Need advice on Canon lens: I'm going to buy either Canon's 70-200 2.8 L USM lens or their 70-200 IS II USM. There is a quite a bit of price difference. I mainly shoot my kids sporting...

juliestew Loc: Florida

I'm going to buy either Canon's 70-200 2.8 L USM lens or their 70-200 IS II USM. There is a quite a bit of price difference. I mainly shoot my kids sporting event (outside) with this type of lens. And I've read that when shooting sports you always want to keep the IS off.
So, I'm wondering if it's worth the $ to have the lens with the IS or not. Any advice?
I have tried the 100-400 L and also a Prime but really want this particular lens so if you could please comment on the 70-200 2.8 and whether I should consider the IS or not. Thanks so much!!!

Wendy2 Loc: California

I have the 70-200 L with IS and kinda wished I hadn't gotten the IS. It makes it so much heavier. I usually use it on a tripod or monopd. With a tripod, the IS must be off. I've never been great at holding steady so I use the tripod a lot.

olcoach Loc: Oregon

I have the 70-200 2.8L USM lens that I use for shooting my grandkids sports and I have never felt the need for the IS. I use a monopod but if your main use for the lens will be shooting the kids sports save some $ and forget the IS. I don't have it and have never wished I did. Have fun and keep shootin'. Mike

juliestew Loc: Florida

Thanks Wendy.....I appreciate you taking the time to answer!

juliestew Loc: Florida

olcoach wrote:

I have the 70-200 2.8L USM lens that I use for shooting my grandkids sports and I have never felt the need for the IS. I use a monopod but if your main use for the lens will be shooting the kids sports save some $ and forget the IS. I don't have it and have never wished I did. Have fun and keep shootin'. Mike

Thanks Mike! Seems like this might be the way to go!

PalePictures Loc: Traveling

I shoot portraits on the street all the time. I have the 200 L iS II.
I am glad I have the IS and always leave it on when I shoot the street. I like to use my lens around 180MM with around 1/250 shutter or more. My images are tack sharp handheld.

Below is an example B&W shot at 180mm on the street with all natural light. (No reflector and no flash)

juliestew Loc: Florida

PalePictures wrote:

I shoot portraits on the street all the time. I have the 200 L iS II.
I am glad I have the IS and always leave it on when I shoot the street. I like to use my lens around 180MM with around 1/250 shutter or more. My images are tack sharp handheld.

Below is an example B&W shot at 180mm on the street with all natural light. (No reflector and no flash)

Awesome shot! Thanks for taking time to share!

Hoss Loc: Near Pittsburgh, Pa

I would go with the II generation version. Or I would check with Canon to see if they discontinued the first generation series. If they did stop making it down the road they will stop supporting it! There will not be any parts made for it so when they run out of parts good luck getting it fixed. The generation II has not been out all that long, so they will be making it and the parts for repair for a long time. I purchased a lens that they had made for about 9 years I had it about a year and they quit making it. Last Oct I had an accident with it and it stopped working! I spent about a month trying to find a company to just look and see if they could do anything with it. I found one and shipped it off to them, they could not do anything with it so they contacted Canon and they said send it to them. They shipped it to Canon they had it about 1&1/2 - 2 weeks and I got an e-mail stating it was being shipped back UNREPAIRED!! So I now have a $2000.00 paperweight!! Still upsetting it was my favorite lens.

juliestew wrote:

PalePictures wrote:

I shoot portraits on the street all the time. I have the 200 L iS II.
I am glad I have the IS and always leave it on when I shoot the street. I like to use my lens around 180MM with around 1/250 shutter or more. My images are tack sharp handheld.

Below is an example B&W shot at 180mm on the street with all natural light. (No reflector and no flash)

Awesome shot! Thanks for taking time to share!

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

You do NOT always keep IS off when shooting sports which is why lenses have a panning mode for IS

infocus Loc: Australia

PalePictures wrote:

I shoot portraits on the street all the time. I have the 200 L iS II.
I am glad I have the IS and always leave it on when I shoot the street. I like to use my lens around 180MM with around 1/250 shutter or more. My images are tack sharp handheld.

Below is an example B&W shot at 180mm on the street with all natural light. (No reflector and no flash)

Hi PalePictures, I know you didn't post that shot for comment, rather to emphasise a point. Buy I can't help it - that is just supurb. And if the OP reads this I also have the 70- 200 IS and it's great. If you have it you can turn it off if need be, if you don't have it you can't turn it on.

yaterman96 Loc: Southern North Carolina

Get the I S 2 better resale value

GrahamS Loc: Hertfordshire, U.K

juliestew wrote:

And I've read that when shooting sports you always want to keep the IS off.

I suspect that you have been confused: It's when using a tripod that you switch the IS off. When shooting sports, you switch the IS to "panning mode" (Mode 2) if it has one. I would rather be able to switch IS off than not have it at all when I need it.

Capsurfer Loc: Sydney Australia

Hi Julie, I am going though the same dilemma myself right now but am deciding between the 70-200 f4 and the f2.8 but will definitely be having IS on whichever lens I get. From what I have gleaned from reading and feedback and assuming you have a fairly current model dslr (mine is a 7D) if you are mainly shooting outside then you will be getting more than enough light with an f4 without the extra weight associated with the f2.8. I have been into a store today and there is a CONSIDERABLE weight difference. Luckily I have managed to line up to borrow a 2.8 so will get to feel and play with it before I make a decision. Good luck and keep us posted. Whichever you go with they are both great lenses!

Mag3duces Loc: Cookeville, Tennessee

juliestew wrote:

I'm going to buy either Canon's 70-200 2.8 L USM l... (show quote)

I have owned both of these lens. I was never completly satisfied with the 70-200 2.8 L. I fought with this lens for about a year, recently sold it and bought the 70-200 2.8 L IS and I couldn't be happier. Yes this is a heavy lens, but I think the rewards do outweigh the negatives.

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

juliestew wrote:

I'm going to buy either Canon's 70-200 2.8 L USM l... (show quote)

Julie,

Save yourself some money. Sense you are mainly going to be shooting sports it is a good bet your SS will be above 200. A rule of thumb is as long as your SS is higher than your lens length you don't need the IS. Wen shooting sports you are going to be trying for a shutter speed of 500 or better most of the time.

You don't say if you will be using a tripod but if so you should be shutting the IS off anyhow.

Unless you are going to be shooting in low light at slow speeds you will not need it.

Jim D