Please recommend a 100-300L or 100-400mm L lens

Kirik · 19th of October 2004 (Tue)

Hi,

I have around $900 to spend on a good long-range lens. I shoot a lot of martial arts events and I'd like to have a good "L" series cannon lens in the 300 to 400mm range with image stabilization (IS).

Could someone please recommend some model #'s? Thanks

P.S. I know $900 doesn't sound like much, but I'll be buying it off ebay used.

velvetjones · 19th of October 2004 (Tue)

You might be able to get a used 100-400L on ebay for $900....but you would be lucky....or there would be something little that is wrong with it. They typically go used for about $1200 on ebay.....but it is a really good lens.

neil_r · 19th of October 2004 (Tue)

If you are shooting mostly indoors you may find the 70-200 2.8 L will be better as the speed may prove more useful than the extra range.

N

Kirik · 19th of October 2004 (Tue)

Thanks for the info guys.

ONe other dumb question I can't figure out. I've noticed some lenses say "2.8L" and others say "3.5-5.6L" what does that mean? how come on the first one there isn't a range, and just a fixed #? Thanks

FlipsidE · 19th of October 2004 (Tue)

I can answer the first part of your latest questions. Those numbers you listed are the apertures of the lenses. My *guess* on the second question is that the first lens has a fixed aperture while the second lens has a variable aperture. But, that's just a guess.

FlipsidE

JoeTampa · 19th of October 2004 (Tue)

A lens that has is spec'd at f/2.8 has a maximum aperture of 2.8 across the entire focal range of the lens. One that is spec'd at 3.5/5.6 has a maximum aperture of 3.5 at the wide end, and 5.6 at the telephoto end.

Thus, for example, the Canon 70-200L f/2.8 has a maximum aperture of 2.8 from 70 through 200mm. The 100-400L f/3.5-5.6 has a maximum aperture of 3.5 at 100mm and 5.6 at 400mm.

- Joe

Kirik · 19th of October 2004 (Tue)

Ah! Thanks Joe...

Scottes · 19th of October 2004 (Tue)

I don't think you'd be happy shooting martial arts with an f/5.6 lens - that's a full 2 stops difference from f/2.8, thus the difference between 1/125 and 1/500 shutter. I think you'll want closer to 1/500, or at least the choice to do so.

I highly recommend the Canon 70-200 L f/2.8, but it's about $1150 I think - which is about $300 cheaper than the Canon 100-400 L IS. The 70-200 also AFs much faster than the 100-400. And 200mm should be sufficient unless you're at an event in the cheap seats.

JLS Photo · 19th of October 2004 (Tue)

Why is Image Stabilization important for this application? If you are shooting martial arts, you need a fast shutter speed; thus, IS is irrelevant.

Headcase650 · 19th of October 2004 (Tue)

the sigma 70-200 2.8 ex hsm is 800 bucks then toss in a 1.4 converter and you would be right on target with your budget. this lense gets awsome reviews. I know its not an "L" but if you must have one now youve got the money.

Meathook Jones · 19th of October 2004 (Tue)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLS Photo

Why is Image Stabilization important for this application? If you are shooting martial arts, you need a fast shutter speed; thus, IS is irrelevant.

Because I'll be movnig around and can't lug a tripod around... have to take shots on the run.

tofuboy · 19th of October 2004 (Tue)

I'm not sure how the lighting will be where you will be using the lens, but for less than decent lighting, f/5.6 is simply too slow to stop movement. If you want IS, I think the best lens would be the 70-200 f/2.8L IS... but that's quite a bit out of your budget range. I guess it depends on how the lighting will be whether the 100-400 will work for you. If from what I've seen on tv, martial arts venues are pretty well lit, so it may be fine... maybe go to a store and try one out in some lighting that will be similar to the venue (or as close to it as possible).

Kirik · 20th of October 2004 (Wed)

Quote:

Originally Posted by tofuboy

I'm not sure how the lighting will be where you will be using the lens, but for less than decent lighting, f/5.6 is simply too slow to stop movement.

Excuse the ignornace, but how does the aperture affect the speed of capturing movement - I thought shutter speed determined that?

Jonny · 20th of October 2004 (Wed)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirik

Quote:

Originally Posted by tofuboy

I'm not sure how the lighting will be where you will be using the lens, but for less than decent lighting, f/5.6 is simply too slow to stop movement.

Excuse the ignornace, but how does the aperture affect the speed of capturing movement - I thought shutter speed determined that?

The shutter speed does determine how well you freeze movement BUT if you shoot with a fast shutter speed and you only have a small aperture you will not get enough light through the lens to expose a nice picture and all your shots will be dark. To get better shots you will have to slow down your shutter speed to compensate and this will not freeze the movement.

Imagine your aperture as a door way and your shutter speed is the amount of time in which the door is open. If you have a narrow doorway not many people will get through in say 5 seconds. However if you have a large doorway many more will get through in the same 5 seconds.
In this example the light is represented by the people and you need plenty of light getting through indoors!

Does this makes sense?

Kirik · 20th of October 2004 (Wed)

yes that makes sense; so basically you want a lense with the largest aperture range?

19th of October 2004 (Tue)	#1
Kirik User is banned from forums Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 25	Please recommend a 100-300L or 100-400mm L lens Hi, I have around $900 to spend on a good long-range lens. I shoot a lot of martial arts events and I'd like to have a good "L" series cannon lens in the 300 to 400mm range with image stabilization (IS). Could someone please recommend some model #'s? Thanks P.S. I know $900 doesn't sound like much, but I'll be buying it off ebay used.

19th of October 2004 (Tue)	#3
neil_r Cream of the Proverbial Crop Landscape and Cityscape Photographer 2006 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: The middle of the UK Posts: 17,965	If you are shooting mostly indoors you may find the 70-200 2.8 L will be better as the speed may prove more useful than the extra range. N __________________ Neil - © NHR Photography  Commercial Site - Video Site - Blog - Gear List  There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs. ~ Ansel Adams

19th of October 2004 (Tue)	#5
FlipsidE Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: South Carolina USA Posts: 1,681 IMAGE EDITING OK	I can answer the first part of your latest questions. Those numbers you listed are the apertures of the lenses. My guess on the second question is that the first lens has a fixed aperture while the second lens has a variable aperture. But, that's just a guess. FlipsidE __________________ FlipsidE

19th of October 2004 (Tue)	#8
Scottes Trigger Man - POTN Retired Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: A Little North Of Boston, MA, USA Posts: 12,838	I don't think you'd be happy shooting martial arts with an f/5.6 lens - that's a full 2 stops difference from f/2.8, thus the difference between 1/125 and 1/500 shutter. I think you'll want closer to 1/500, or at least the choice to do so. I highly recommend the Canon 70-200 L f/2.8, but it's about $1150 I think - which is about $300 cheaper than the Canon 100-400 L IS. The 70-200 also AFs much faster than the 100-400. And 200mm should be sufficient unless you're at an event in the cheap seats. __________________ You can take my 100-400 L away when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers. Scottes' Rum Pages - Rum Reviews And Info Finally, I have a Gallery! Follower of Fidget - Joined the cult of HAMSTTR©

19th of October 2004 (Tue)	#10
Headcase650 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 1,631 IMAGE EDITING OK	the sigma 70-200 2.8 ex hsm is 800 bucks then toss in a 1.4 converter and you would be right on target with your budget. this lense gets awsome reviews. I know its not an "L" but if you must have one now youve got the money. __________________ 60D, Canon 18-135 IS, Sigma 10-20 hsm, 24-70 2.8 hsm, 70-200 2.8 hsm, 430EX II, and all the other stuff that goes along with it.

19th of October 2004 (Tue)	#2
velvetjones Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Great American Desert Posts: 153	You might be able to get a used 100-400L on ebay for $900....but you would be lucky....or there would be something little that is wrong with it. They typically go used for about $1200 on ebay.....but it is a really good lens.

19th of October 2004 (Tue)	#6
JoeTampa Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 170	A lens that has is spec'd at f/2.8 has a maximum aperture of 2.8 across the entire focal range of the lens. One that is spec'd at 3.5/5.6 has a maximum aperture of 3.5 at the wide end, and 5.6 at the telephoto end. Thus, for example, the Canon 70-200L f/2.8 has a maximum aperture of 2.8 from 70 through 200mm. The 100-400L f/3.5-5.6 has a maximum aperture of 3.5 at 100mm and 5.6 at 400mm. - Joe

19th of October 2004 (Tue)	#9
JLS Photo Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 165	Why is Image Stabilization important for this application? If you are shooting martial arts, you need a fast shutter speed; thus, IS is irrelevant.

19th of October 2004 (Tue)	#12
tofuboy Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Maple Valley, WA Posts: 652 IMAGE EDITING OK	I'm not sure how the lighting will be where you will be using the lens, but for less than decent lighting, f/5.6 is simply too slow to stop movement. If you want IS, I think the best lens would be the 70-200 f/2.8L IS... but that's quite a bit out of your budget range. I guess it depends on how the lighting will be whether the 100-400 will work for you. If from what I've seen on tv, martial arts venues are pretty well lit, so it may be fine... maybe go to a store and try one out in some lighting that will be similar to the venue (or as close to it as possible). __________________ -Matt Seattle Photography - Nature\|Portrait\|Event 'The negative is comparable to the composer’s score and the print to its performance.' - Ansel Adams

20th of October 2004 (Wed)	#15
Kirik User is banned from forums Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 25	yes that makes sense; so basically you want a lense with the largest aperture range?

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