What Zoom Lens?

atmax1 · 1 Aug 2013 at 14:53

I have a canon 7D and next week I will have enough to buy a 70-200mm 2.8 L for £870.. Is this the best zoom lens to get for the price? I noticed sigma had a Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG APO OS HSM for £685.99 why I ask.

- Matthew

wez130 · 1 Aug 2013 at 16:18

There's a 70-200 F/2.8 L IS going on talk photography for not much more than £870 (£925 to be exact - with possibility to haggle too), i'd be looking at that instead personally.

=XDC=FluphyBunny · 1 Aug 2013 at 16:36

The above would be a nice saving. As ong as they are looked after the lens will be no worse for been second hand.

atmax1 · 1 Aug 2013 at 16:45

I wont have that much for a few weeks (I will have 890 on wednesday) and would prob be sold by then, also can you buy on there if you are a new member (if i signed up today) lol

As for the IS shouldn't that be fine long as shutter speed is even or higher then the focal length?

D.P. · 1 Aug 2013 at 17:24

atmax1 said:
I wont have that much for a few weeks (I will have 890 on wednesday) and would prob be sold by then, also can you buy on there if you are a new member (if i signed up today) lol

As for the IS shouldn't that be fine long as shutter speed is even or higher then the focal length?

IF your your shutter speed is higher than your effective focal length (on a Canon crop remember that the 200mm end is going to be like 320mm so I would aim for a shutter speed of closer to 1/400th second to be safe) then you wont need IS and in fact you are better off switching off IS.

But that is a big IF! In the middle of the day outdoors on a sunny day then no problem, indoors even with good lighting not so easy.

Still, better than IS/VR is to use a good quality tripod whenever possible.IS is really best for lazy photography(can't be bothered or impractical to carry a tripod) or for time when a tripod would slow down the process too much (street, weddings, etc.). Any time the camera could be on a tripod it should, anytime you can't then IS is very useful.