coco1964 Loc: Winsted Mn

For indoor sports you're going to need a 70-200 2.8 and the short end of that lens is pretty large if you're sitting on the floor---in the stands no problem. I shoot the Tamron 70-200mm 2.8 and I'm telling you it's a monster of a lens. So far I've use it very little as I got it just as indoor sports were coming to an end and I'll be using it for night baseball games. If you have other lenses fine but this tank is no walk around lens. My suggestion is go to a reputable camera shop and try them out and see what you like and what you can handle..................

coco1964 Loc: Winsted Mn

The new Tamron 70-200 2.8 does come with VC and with the weight it's almost a must..............

al davis Loc: chesterfield virginia

i purchased the tamron 70 to 200 f2.8 this year.I realy like this lens.the sharpness of this lens is incredible.I was out shooting with a friend.This friend has the canon 70 to 200L is he bought it with his 5d mkll paid $2100 for it with the camera.I paid $769.00 for the tamron no is.We both took the same the picture with the same camera every thing was ditto as far as the settings. we could not tell the difference in the two shots.The canon did focus a little faster.I wanted to purchase the canon but cash flow was a problem.After the comparison I am very pleased with the Tamron.Sorry if this post may seem a little long or that i sound like a rep from tamron,I am a canon shooter all the way.But the third party lenses such as sigma and tamron have come a long ways over the past few years very impressed.Good luck with with what you decide and good shooting.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

Looking at the original question, I am guessing you have answered your question yourself. The Canon is the standard by which others compare their lenses. Yep, I think you answered it. Lol.

Dgratzinger Loc: Pennsylvania

I have the Canon 70-200 f2.8 with a 2x extender and love it! I shoot sports with this lense. I can only use the extender during the day. Indoors and outdoors after sun is going down, need the speed of the f2.8.

Dgratzinger Loc: Pennsylvania

sorry, meant "lens". I don't know why I always put that "e" on the end. :)

digicamking Loc: Raleigh, NC

A canon 1D MKIII is not a full frame camera it is anAP-H. There will be a crop factor to the lenses

Photo-Al Loc: Sonoma County, CA

I have the Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 and it is my favorite lens ... I shoot headshots, nighttime outdoor rodeo and youth sports (football and softball, baseball). I know the Canon die-hards think I should have waited until I could afford the Canon L series, but the ratings were nearly the same and the price was around $700 ... even less on Adorama or B&H. I also have Tamron 200-500 and 24-135 lens, so you can see I'm a Tamron fan (the Tamron SP lens series). I am one of those who thinks that there is always a cost/benefit study, and IF budget doesn't allow buying the best Canon lens, then by the best for the $$ ... and for me that was the Tamron. I'd do it all over, and as you can see, I'm a Tamron fan.

I should add ... I always use a mono- or tripod with this lens. If my arms were as muscully as MT Shooter, I could probably handhold it, but as you can see, my pins are just a little wobbly, so I go for the assistance in steadiness. :?

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

No matter how good you think Sigma lenses are, they CAN and do have a track record of being problematic and , tho the glass may approach or equal Canon in some cases, their focus speed, accuracy, and reliability AT BEST is a tick below Canon's. I have and use both Sigma and Canon L. If you want to get to at least 400mm then the 70/80-200 2.8 Canon L is the ticket with 2X. I recommend the Tamron 2X SP converter for it's cost/performance ratio. The older 80-200 Canon 2.8 L can be had off e-Bay for $800 + or -.

Roger Sr. Loc: Central Coast of California

I'm also a Tamron fan as of right now I have a Tamron 18-270mm VC and a 28-300 mm and a 200-400mm these Tamron lenses are all very sharp, years ago the Tamron lenses were not all that good but now days things have changed there a very good lens that take very sharp pictures and I use these on a Nikon D300 and a Nikon D200

ace-mt Loc: Montana

They say ignorance is bliss...Im a happy guy. I have two Sigmas that I love.