures, outside, mostly horses, cars and scenery.
I’m hoping someone can gimme a run down, or first person experience with both these lenses and maybe help me make a decision.Or! Alternatively give me a 3rd option. I currently only have a 50mm 1.8 and a 18-200mm Tamron 3.5-5.6 as my 90mm has been sent back for repairs.
Any help or advice would be great! thanks guys.
I use my 70-200mm f/2.8 IS lens a lot and love it. Ok, I don’t use the IS that much, but it does come in useful from time to time.
I shoot a lot of sport with the 70-200mm, and on dull winter evenings, and especially under floodlights, the f/2.8 is very much needed.
I hope that helps a little.
yeah that does help. I heard not so great things about IS, missing shots on moving targets etc. Its really a choice between a f4 with IS or a 2.8 with non-IS. Theres only a 50euro difference, so its not the price that bothers me. I love my 50mm 1.8 for indoor stuff but its limited but i know from it how helpful the low f is.
Thanks for the input its got me back on track with the 2.8 again :)Its a pity the Non-IS’s dont come weather sealed!
I think I might be tempted to go down the F/2.8 non-IS route too (eventually), so down the line I could get an Extender and still have a half decent aperture.
Hypothetically if a non weather sealed lens took a swim in FRESH water, is it curtains or how cheap/expensive would it be to be repaired?
Graham.
Why do i get the feeling that “hypothetically” isnt so hypothetical :)
Yeah i was considering getting a 1.5x extender with it and saving 30euro on it as part of a deal with the group i buy off.
The weather sealing isnt a huge bother to me, because if its wet im not gunna be out in it. and if i am i’d have a rain jacket over the camera anyway to keep rain off the body as well. I was at the races when it started to lash rain so i just grabbed a plastic bag and stuck the camera and lens it it, poked the front out the opening and kept snapping away. Worked really well.
I had a Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS before and i had so much hassle taking pictures of moving targets, (animals in the zoo etc) and then realized the IS was still on… So since then i havent been to pushed on IS. I know it can be great but with a lens as big as the 2.8 i’ll be mostly using it with my monopod in the arenas or one of my tripods for birds or animals down by the river so the IS for an extra 700euro (and the weather protection) doesnt seem to be a draw for me.
As for the dropping in fresh water, i coudlnt tell you. That’d be down to someone with more knowledge then me :) i’m still learning the ropes and staying away from water!
If you’re shooting sport, or moving objects, you should not be using IS. You need to select a high shutter speed rather than trying to us IS.
The only time you’d use IS would be IS mode 2 – for panning.
For wildlife, a 200mm lens would be very short. You’re more likely to want 500mm or greater for the reach.
Well wildlife would be something i would have a passing fancy in. I much rather landscape and i work with horses in an arena to so 70-200 would be perfect. I took an array of shots over the xmas period and my focal lengths were mostly between 95-200mm (so says the raw info) which was me standing in the centre of the arena as the horses ran around me. I still have a nice 50mm and I’m getting a 10-20 or 10-24mm after the 70-200 so i’d have most ranges covered by then. Though i rarely find myself using anything less then 50 for the horses.
What difference does IS mode 2 make to panning. Thats something i havent attempted yet.
edg3 wrote:
What difference does IS mode 2 make to panning. Thats something i havent attempted yet.
http://usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/standard_display/Lens_Advantage_IS” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;
IS mode 1 is 4 way stabilisation, on the horizontal and vertical axis.
IS mode 2 is 2 way stabilisation, on a single axis – either horizontal or vertical, but not both.When you engage IS, it takes a moment to lock and engage. This, in sport or wildlife, can be the difference between getting the shot and missing it. That’s why sports shooters don’t use IS. High shutter speed is used instead. But, for panning, IS mode 2 is useful.
Thanks for the explanation. I have very little/no experience with IS.
Being unemployed at the minute puts most of the IS lenses way out of my league. So its something I havent read into yet.Hi, I haven’t been on here much lately but have a gander now and again. I feel I have to throw my tuppenceworth in here though. I have the 70=200 f/4 version and I use it for sport and basically anything I want to use it for. I have three ‘L’ series lenses, the aforementioned, the 24-70 2.8 and the 16-35 2.8….of the three, my favoured one is the 70-200, I get fantastically sharp shots from it and get gfreat soccer [from the sideline] shots. A great lens and you’d pick one of these up second hand at a decent price if you have a gander on ebay etc.
Pat.
Thanks Pat.
Thats exactly the input i was looking for. Someone with the lenses i was considering though the 16-35 was never one i contemplated.
I was thinking abotu ebay but as its gunna be my Prime lens i wanna get it new. The group i buy everything off are currently selling the 2.8 70-200 for 1015euro. Im awaiting a refund for a busted 90mm off them and when it comes through i should be able to afford the 70-200mm :)I got the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG Macro HSM II new for half the price of the canon. After reading many reviews user could find very little difference in quality between the non IS canon 2.8 and the sigma. http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/sigma_70-200_2p8_n15/” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;
I have to say . I find it very well built.
I’d actually forgotten i’d been looking at the sigma before. I’d heard some bad reviews of it especially issues with the focus being slow and chunky.
will i need a sigma x2 extender or can a canon x2 work with it? or do you know :)edg3 wrote:
Well wildlife would be something i would have a passing fancy in. I much rather landscape and i work with horses in an arena to so 70-200 would be perfect. I took an array of shots over the xmas period and my focal lengths were mostly between 95-200mm (so says the raw info) which was me standing in the centre of the arena as the horses ran around me. I still have a nice 50mm and I’m getting a 10-20 or 10-24mm after the 70-200 so i’d have most ranges covered by then. Though i rarely find myself using anything less then 50 for the horses.
What difference does IS mode 2 make to panning. Thats something i havent attempted yet.
I’m about to pop a sigma 12-24mm canon fit up in for sale if you’re interested?
well the 10-20mm is next on my list of buys but i have to get the 70-200mm first. I’ve already ordered it so a little short on cash. I went with the Sigma f2.8, spec wise its almost identical and its slightly lighter to :)
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