upcoming air show.... (lenses)

[petewa]

i am planning on buying a 70-200 4/L for my 20D... should i pick up either the 1.4 or 2X TC to go along with this lense for the air show?

thanks

[Canuck]

I'd recommend another lens altogether. Here's why-at F4 it isn't too bad, but add a 1.4x tc and you loose an fstop, add a 2x and loose 2 fstops. Then w/ an F4 lens you are looking into the really slow lenses minus the 2 stops. I'd recommend an F2.8 lens, or perhaps somthing w/ more reach and is faster, IMO. I use a Sigma 120-300mm F2.8EX on a 10D and that sometimes doesn't have the reach, along w/ the 1.4x tc I got for it. Sticking on the 1.4x helps but not always. I found this out at Fairford and Farnborough arishows in England last year.

[drandy1]

Although a very good lens, it may be too short at 200-300mm (with extender). Using the 2X will degrade image quality and lower your exposure options significantly. I like many others use a 100-400mm L lens and this works very well for airshows. It also has IS and is easy to change zoom with the push-pull mechanism.

Best Regards,

[petewa]

well i do have my kit lens along with a 50mm 1.8

I want to get the 70-200 4/L b/c well i do not have anything avery my kit lense... and the price is not that bad... the 100-400 or the 70-200 2.8 is about 3 times the cost.... OUCH... am i better of flooking at the Canon Zoom Telephoto EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 EF IS for a 150 less than the 70-200 4/L lense?

THANKS

[Medic1]

I have a 70-200 f4L and although I have currently use it for aviation photography, I would have to recommend something a little longer for airshows though.

Although with the 70-200 you will get good shots when the aircraft is passing in front of you, you will lose the images at the periphery when they are banking and climbing because you simply won't have the distance to get them. You could always crop and enlarge from a 200mm (280 with the TC, but loss of quality) shot, but the quality won't be that great.

100-400 is my recommendation. I am picking one up myself very soon....

[Jon]

100-400, although it'll be more than you were expecting to spend.

[petewa]

yes i want the 100-400 but the 1400 price tag is a bit different than the 550 on the 70-200 4/L... heheh i am leaning on the 70-200 4/L and then upgrade to the 100-400 in a year and sell the 70-200... what do you all think? then there is always the EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 EF IS ARGGGG

thank you all for all the info you have given me!

[Longwatcher]

okay, my opinion given you don't have the money for 100-400.

I lean towards the 70-200/4 with a 1.4x extender over the 75-300.
My reasoning is that the 70-200/4 is a superior lens to the 75-300, enough so that the 1.4x extender will not significantly degrade from 75-300 lens if at all.

And given most airshows take place in bright daylight, the loss of light to the 2x extender is not too big of a problem, although the quality loss is something else.

After the airshow, the 70-200/4 will be a much better lens then the 75-300.

And best of all, later you can get the 100-400 and you already have the extenders to really reach out and touch someone. The 75-300 can't use the extenders.

On the other hand, from a price perspective the 75-300 without IS is probably the best value for you to do airshows until you can afford the 100-400. the IS on the 75-300 IS is not going to help a lot at the airshow. You can get that lens for less then an extender. Do note that you will probably have a desire to upgrade this lens at some point in the future though.

So for long term best value within funds available get the 70-200/4 with 1.4x extender.
For best value for airshow only given funds get 75-300 non-IS.
For best overall airshow lens - get the 100-400.

Just my opinion, I can only vouch for the 1.4 extender and 100-400 as I don't have the 70-200/4 or the 75-300 without IS (but I do have 70-200/2.8L IS and 75-300 IS).

[BearSummer]

Hi Petewa,

which airshow are you going to?

my suggestion would be the 100-400 as well as it works wonderfully

all the best

BearSummer