70-200 2.8 IS

blinkerz

blinkerz

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I got my 70-200 2.8 IS today, but its really long with the hood on, is it really needed or just for protection?. I have a UV filter fitted to protect the lens..

Also does anyone actually use this lens for walkabout as it seems quite heavy and strange to hold, or is this lens mostly used with a tripod.
 
blinekrz said:
I got my 70-200 2.8 IS today, but its really long with the hood on, is it really needed or just for protection?. I have a UV filter fitted to protect the lens..

Also does anyone actually use this lens for walkabout as it seems quite heavy and strange to hold, or is this lens mostly used with a tripod.
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Oh Congrats to you as well then :thumbs:
These are also questions I am asking my self right here right now
 
Congrats on the purchase :thumbs:
But please ... do carry on telling me about how weighty this wee beastie is because right now thats the only thing stopping me from joining you in the 70-200 club!
 
I always use the hood.

I think I've used it on a tripod once. It's my regular handheld lens with my 1D (with 400 f/4 on monopod or tripod by its side)
 
Canon got a sale on??:suspect: :suspect:

Congrats :D

My normal walkabout too, also on a 1D handheld
 
Use the hood. It cuts out a lot of unwanted light and knobbles flares
 
InaGlo said:
But please ... do carry on telling me about how weighty this wee beastie is because right now thats the only thing stopping me from joining you in the 70-200 club!
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Ok Glo just for you

g065.gif
 
i just took a quick picture of my cat below, and i really like the quality, the way the background is thrown out with no sharpening or other processing done.

I dont know how to hold the lens properly if i want to adjust the focus, oh well im sure i will learn.

catty.jpg
 
Looks pretty damned good from here
 
Thats damn good for a first shot
 
I alway always use the hoods, i use my all the time even with TC's fitted, never ever used tri-pod,(dont actually own one) mono-pod has been used once but that was with the sigma 50-500mm which i sold after finding the funds for the 70-200 and 400mm's.

Brill lens.
 
My walkabout lens on my 1D too - I always keep the tripod collar on & rest it in the palm of my hand, that way I can easily move around the zoom ring without worrying about supporting the lens - I also find it easy to use the focus ring from there too as you can just slide your hand forwards slightly.
I always use the lens hood to cut out flare & have never had any yet (so I presume it works :lol:)
Congrats on the new lens btw :thumbs:

Edit: That is a gorgeous cat & pic btw
 
I have the non-IS version (anyone want to swap?) and it hurt my hand the first time using it. Not because of the weight but because of the girth, my hand was not used to gripping anything so big!

Michael.
 
Its a bit solid, but you will get used to it. As with Mike, I keep the collar on and handle the little beggar in the same way. I have see some people wandeing around with the lens just hanging off the front of their camera but I'm not comfortable with that even on the 1d.

Looks like we could have a few examples of this lens at our London meet :)

PS - nice shot - you'll love how sharp this lens is - even with a x2TC!!
 
blinekrz said:
I dont know how to hold the lens properly if i want to adjust the focus, oh well im sure i will learn.
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Lots of people seem to have problems with basic hand holding technique - but you've recognized the problem at once and it's longer lenses which tend to highlight the wrong technique so I'm glad you brought this up. :)

First things first - get your basic handholding technique right. This applies to pretty well any lens unless it's one meant to be on a tripod.

Stand upright. The right hand should be grasping the handgrip fairly loosely, the left hand should be cupped underneath the body of the lens. ( On shorter lenses like the 50mm etc, then the heel of your hand should be under the camera with the hand extending forward at a comfortable angle)

The left hand supports the full weight of the camera, but your elbows should be pulled firmly into your chest for added support. Your right hand is a far more relaxed grip and it enables you to concentrate on using that hand for smooth shutter operation.

With this basic position you'll find that with your left hand it's now a simple matter to operate the closer zoom collar with the thumb and second finger without moving your hand at all and without sacrificing any of your camera support technique. It's the quickest way to work and you're ready for that shot in an instant.

Similarly, with the manual focus collar, all that's usually needed is to slightly stretch the fingers forward, but operate the focus collar with the thumb and index finger. Try it - it becomes second nature after a while. :)

I see lots of people zooming and focusing by turning the left hand over with the fingers on top of the lens and the thumb underneath. This puts all the weight of the camera in the right hand, and is extremely stressful with a heavy zoom, apart from looking very amateurish. ;)

You'll get used to the weight of this lens and the above technique will help a lot, but consider a monopod anyway - far lighter and easier to carry than a tripod.
 
I have one as well, and use it with the 1DMKIIN and 1DSMKII it is heavy and you will need to use around 1/600 sec to avoid shake. Try taking the tripod mount off if your not using a tripod as that is heavy on it,s own.
 
I should add that when you lift the camera to your face - stand upright and look straight ahead - don't drop your head to meet the viewfinder. This results in you looking through the viewfinder at the wrong angle and you might struggle to see all the viewfinder info, but it also results in you not getting those elbows pulled into a high enough chest position for the best support.

Obviously you can't do this when looking downwards at your subject, but then the technique is.....lift the camera while standing as above to get that high chest position with your elbows, but then bend forward from the waist to line up your subject in the viewfinder and you'll maintain that more stable elbow position.:)
 
:clap: Nice one CT thanks :thumbs:
 
PapaLazarou said:
I have one as well, and use it with the 1DMKIIN and 1DSMKII it is heavy and you will need to use around 1/600 sec to avoid shake. Try taking the tripod mount off if your not using a tripod as that is heavy on it,s own.
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Not sure I fully agree with you there - the weight of the setup actually contributes to the stability for me and, with IS thrown onto the mix, 1/100 or 1/125 is plenty to nullify shake at 200mm. Personally I find the tripod ring assists with the technique as explained by CT, but we all have different mechanics so its definately a 'suck-it-and-see' scenario
 
IS has changed the rules completely - you can usually get away with 2 -3 stops slower shutter speed than would normally be considered safe. I'd always attempt even slower with IS if the shot was worth a go, but Lady Luck plays a huge part when you're pushing the envelope that far. :D
 
Jonnyreb said:
Not sure I fully agree with you there - the weight of the setup actually contributes to the stability for me and, with IS thrown onto the mix, 1/100 or 1/125 is plenty to nullify shake at 200mm. Personally I find the tripod ring assists with the technique as explained by CT, but we all have different mechanics so its definately a 'suck-it-and-see' scenario
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Just as well we're all different ;) The weight definitely helps but the tripod ring just gets in the way for me, first thing to get dumped on any lens which has one :p
 
Let's get real here, folks!

Any camera (20/30D or 5D) with a grip and a 2nd battery must weigh at least close to 1Kg.

Add a 70-200 f/2,8 IS at 1,4 Kg and this puts it at +- 2,5Kg.

NOW HOW MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE DOES A 150 GRAM TRIPOD COLLAR REALLY MAKE?!?!:bonk: :bonk: :bonk:
 
It's a perference thing for me.
I find it anoying so dont have it attached, unless its on a tripod... naturally
 
LOL. I never remove the collars. If I'm hand holding I slacken the collar and rotate it so the foot is uppermost.
 
mij said:
Not because of the weight but because of the girth, my hand was not used to gripping anything so big!

Michael.
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Is Janice not feeling well? or was it just too obvious?
 
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