Group Buy: 70-200 F2.8L Non-IS for Amatuer

[milkrocks]

Evening,

Thanks to everyone who provided advice about putting together a kit for a new baby.  The gear I ended up with has been perfect thus far. 

Current Kit:
6D & EOS 3
24-105L
Sigma 105 Macro (not as good as the canon but i picked up a used copy for $450 - well worth it)
50 F1.8, 40 2.8
EOS M, 18-55 & 22 f2

So I'm thinking I'll want a telephoto at some point for the 6D.  In a perfect world I'd get a 70-200 F2.8L IS II and a 1.4X and 2X teleconverter kit.  The $3000+ that this would cost however isn't possible now and won't be anytime soon.

The 70-200 F2.8L is part of the group buy on canonpricewatch for $1079.  This seems like a great deal.  The 70-200 F4L IS is also available at a great price, but I'm definitely less interested as I think if i was going to buy an F4+ tele zoom I'd either buy the 70-300 non-L to save cash or the 70-300L for its versatility and size.

Thoughts on the Non-IS 70-200 f2.8?  Could it be a lens i have and use for a long time?  I'm thinking I'd add at least the 1.4 at some point.  This would primarily be for outdoor portrait situations, for when the kid starts running around a bit more and eventually for some youth sports action.

Thanks everyone,

Christian

[Ruined]

It depends on a couple of things.

First, there is the shutter speed rule.

So, at 200mm you will need 1/200 shutter speed. Even at f/2.8, if you are indoors the light may not be sufficient for that speed.  So without IS, you will either risk camera shake by lowering the shutter or need to add a flash to compensate for lack of light.

Second, the length & weight of the 70-200 non-L makes it even more difficult to hold steady compared to smaller lenses.

This is one of the lenses I would say going for the IS version is a no-brainer.

But, if it is the f/2.8L non-IS vs f/4 IS, then it is just a question of whether you are going to build the technique (and muscle) to hold it steady at longer focal lengths vs. the f/4 which will be much easier to handle.

[IMG_0001]

Congratulation for that latest addition to your family.

I think that you are covered for a while with your lenses going up to 105mm. Of course, in 18 months or 2 years, you may find you need more reach to play outside, but right now, I'd refrain from buying a lens I don't need but that stretches my budget... I know, that is a bit of a dull advice, but you already have enough to take great images for some times. If anything, I'd buy a good flash and get used to using it for fill and bounce it.

I'd also advise you against the non L 70-300. That is the only lense purchase I made that I regretted. First, it is way to slow for anything inside and second, it is nowhere near sharp above 200mm. If was to do it again, I'd go for a 70-200 F4 as the 70-300 is really not providing anything useful above 200mm anyways.

Finally, if you do buy a non-IS 70-200 F2.8, i would not worry to much about IS unless you plan on using it for still life. In this range, most things I want a telephoto for require shutter speeds above  1/focal lenght (1/200s) anyways. You are not going to get a sharp picture of a kid at 1/30s as IS has no effect on the subject.

Mind however that I don't have first hand experience with the 70-200 2.8 (any of them) so I could only comment on their respective strengths and weaknesses based on reviews... and so I won't.

Have a nice time with your new kid (and kit).

Best regard.