70-200mm NON IS f/4 L for Outdoor Sports?

[RiverP]

I'm brand new to this forum and D-SLRs. In fact, the last SLR that I used was a Minolta SRT101. Can anyone help me out with a question. After reading this forum, I understand that my non IS f/4 L 70-200mm lens is not good for indoor sports like basketball and volleyball. I have a 85mm f/1.8 that should work fine for that since I sit very close to the court. My question though is will the 70-200mm f/4L lens be good for outdoor sports like soccer and swimming meets? I want to take pictures of my daughter playing soccer outdoors and at her outdoor swim meets and hope this lens will be good for those handheld. Thoughts?

[rehype]

As long as its plenty of sunlight you should be fine.

[gasrocks]

You should be smiling all the time.

[ooo]

Yes, f/4 should be fine outdoors. I've shot on cloudy days with a f/2.8 and I was shooting above f/4.

[SuzyView]

I used the 70-200 f4 for a whole season, and shots were fine as long as the sun was out. I have it on loan out to a friend and she loves it. I got the 2.8 IS and 100-400 since my sons are growing into bigger fields and I have to be even faster.

[RiverP]

Thanks all. I've got a few months before soccer season starts, so I can practice outdoors. But, indoor basketball starts next weekend so I'll see how that 85mm 1.8 works for me.

[SuzyView]

Should work very well, as I use my 85 for that, just watch out for wb issues inside gyms.

[chins]

I think on a good bright day it should work fine. You would need more than 1/1000th of second as your shutter speed if you need to stop the action. For panning it may not be needed.
If the clouds are going to bless the day then your are probably in trouble. Note that your Xis only goes upto 1600 ISO.

I notice you also have 85 f1.8. If if you get a good spot you could just use this get good shots in soccer game. I think this lens will do just perfect for swimming.

[Justdoit]

I'm thinking about buying this lenses. So you guys are saying that if there is decent sunlight, then it being NON IS shouldn't really affect it that much?

[bohdank]

I would say, yes.

PS. Also a Minolta SRT101 shooter waaaaayyyyy back.

[jerokaz]

I love my SRT101. Still get it out from time to time. the 70-200 F4 non IS was my first "L" lens. I continue to use it for outdoor sports such as football and swim meets. The only time I wished I had faster was when I was shooting in the early mornings and late afternoons. At both of those times the shadows can be pretty harsh and you get the orange hue. Great for portraits but not that great for sports and action. If you need alittle more reach you can opt for the 1.4TC. Shooting during the meat of the day will yield great shots with plenty of light to stop the action.


Regards,

Ron

[lucas107]

Originally Posted by chins

I think on a good bright day it should work fine. You would need more than 1/1000th of second as your shutter speed if you need to stop the action. For panning it may not be needed.
If the clouds are going to bless the day then your are probably in trouble. Note that your Xis only goes upto 1600 ISO.

I notice you also have 85 f1.8. If if you get a good spot you could just use this get good shots in soccer game. I think this lens will do just perfect for swimming.

it really depends on how old the daughter is. my son is 4 and i can stop his action with 320 or less