Decisions Decisions

[munsterman28]

January 12, 2008 at 8:47 pm

Hi

I;ve been mulling over lenses now for a while. Heard great things about the Canon lenses so am going to stick with Canon lenses to go with my 400D.

I am looking for something primarily for wildlife shots and rugby shots. Mainly whales and dolphins and mostly from a moving boat and possibly on low light days. And lots of the rugby would be floodlite. So speed is an issue.
As i’ll be on a boat and sometmes on the roof of a boat weight is also an issue. An experienced marine mammal photographer I know uses a Canon 70 – 200mm F2.8L IS USM and uses a 1.4 extender with it and he gets fantastic results.

Im leaning towards the 70 – 200mm F2.8L IS USM and an extender. Anything bigger than this of the same quality and speed is too heavy and more importantly way to expensive. Have also heard good things about the F4 IS model, some saying its better and sharper than the F2.8 IS. Then theres the NON IS versions of both.

Based on my needs what do people think. Go the fastest F2.8? Do I need IS??

Does anyne have images taken with these two so I can compare

[paul]

January 12, 2008 at 8:55 pm

For any sports under floodlights, you need a f/2.8. The f/4 will be a bit slow.

The f/4 would be good for wildlife, but with the 1.4 extender it will become an f/5.6

I don’t use IS for sport, but it would be useful for wildlife photography.

[scas]

January 22, 2008 at 12:47 am

i have the 7,2 2.8 is and an ex 1.4, i also have the 100-400 and it breaks my heart to say it cos i love the 7,2 but the 10-400 takes better sharper and more contrasty pics when an extender is used on the 2.8. if your shooting whales you dont really need the fast one. ( by the way 7,2 2.8 IS is about the sharpest zoom out there, and it makes yer arms huge, cos it weighs a ton )