IS or ISO, that is the question.

[-MasterChief-]

im in the middle of making my next Lens selection and a very interesting question has popped up. ive read that on the 70-200 f2.8 L,IS gives you an extra two stops in shutter speed when it is on.

my questions is, is IS worth the extra $500 difference? or can i just bump the ISO two stops and get the same thing?

thanks for you input everyone!

[TonyKInTexas]

IS cannot actually compensate for shutter speed. IS helps compensate for camera shake. Its not really meant to help with low light conditions.

Is it worth the money? Only you could answer that question. I have the F4 version of the 70-200 and like it very much. If I need a faster lens I would get the F2.8 unit. You could use a monopod or tripod to help reduce camera movement and save the money. :)

[-MasterChief-]

IS cannot actually compensate for shutter speed. IS helps compensate for camera shake. Its not really meant to help with low light conditions.

Is it worth the money? Only you could answer that question. I have the F4 version of the 70-200 and like it very much. If I need a faster lens I would get the F2.8 unit. You could use a monopod or tripod to help reduce camera movement and save the money. :)

i understand that IS compensates for camera shake, i guess what i meant was that this compensation was equal to two stops in shutter speed, please correct me if im wrong. thanks!

[crn3371]

Yes, you can bump the iso 2 steps and get the same thing. But with IS, you can also bump the iso and gain 4-5 stops.

[malla1962]

At times it's nice to have both.:D

[evandavies]

As pointed out before its important to remember that IS will only help in low light situations to reduce blur from camera shake but if your subject is moving fast then IS will not help freeze the action. Thats when you need a fast lens...

[Billginthekeys]

another thing to consider, especially if you are considering a 1series body. the 70-200 2.8 IS is weather sealed, whereas the 70-200 2.8 non-is is not. might not be on consequence to you but i wish id known that when i decided on the non-is version (which i mosty did because the lens was for a trip and the IS version weighs a half pound more).

If i were you, i would go ahead and buy the IS version

[-MasterChief-]

thanks for all your replies. this will definitely help my decision -- and my pocket! haha!

[Digitalwave]

thanks for all your replies. this will definitely help my decision -- and my pocket! haha!

You mean it won't help your pocket ;)

Good luck with your decision. You can't really go wrong either way!

[ianj]

Hi. Roeddel. I can tell you that IS has revolutionised my wildlife photography. I now rarely carry a tripod/monopod, and I can virtually point and shoot at will. Worth every penny (cent).

[Billginthekeys]

You mean it won't help your pocket ;)

Good luck with your decision. You can't really go wrong either way!

sure it will, now that it has less to carry around it wont have to go work out at the gym.

[Digitalwave]

sure it will, now that it has less to carry around it wont have to go work out at the gym.

:lol:

[Ronald S. Jr.]

im in the middle of making my next Lens selection and a very interesting question has popped up. ive read that on the 70-200 f2.8 L,IS gives you an extra two stops in shutter speed when it is on.

my questions is, is IS worth the extra $500 difference? or can i just bump the ISO two stops and get the same thing?

thanks for you input everyone!

Couple of points. It's actually 3 stops of shutter speed, I believe. Can anyone confirm that? Also, I might add that if you have or will be upgrading to a 1-series body, the 70-200L IS is also weather sealed and gasketed, unlike its less pricey cousins. $500 didn't make a difference after I handheld 1/40. With either of the others, you've gotta get a good 1/320 to ensure a sharp shot. Most anyone can shoot down to 1/60 with the IS version.

[basroil]

i can tell you, 70-200IS is amazing. if you haven't used IS lenses before, going to the cheaper non-is version sounds like a better idea though. having IS on a lens means you got to know when NOT to use it (well, you can leave it on, but need faster shutter speed), and when to turn it off (or switch to mode 2). just remember, the lens does weigh in at 3.5lb, so it's not light (it is compared to a 400 f2.8IS, but that thing is a beast anyway).

seeing as you already have the sigma, i suspect that you use your lens wide open a lot and want to have something sharper. if you know you spend most of the time at certain focal length, maybe one of the primes will help (85 1.8, 135f2, 200mm 2.8). except the 200mm, all the others are about a stop faster, which means iso can go one stop down.

[fstop11.net]

You really should just bite the bullet and have it. Nothings worse than buying the non version and then admitting to yourself you want it.

[-MasterChief-]

yes, i do have the sigma 70-200 -- and it weighs a ton! so im really not concerned about weight. what i am concerned about is THE WAIT! if i decide on the IS version, i have to wait longer! ARRRGGHHH, the agony!!! :p