20D or Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS

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I will have the $$$ soon for an upgrade and was wanting some opinions. I will have enough for one of the following: 20D or Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS . I am currently shooting with the DRebel and get great results in daylight. My night shots and indoor shots have been lacking. For the most part I am shooting sports/action, I do shoot some portraits but a small portion at this time.

So my question is the following, would I get better results with the lens or the upgrade to the 20D? I have purchased some faster lenses (if you can call them that :confused: ) the 50 F/1.8 and the Tamron 24-75 F/2.8. The 50 is just to wide for what I am trying to shoot and the Tamron does not give me the reach I need. I prefer to shoot at 800 ISO max, because of the noise with my DRebel.

My customers (and myself) want crisp, sharp photos. I have had no problem in daylight, but I have struggled constantly in low-light even with my 580/ex. Most of the time the officials do not want the flash anyhow. I have seen the results of another local photographer and they are stunning in comparison. He uses the 20D and the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS. But I only have the $$$ for one at this time.

I would appreciate input from forum users, especially the sports/action photographers.

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Sorry for the double post - please remove this one. Thanks.

[PacAce]

Sorry for the double post - please remove this one. Thanks.
You can delete the other posting yourself, if you want,as long as you get to it before anybody else responds to it. Just click on the Edit button and then click Delete at the top of the page.

BTW, to answer your original question, either will give you an improvement over what you currently have. The 20D will give you more control over AF modes. For most sports, you'll want to shoot in AI Servo mode and unless you have the hacked version of the DRebel, you can't control your AF mode on the DRebel, short of using the Sports mode.

If you do have a hacked DRebel, then the 70-200 f/2.8 might be a better bet for now as it'll give you better low light capability than your current crop of lenses. The key to getting crisp low light pictures are faster shutter speed (which is always a challenge in low light situations) so you should crank up you ISO as high as possible so that you can use faster shutter speeds.

[pcasciola]

I would usually say the lens would make a bigger difference, but in your case I'd go with the 20D. It will enable you do shoot ISO 1600 and even a usable ISO 3200 for when you need it, plus you'll appreciate the faster frame rate, AI Servo and larger buffer. The 20D and 85/1.8 or 135/2L are great indoor sports combinations. Or, you could probably do the 20D upgrade + 70-200/2.8L without IS for around the same price as just the IS version of that lens, assuming you sell your digital rebel.

Here are some ISO 3200 examples with the 20D, but keep in mind the lighting in this arena was incredible:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=58331

[steibeldj]

Phil,

I know I could look at the manual, but I missed where the setting is for ISO 3200? I can only get it to 1600. My manual is packed away, that is why I am asking.

[ScottE]

The lens is the better investment.

Two years from now the 70-200/2.8 IS will still be one of the best lenses available. The 20D will be replaced by a newer, better camera.

If you can live with the auto-focus until you can afford a better camera, the 70-200 will get you some great pictures (if you do your part).

Scott

[pcasciola]

Phil,

I know I could look at the manual, but I missed where the setting is for ISO 3200? I can only get it to 1600. My manual is packed away, that is why I am asking.It's custom function 8, ISO expansion.