canon 70-200 f4 Question

[93octane]

I was thinking about buying the sigma 70-300 APO but decided to take the jump and buy the 70-200 f4. My question is it easy to shoot with this lens hand held at 150-200 without having to use a tripod??? I want a lens with the 200 range good optics and color but don't want to carry a tripod just to use it.

[csnudelman]

I almost always carry a monopod with me, I mean like 90% of the time. Makes a difference. Even a tripod ring is offered for the lens from Canon. Must be a reason.

[LightRules]

Yes, you can shoot handheld quite easily with this lens. It's "small" for a 70-200, and especially in sufficient lighting, it is no problem. A monopod helps obviously when the lights go down, but you can also easily bump ISO up. It's a great lens.

[jfrancho]

I was thinking about buying the sigma 70-300 APO but decided to take the jump and buy the 70-200 f4. My question is it easy to shoot with this lens hand held at 150-200 without having to use a tripod??? I want a lens with the 200 range good optics and color but don't want to carry a tripod just to use it.The lens is the same size at all focal ranges. The only hinderence would be camera shake.

[93octane]

I just don't want to dump $500 on this lens and still have to lug around a tripod or monopod to use it. I would like to just put it one there and shot whenever I need without having to lug the tri/monopod around. Most of the shooting with this lens will during the day outdoors. I'm buying the tamron 28-75 2.8 for low light indoor use.

[jfrancho]

You'll have to experiment with shutterspeeds to find what is an acceptable minimum speed without getting evidence of camera shake. I find that for handheld, 1/250 sec. is ok at at 200mm.

[cfcRebel]

I just don't want to dump $500 on this lens and still have to lug around a tripod or monopod to use it. I would like to just put it one there and shot whenever I need without having to lug the tri/monopod around.
If the shutter speed is not fast enough and there is camera shake, I see no difference between Sigma 70-300 APO and a 70-200f4L. I think what u need is the 70-200f2.8L IS if tripod or monopod is not an option for u, but that triples the price.

[93octane]

I had an 80-200 4.5/5.6 and in AV at 200 the camera most of the time selected 1/250 shutter speed. No much camera shake would it help to shoot in TV and select a faster shutter speed and let the camera select the arpeture???

[cfcRebel]

I had an 80-200 4.5/5.6 and in AV at 200 the camera most of the time selected 1/250 shutter speed. No much camera shake would it help to shoot in TV and select a faster shutter speed and let the camera select the arpeture??? IMO, 1/250 at 200mm is a little risky. Some people with steady hands have no problem, but some might. The rule of thumb is 1/focal length * crop factor, which means the minimum speed at 200mm is approx. 1/320s. Again, depends on individuals.

[jfrancho]

If the shutter speed is not fast enough and there is camera shake, I see no difference between Sigma 70-300 APO and a 70-200f4L. I think what u need is the 70-200f2.8L IS if tripod or monopod is not an option for u, but that triples the price.The difference is almost 5 oz. and 2.1 inches. This may not seem like much, but maybe that is where this discussion is headed. It all comes down to how well you can balance this kit and keep still. I wouldn't worry about it. Tv mode will be a good way to isolate the shutter speed until find your comfort zone.

[I Simonius]

I was thinking about buying the sigma 70-300 APO but decided to take the jump and buy the 70-200 f4. My question is it easy to shoot with this lens hand held at 150-200 without having to use a tripod??? I want a lens with the 200 range good optics and color but don't want to carry a tripod just to use it.

The 70-200 f4 is ridiculously sharp and light enoughto carry all day ( I have) but you do need to look to a shutter speed of 250 minimum, 500 ideally. Tis isn't a problem really , if there is not muchh light just up the ISO. Your only other good option if your worried about camera shake isn't the siigma but the IS version

[jfrancho]

IMO, 1/250 at 200mm is a little risky. Some people with steady hands have no problem, but some might. The rule of thumb is 1/focal length * crop factor, which means the minimum speed at 200mm is approx. 1/320s. Again, depends on individuals.Depends on technique, too. Ever see those pan shots of race cars, and the photographer claims not use a monopod? I personally don't believe it, but I suppose it's possible. I must be pretty steady, and I've notice that I can get longer times out of shorter lenses. Like 1/30 on a 50mm. At 300mm, though I definitely don't dip below 1/400.

[93octane]

I only need to lens like to take picture of my kids in the park and not having to chase them around with a short lens. Like I stated before I do want a lens with good colors and nice sharp pictures so that is why I'm opting for the canon F4. At times my wife plays softball and like to snap some pictures but not often 80% of my shooting is indoors with my kids birthday parties etc... so that is why I'm buying the Tamron 28-75 2.8 as soon as it becomes available so I shouldn't have a problem with camera shake on the 70-200 f4 outdoors and sunny??? I rarely shoot at dusk or night.

My lense will be
Kit lens 18-55mm
Canon 50mm f1.8
Tamron 28-75 F2.8
Canon 70-200 F4

[mrclark321]

All the pictures I have posted on this forum are handheld, I love this lense!
My next purchase is going to be the Tamron 28-75 same as your wish list.
Check out my posts they turned out pretty sharp considering my skill level.

Dan

[Chazs]

I was thinking about buying the sigma 70-300 APO but decided to take the jump and buy the 70-200 f4. My question is it easy to shoot with this lens hand held at 150-200 without having to use a tripod??? I want a lens with the 200 range good optics and color but don't want to carry a tripod just to use it.

I've had mine for a month and haven't had it on a tripod yet, including usign the 1.4x with it. However, I was in at an indoor pool yesterday with my son's fieldtrip and I started to notice too much blur hand-held. Put on the 50mm f/1.4 and was able to crop enough to get similar shots. :lol:

[deedas]

I find this lens very light and have no problems shooting handheld with it.

[liza]

You've chosen two great lenses. I have both and wouldn't trade them for anything. As for handholding the 70-200, I do it all the time with no problem. It's relatively light, and the colors are wonderful. You won't be disappointed.

[csnudelman]

I just don't want to dump $500 on this lens and still have to lug around a tripod or monopod to use it.

Beg for, borrow, steal or buy a monopod and a decent mid-size ball head. FORCE yourself to take every shot possible using that monopod for 2 or 3 weeks or 200 or 300 shots. If you are not shooting over 90% of your shots during this experience with the monopod you are not really even trying it out. DON'T shoot off the monopod to compare with on the monopod shots. Just look at, process, whatever as you normally do these pictures. Then tell me there ain't a big difference. You won't leave home without it. Just try it.