Can't decide... lenses again

[Braeden]

Quite a few people have suggested the canon 70-200 f/4 L lens as a replacement for the 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS USM that I was/am considering buying.

Since this is mainly for use at UK tracks (for example donnington park next weekend) would the focal length be enough to get decent photos? I know I may not fill the frame with the effective 320mm (200 x 1.6) but will it be enough?

Also, will f/4 at 200mm mean that I shouldn't miss the fact that the lens doesn't have IS?

I'm not sure if I can phrase this correctly so I hope you understand what I mean...

but what is the effective "speed" of a lens with IS at f/5.6? Will it compare to f/4 with no IS?

 

[Richard T]

I have one of the 70-300IS lenses and the IS makes a HUGE difference the further you zoom out.

I see you already had an IS lens already so you know what they are like

I'd pop down to a local shop and try one or both of the lenses you are thinking about on your camera.

 

[Deleted member 11679]

1/320, at around the 150 - 200mm mark:

1/160, at the 200mm mark:

Both images were resized and that is pretty much all the post process work. Taken with my first outing with the lens and in fact my first outing with the 350d to a Motorsport event. Both shot at Mallory park.

Do you need IS? A heck of a lot of people on FredMiranda do not agree you do, and its somewhat a personal choice...it is not essential though. Having never used this IS function I cannot say I am needing it, if your technique is right you can get around anything.

I think optically the 70-200 F/4 is going to wet on the 70-300, but as I said in your last thread, if you feel the 70-300 is going to give the benefit of the longer range and you'll not miss the wider aperture then go for that. The 70-200 is a considerable piece of equipment, its white - so it stands out, its chunky (but not overly heavy) - so it gives you something to hold, and it inner focusses which allows for filters etc to be attached no problem. Does the 70-300 inner focus?

^^The 70-200 is so fast at focussing you wouldn't believe as well, this is obviously essential for Motorsport.

Both will see you great for daytime Motorsport though.

 

[Geffen]

In theory IS is meant to allow you to get away with taking shots about 3 stop slower than you normally could. So in theory your F5.6 could take the same shot as a F2 lense. However IS doesn't stop motion blur from fast moving objects only removes the blur caused by hand shaking when holding the lense. Also if you are using a tripod then IS offers no advantage.

Basically if you are hand holding the lense and taking pictures of static or slow moving objects then IS is great. If you are using a tripod or taking shots of moving objects then a quicker lense is better.