Canon f2.8 70mm - 200mm USM Lens

Richard1234

Richard1234

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I am seriously considering the imminent purchase of the Canon L series Lens and would like some feedback from you fine folk before I take the plunge and buy.

I am getting quite into Sports Photography and currently use a Sigma 170mm - 500MM lens f1.5 - 6.3 as well as a Tamron 28mm - 300mm f1.3 - 5.6 which I use with a Canon EOS 1d Mk11n, I am pleased enough with the results but feel that I would get sharper images with the Image Stabilised Canon.

Question is, would I be gaining quality at the loss of distance??

Your thoughts please....
 
Yes you will be gaining quality for loss of range - basically. A 200mm maximum focal length compared to even the 300mm of the Tamron, nevermind the max range of you 170-500mm Sigma is going to be quite a loss in range.

But you will also be gaining flexibility in shutter speeds which could be beneficial from a creative standpoint allowing you to blur backgrounds and gain higher shutter speeds in lower lighting conditions, and having the Canon 70-200 f2.8 IS myself I would think its faster at focusing than either the Tamron or Sigma.

Other features of use are the IS is great for for those times when your shutter speeds are lower than those recommend for current the focal length, and also this lens is weather sealed so in combination with your Canon 1D MKIIN would mean you could shoot in worse weather than many of us would ever consider.

Personally I think this is an amazing lens, expensive but worth it, and would recommend it to anyone.

It all depends on whether 200mm is going to be enough to cover the sports your hoping to shoot.
If not then perhaps a prime lens or maybe the Canon 100-400 f4.5-5.6 IS L would be more appropriate.
 
I have this lens. The quality of the shots (assuming the numpty behind the camera knows what to do) is fantastic.
It is a great lens. Heavy, but great

I also use the EX1.4 with it. This brings it up to nearly 300mm (280 if you do the maths).

I keep eyeing up the 100-400f4 as I never seem to be able to get close enough to stuff.
 
Thanks for your feedback Gent's very useful indeed.....

Richard
 
Richard1234 said:
Thanks for your feedback Gent's very useful indeed.....

Richard
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For reference Rich, this is the most sighted lens at grounds up and down the land, after the 300mm 2.8.

Ideal for when the action ebbs closer.

As others said, worth every penny.

However, as before, Sigma do the 70 - 200 F2.8 as well, and is very very good at half the price. Thought I would mention it given your budget and workload. Brand snobbery is huge, but I have had full gloss images in print with my Sigma kit and it looked great.

Lens is here -

http://www.parkcameras.com/ProductD...yID/68/v/7784e0b0-0999-42ce-b3f1-9bb4a926d47b


Pete.:thumbs:
 
Is IS lens systems actually benifical for motorsport though?

On my old camera before moving to DSLR i used to switch off the image Stabiliser as it used to effect the picture in a negetive way. Is the canon lens any good when moving, i thought it was to help prevent camera shake when doing still life work.

I never really did anything but motorsports until getting the bug big then upgraded. I was thinking about the 100-400mm canon but after trying that and a 50-500mm sigma, i choose the sigma, cheaper but greater range, and still better than my 70-300mm sigma lens. Cant wait for the racing to start back up again.
 
On the Canon 70-200 2.8 IS you have Mode 2 which you use when panning - this will stabilize the lens on the horizontal plane only, other times you use Mode 1 which stabilizes both vertical and horizontal planes.
 
Amazing lens,went to a airshow and forgot my 100-400 so i used it with and without a 1.4 tcon with very good results.:)
 
Warspite said:
On the Canon 70-200 2.8 IS you have Mode 2 which you use when panning - this will stabilize the lens on the horizontal plane only, other times you use Mode 1 which stabilizes both vertical and horizontal planes.
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Arh right thanks didnt realise that, shall bear that in mind when looking for the replacement to mymy shorter focal lengths.
 
My friend I work with at speedway uses this lens - it was on his advice that i bought mine but of course I've not had the chance to use mine for action yet! The deciding factor for me getting the 70-200 over the 100-400 was that the 70-200 with 2x TC gives me the same max ap. as the 100-400 at the long end. (Well, that and the fact that a 100mm lens is too long for shooting speedway from the infield!)

Most of the 2005 & 2006 speedway shots on his site http://www.stephenwaller.com were taken using the 70-200 I think - he says that if he were only to be allowed to keep one lens, this would be the one he'd choose. IIRC he also told me that he keeps the IS off for shooting at speedway, but turns it on when he needs to lose his flash and bump up the ISO to get shots of a fallen rider without being obtrusive.

Hope this helps - I look forward to sharing more results from mine in due course!
 
I to have the Sigma 70-200mm it doesn't have IS but I can live without that. I use this lens at Brands Hatch for my motorsport efforts and I can't fault it, it's sharp, crisp, fast AF. The other thing I like is the fact that the lens doesn't change it's overall length no matter what your focal length is. Comes with a lens hood rather than without as with most Canon lenses.

On an IS/OS note I have tried using this on a couple of other lenses that I have when I've at Brands and found the IS/OS to be somewhat lacking in responce time and really didn't help.

I hope the above is of some help to you :thumbs:
 
daveyuk said:
I to have the Sigma 70-200mm it doesn't have IS but I can live without that. I use this lens at Brands Hatch for my motorsport efforts and I can't fault it, it's sharp, crisp, fast AF. The other thing I like is the fact that the lens doesn't change it's overall length no matter what your focal length is. Comes with a lens hood rather than without as with most Canon lenses.
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DaveyUK, I think you are slightly wrong with your wording here. All Canon L Lenses, such as the 70-200, comes with a Lens hood as standard along with the Lens pouch. Likewise, the Canon variant also has internal focussing.

The 2 lenses are pretty much like for like but Money can play a big part as can Lens snobbery. Its down to how much you are prepared to spend, how much support you want afterwards, whether your importing or not and actually holding the lens to get a feel for what is best for you.
 
Ally said:
I can say the same as pete I have a sigma 70-200 and it is sharp and colourful. I don't think that IS matters for sports, you would never really be under 200th of a second?
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95% off my motorsports photography is well under 1/200 sec, normal no more then 1/160.
 
russdaz said:
95% off my motorsports photography is well under 1/200 sec, normal no more then 1/160.
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Speedway often dips below this speed also. depends on light, and how soon you want to stick your flash on!
 
One of the cheaper ways into Canon L telephotos, is to go for the 80-200 f2.8L zoom.

EF80-200.jpg


They are getting a bit long in the tooth now, but mint examples can be had for around £400/500. They are every bit as good as the 70/200 iterations, and some would say even better. It's a really classy lump of glass!

Ask yourself - do manufacturers make lenses to improve on what is already state of the art?? Of course not, they do it to make more money, most often by compromising on quality and introducing new, cheaper materials.

The 80-200 f2.8L (aka the Magic Drainpipe), is in my opinion, and that of many reviewers, the best medium telephoto lens ever made, period. You can get one cheaper than the f4, and half the price of the new 2.8.

Drawbacks?? Not USM, but focuses as quick as any USM lens I've ever used, it's black (to me that's an advantage), and it can't be used with the EFI/II extender, but works fine with the Kenko Pro. Hard to find, because they're snapped up as soon as they appear.

Advantages??

Quality of the glass, all metal construction, superb 'dimpled' finish. A really classy bit of glass for a bargain price.
 
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