Canon 70-200 f/4, f/2.8. IS non-IS.. for sports: Which would be best for shooting mostly sports?
1827617
These are two wonderful lens. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Lets start with the f/4 IS. You have great IS capable of shooting sharp images up to to four stops without a tripod. However, you will not be able to stop the action in low light because of the F/4 aperture. IS fixes the shakes from your hands, it has no effect of freezing action in low or dim light. You could raise your ISO, but then you have to worry about noise. The weight of the F/4 will be much more comfortable around your neck than the f/2.8 because it weighs almost half as much. The price of the f/4 is another factor. Its around $500.00 bucks cheaper. The f/2.8 IS is a beast that will produce fantastic images but you are going to pay a price for it. It's heavy and you need to have deep pockets. On the other hand if sports is your thing and creating fantastic images with great bokeh than why not splurg and get what you really want. Are you shooting indoor sports? You should probably consider the f/2.8. Either way you are going to spend some money and you might as well get the one that is going to fit your needs. To sum up if you are shooting indoor sports i would go with the 2.8. If not the f/4 will not dissappoint you.
2256203
I don't use it for that but I see professional photographers using it when I watch events on TV. As the other commenter, waverider, stated, the lens struggles as light diminishes. That's why the majority of sports photographers use fix focal length lenses because they have fewer glass elements allowing for more light. The lens you are considering, 100-400, is my go-to lens. That was an unexpected surprise. My brilliant 70-200 stays in the bag. The 100-400 even takes fantastic flower shots from a near distance. They pop!
2034642
I would not use my 85mm for sporting events, I would use my AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED. And use the sports mode on the dial. I am not a pro though.
382296
if your camera model has a better sensor that handles high ISO's well (i.e. little noise) the 70-200 F4 is fantastic ... I kept my F2.8 ( fantastic lens but much heavier plus mines an older version W/VR1) but never use any more as the F4 coupled with a D800 is a great combo
496026
Your biggest issue here will be light. F4 isn't the fastest glass for basketball, but if you up your ISO to the 1600-2500 range you should be OK. Remember you only have 105 as the longest zoom, but if you multiply by your crop factor you'll get decent reach. I would also suggest a tripod/monopod.
1810954
Good questions. If you want the best lens you've ever used, sell your 75-300 and get the Canon 70-200 f2.8 IS USM II. It is hands down the best lens I've ever used. It's fast and will make every shot look like a pro. Nothing beats having a 2.8 aperture. It's expensive, but so worth it. Another great lens would be any of the Canon 50mm primes. Or the 40mm pancake prime. I like the 50mm f1.4 but the 50mm f1.8 is amazing too. There's even a 50mm f1.2 but it's way expensive.
1913609
I have this lense and a Canon 6D. I have used it indoors for volleyball and basketball games. You will need the ISO Iin the 3200-6400 range, but the photos are very good even at that ISO.
394706
Hello. Unfortunately, neither of these will be very good for soccer. It is not a question of zoom, so much as response time. These types of cameras have to clear the sensor before they capture a shot, so none of them are going to be great for sports. They can work ok, but you're likely to miss "the moment". If that is acceptible, try the SX200 (or one of the new Lumix models with the super fast auto focus might be a bit better). But for best results shooting sports, you'd want something that didn't have to clear the sensor, like a DSLR (Canon Rebel, Nikon D40, etc.) Or if you want a small hybrid, you could consider the Lumix GF1, but they aren't cheap. Hello. Unfortunately, neither of these will be very good for soccer. It is not a question of zoom, so much as response time. These types of cameras have to clear the sensor before they capture a shot, so none of them are going to be great for sports. They can work ok, but you're likely to miss "the moment". If that is acceptible, try the SX200 (or one of the new Lumix models with the super fast auto focus might be a bit better). But for best results shooting sports, you'd want something that didn't have to clear the sensor, like a DSLR (Canon Rebel, Nikon D40, etc.) Or if you want... » Read More Hello. Unfortunately, neither of these will be very good for soccer. It is not a question of zoom, so much as response time. These types of cameras have to clear the sensor before they capture a shot, so none of them are going to be great for sports. They can work ok, but you're likely to miss "the moment". If that is acceptible, try the SX200 (or one of the new Lumix models with the super fast auto focus might be a bit better). But for best results shooting sports, you'd want something that didn't have to clear the sensor, like a DSLR (Canon Rebel, Nikon D40, etc.) Or if you want a small hybrid, you could consider the Lumix GF1, but they aren't cheap. « Show Less
483540
It's all in the name. The Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II is the newest of the product. Go to CanonUSA.com for your answer. The big part that confused you (I think) is the "IS II"). Good luck. Vic
1993784
The lens does not have a large aperture so is not terribly fast and you will have to turn up your ISO to shoot indoor sports unless the lighting is good. But it will work. That being said, it is very smooth and quiet for shooting video when used with the 70D. You may be better off with a prime lens that has a larger aperture for indoor sports. This lens would work best for outdoor sports.
1445793
A 70-200 can work for either, but it's going to give you a specific look. The longer the lens, the more the space in front of and behind your subject compresses, making everything feel a bit closer together. But, it also has a shallower depth of field so the look you get can be very interesting. In simple terms, the 70-200 can punch through a scene and grab a moment at an event or in an environment that you couldn't get on a wider lens.
1542166
I love the camera it was a good step up from the older Rebel. I shoot allot of action sports photography and it works great when I shoot in a gym that is poorly lit and you can't use a flash during the game. I use a 70-200 f2.8 lens and I get good Basketball photos. I want to upgrade to the 1D mark4 as soon as I can afford it!!
313059
I just have to mention that IS is for stabilizing the lens ( NOT the subject). For action, IS does nothing for you. It's for keeping your shaky hands still...not the subject. Pretty much all pro sports photogs turn OFF IS when shooting sports as the engagement of IS motor can actually cause sharpness issues until it fully engages. IS is awesome for handheld still subject matter, but don't be confused about it helping with moving subjects. I shoot pro sports multiple times a week and can verify that we all turn IS off.
496025
Paul, This is a good lens but the lack of zoom may be a problem for basketball depending on where you are allowed to photograph. The F4 is not as problematic with cameras such as the 6D and 5D MarkIII. Those cameras handle higher ISO with much less noise than others. You will be pushing the 7D with ISO 6400 in some gyms. Newer Gyms with good lighting should be fine at F4.0. It also depends on how high you like to run your shutter to stop action crisply.
117447
I absolutely love my canon 7D. The Canon 7D mark ii is supposed to be a little better with low light. You really can't beat the price right now on the canon 7D. It has really dropped in price since last year.(about 700.00) I have a Nikon too and I love the menu on the canons. They are easier to use. I love to photo birds in flight and I have gotten some amazing photos. You can buy a fast lens for sports too. The 70-200 lens with 2.8 f/ stop is a great sports photography lens. That is on my wish list. Hope this helps and good luck!
1922082
As Matt said there is no "right" lens. If this is in addition to the kit lens I would get the F 2.8 70/200 just because the kit lens gives a wide range close in. If you are getting a body only and purchasing two lenses, I would get the 24/70 followed with something tailored to your primary subject matter.
736775
The 70-200 f4 IS can used in lowlight situations if you have the right camera. Indoor situations with this lens require high ISOs in the range of 800-3200 to get decent fast enough shutter speeds to prevent subject blur. Camera shake blur is handled pretty well by the lens image stabilization when handheld but care must be taken to keep camera as still as possible when zoomed in. This lens has worked well for me in concert band situations with low light even using the Rebel XSi cameras max ISO of 1600. This lens begins to fall down if you try and use it for indoor sports action.