Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

[PeteDyer]

Looking into changing my sigma lens for the above Canon, does anyone else use the above for motorsport?

Much cop?

Cheers
Pete

[DC Fan]

This lens has been pushed pretty hard this year and generated good results every time with a XTi:

http://www.fansview.com/racing/09282008b0460.jpg
http://www.fansview.com/racing/09272008a0361.jpg
http://www.fansview.com/racing/083120080058.jpg
http://www.fansview.com/racing/07202008d0909.jpg

[PeteDyer]

Excellant thanks for your opinion! Does it hold focus well with panning?

[DC Fan]

Excellant thanks for your opinion! Does it hold focus well with panning?
Yes.

[VSGLS1]

I use it while at the Rolex 24 in Daytona each year. All photos are untouched and shot with panning on.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a158/VSGLS1/Rolex%2024%202008/Picture190.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a158/VSGLS1/Rolex%2024%202007/Picture086.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a158/VSGLS1/Rolex%2024%202007/Picture112.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a158/VSGLS1/Rolex%2024%202007/Picture197.jpg

[Mama Tried]

its my main lens for motorsports.

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h160/turbot-bird/Gatornationals/2008_03_15_IMG_000120.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h160/turbot-bird/Gatornationals/Jamey_McKinley000025.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h160/turbot-bird/Gatornationals/Jamey_McKinley000007.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h160/turbot-bird/Gatornationals/2008_03_15_IMG_000809.jpg

[danielfeng]

Not bad, but I prefer 70-200 2.8 IS.

[PeteDyer]

Not bad, but I prefer 70-200 2.8 IS.


Thanks for all your comments,

I am also considering the above a little but i dont think the reach is long enough for the tracks that I normally go to

[Cadwell]

Ah... well if your budget will stretch to a 70-200/2.8L IS then you can afford the Sigma 100-300mm f/4 EX DG HSM. Canon have no 300mm zooms to match that or its big brother the Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 for motorsport work.

[PeteDyer]

Unfortunately not, the 70-200 was on offer in a local shop for a snip under 500. Note the was :( Ah well, I think that was pushing my budget.

Any other recommendations? Looking at a max of 460 with a minimum reach of 300mm.

[GSH]

Unfortunately not, the 70-200 was on offer in a local shop for a snip under 500. Note the was :( Ah well, I think that was pushing my budget.

Any other recommendations? Looking at a max of 460 with a minimum reach of 300mm.

How about waiting a while and saving a little more if possible?

At £470 you're not a million miles from a good, used 100-300 f4. Keep an eye on buy & sell on here or the usual UK dealers.

[PeteDyer]

Further saving is an option but to be honest im pretty keen to switch from the current lens.

As for pre-owned, im slightly reluctent, call it bad experience or whatever but id rather go new.

[GSH]

Further saving is an option but to be honest im pretty keen to switch from the current lens.

As for pre-owned, im slightly reluctent, call it bad experience or whatever but id rather go new.

It's your choice but with the "off-season" almost here is there really that much of a rush ?

Both my MK2N and 500 prime were "pre-owned". Buy from the right dealer or POTN member and you'll be fine. Personally i wouldn't buy used camera kit from Ebay though...

[Simon Harrison]

Further saving is an option but to be honest im pretty keen to switch from the current lens.

As for pre-owned, im slightly reluctent, call it bad experience or whatever but id rather go new.

My last two camera bodies and my 500mm lens were all pre-owned, and have worked out to be absolute performance bargains. Like Geoff, I wouldn't go anywhere near Ebay, but buy from somewhere like Camtech, Mifsuds, Ffordes or MPBPhotographic and you should be fine.

Personally, I would prefer to go the 'pre-owned' route or wait a little longer and save to get a lens that would best suit the application I wanted to use it for, then buy a new lens that had a number of compromises by design. The choice of course, is yours.

Good luck with whatever you choose!

Simon.

[PeteDyer]

Hmm, maybe it is time to ditch my reservations...

Im not sure, unfortunately with photography being just a hobby cost is the main factor.

More thought required, i would love a 400mm...

Cheers for your opinion though Simon!

Pete

[Simon Harrison]

Hmm, maybe it is time to ditch my reservations...

Im not sure, unfortunately with photography being just a hobby cost is the main factor.

More thought required, i would love a 400mm...

Cheers for your opinion though Simon!

Pete

Cost is always the main factor :wink:.

One of the questions I always ask myself is 'if I buy equipment x, will I end up buying y in 12 or 18 months time because it either didn't deliver or I've rapidly out grown it?'.

The danger is you end up spending more money that you needed to in the long run.

Cheers,

Simon.

[PeteDyer]

Cost is always the main factor :wink:.

One of the questions I always ask myself is 'if I buy equipment x, will I end up buying y in 12 or 18 months time because it either didn't deliver or I've rapidly out grown it?'.

The danger is you end up spending more money that you needed to in the long run.

Cheers,

Simon.


Thats a good call.

Really hadn't thought about it in that way.

I guess maybe I should wait untill I can afford a decent lens with a 400mm reach.
Any recommendations?/Potential prices...:confused:

Pete

[Simon Harrison]

Canon doesn't really have an affordable 400mm that's suitable for motorsport in the type of light we get in the UK. The 400mm f2.8 is way too expensive for most, as is the 400mm f4 DO. The 400mm f5.6 is a very capable lens in decent light, but you know as well as I do what the light can be like in the UK even in the middle of summer. Add in the relatively slow speed at f5.6 and you're potentially going to struggle with AF tracking accuracy (stands by to be flamed by all the 400 f5.6 owners out there!). There's also the 100-400, but it is also relatively slow at the the 400mm end (f5.6 again). I'll probably need my flame suit on again after saying that about that lens as well LOL.

I'm afraid, in my opinion, you're going to have to go with a 300mm and add a 1.4TC when you need to get to 400mm. I would therefore either go for the Sigma 100-300 f4 or the Sigma 120-300 f2.8. Both are very capable lenses and give the convenience of being zooms. I know that the Sigma 120-300 f2.8 can take a TC very well. That said, some very good advice that I was given that proved to be absolutely spot on is that if you buy a lens and then stick a TC onto it permanently, you've probably bought the wrong lens.

Not being much help here I'm afraid Pete, and that's primarily because I believe that Canon is lacking at this focal length.

If I were you, I would be having a long hard look at the Sigma 100-300 f4, and going back over my pictures from the last season or two to see if I really did need to shoot at 400mm a lot of the time. If you only occasionally need to go to that length, that lens plus a 1.4XTC might sort you out nicely.

Simon.

[PeteDyer]

Excellant,

Had a quick scout round the web, I reckon that saving for the 100-300 f4 isn't completely out of the question (what with Christmas round the corner ;-)

Bet you can guess the next question, anyone have any examples to show?

Cheers
Pete

[GSH]

Excellant,

Had a quick scout round the web, I reckon that saving for the 100-300 f4 isn't completely out of the question (what with Christmas round the corner ;-)

Bet you can guess the next question, anyone have any examples to show?

Cheers
Pete

1 POTN member with that lens that springs to mind is "Brands". Seek out his posts and you'll find a link to his gallery.

[Cadwell]

1 POTN member with that lens that springs to mind is "Brands". Seek out his posts and you'll find a link to his gallery.

Yeah, John is a good example of what the 100-300EX is capable of. His web site is here http://brands85.fotopic.net/

[PeteDyer]

Fantastic, thank you for all your help!

Brands has caught some really great pictures, and the colour seems to stand out very well.

Think i've found my lens! Bit of saving clearly required but im happy to let my social life suffer...no problems there then.

I also found a thread on this site regarding the 100-300 so even more info to be picked up there!

Anyway, again thanks for all your advice!

Pete

[BrownDogWilson]

It is all I used for motocross for two years, and it has been great. I got the 200 2.8 and the quality is a little better, but it just doesn't have the reach I would like, so I now use both.