Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM (Thread Mk. II)

gacon1 wrote in post #18234491
==The only disadvantage is the weight and size==
Agree. 85mm f/1.2, 135mm f/2 is the best choice.

Not if you want a 70-200 zoom

gacon1 wrote in post #18234491
==The only disadvantage is the weight and size==
Agree. 85mm f/1.2, 135mm f/2 is the best choice.

I have the 85 f1.2 use it a lot. But not for sports or wild life. Or if I need a lens to focus fast at 85mm.

I experimented with the 70-200 f2.8 in the studio and it is as good as the 85mm f1.8

Another shot using the Brenizer method. This one was only 22 images.

Photo from s1a1om's gallery.

K Soze wrote in post #18233981
Heavy compared to what? Come on. I'm 50, not muscular and 25lbs over weight. The 2.8 is easy to cary all day. As easy as plastic kit lens no. But for a professional lens. It is fine. The right question to ask is do I want a compromised lens for less money? Do I want to only get good pictures in good light? If so the f4 is a good choice. It is about image quality and lens use not weight with a smallish lens.

As I wrote my wedding photographer friends find it too heavy for their 24 hour shift. It is simply not convenient to carry this lens around the whole day, for a couple of hours it is fine. Some of my friends also started to prefer the quality of prime lenses on camera bodies like the 5D3, 5Ds etc.
I use this lens only for couple of hours long sport events and I get tired by the end despite that I am quite sporty.

Heavy? really? I use mine mainly for. . . . . just about everything! seriously though, hand held on a 1DX with 1.4 extender full weekend of 9 hours straight per day around a race circuit averaging 2.5 > 3 thousand shots per day with no issues at all. Do the same at a couple of 'longer' circuits with the 200-400 and that I feel afterwards.

Really believe a lot of it is down to technique in the way you carry / lift / brace and shoot, also a huge difference which no one seems to mention - change from the 'neck strap' to something like the Black Rapid, seriously - it was a revelation, no neck or shoulder ache at all.

Your choice obviously, just adding my feeling to the bowl

.DAVID. x

^^^ +1

A couple of years ago, I got the "Spider Camera Holster" and a couple of belt bags.

Never looked back.

Cheers.

I can imagine a neck strap would be uncomfortable, but I never used that with a 70-200. I carried one all day for weddings without issue, as part of a two body setup as well. Used mostly at motorsports events where it's carried around all day.

I use it on a 1DX as my walk about lens......If Im shooting an event I use a Black Rapid sport strap..If just out and about I use the strap that came with the 1DX...
If you want something light to carry then buy a compact camera...If you want quality results then carry a decent dslr and an L lens and dont moan about the weight..

don1163 wrote in post #18236259
I use it on a 1DX as my walk about lens......If Im shooting an event I use a Black Rapid sport strap..If just out and about I use the strap that came with the 1DX...
If you want something light to carry then buy a compact camera...If you want quality results then carry a decent dslr and an L lens and dont moan about the weight..

Don, with all due respect, I think a bit of empathy might be called for here. Not everybody has the same physical capabilities or stamina. We all have to do what's right for us at a given time in our lives. DSLRs are not for everyone - just go over to the Sony threads to see some stellar work using light (as in weight) equipment.

I agree complaining doesn't help. So, to misquote the second half of your post: Don says, "If I want something light to carry then I'll buy a compact camera... If I want quality results then I'll carry a decent DSLR and an L lens and I won't moan about the weight." Now that it's written this way, it applies to me too!

Sooner or later we all come to an age where carry around weight becomes a significant factor in this (my) hobby.

Giving it up? Only over my dead body.

Getting lighter gear without sacrificing quality is the proper answer here.

Coincidently over in the "Post your birds in flight" thread MedicineMan4040 posted an excellent sample for an alternative already available. https://photography-on-the.net …showthread.php?​p=18236238

Cheers.

Actually I do not think that I was complaining, I simply stated that according to my and my friends' experience this is too heavy for us to be used 8 hours or even more. Regardless I still use it for 5-6 hours most weekends.

My wedding photographer friends cannot use a Black Rapid or similar as they need to dress pretty and that type of clothing is inconvenient with a Black Rapid, rather an obstacle than a support. Tuxedos, sweaters, shirts, women blouses and dresses simply do not go with Black Rapids, those are designed to be worn with more convenient clothing. I have something similar to a Black Rapid and like it, luckily I can wear sporty clothing during my shoots.

Also physical capabilities make a significant difference. I am a small woman, 5'3" and my hands are so small that actually I cannot securely grab my gear by the lens, I always have to grab the body and the lens together to lift the gear. I have friends who can just grab the lens as their palm and fingers are big/long enough to almost completely reach around the lens and just carry it that way. I can do this only with the f4 version as that one is much thinner. If you know any 10-12 year old girls ask them to grab, lift and carry your camera with this lens - and then you will get an idea about my challenges.

CyberCat wrote in post #18237292
Actually I do not think that I was complaining, I simply stated that according to my and my friends' experience this is too heavy for us to be used 8 hours or even more. Regardless I still use it for 5-6 hours most weekends.

My wedding photographer friends cannot use a Black Rapid or similar as they need to dress pretty and that type of clothing is inconvenient with a Black Rapid, rather an obstacle than a support. Tuxedos, sweaters, shirts, women blouses and dresses simply do not go with Black Rapids, those are designed to be worn with more convenient clothing. I have something similar to a Black Rapid and like it, luckily I can wear sporty clothing during my shoots.

Also physical capabilities make a significant difference. I am a small woman, 5'3" and my hands are so small that actually I cannot securely grab my gear by the lens, I always have to grab the body and the lens together to lift the gear. I have friends who can just grab the lens as their palm and fingers are big/long enough to almost completely reach around the lens and just carry it that way. I can do this only with the f4 version as that one is much thinner. If you know any 10-12 year old girls ask them to grab, lift and carry your camera with this lens - and then you will get an idea about my challenges.

CyberCat, it was Don's remark about not comlaining that I was responding to - I was not accusing you of complaining!

Some things may be cultural but I would never wear a dress when I'm photographing weddings. In fact I dress as comfortably as possible as getting the shots is paramount to me and what I and my assistant wear is secondary. However, we are respectful and dress fairly smartly in black with flat comfortable shoes. I have used both Black Rapid and the SpyderPro belt. I prefer the latter but it is bulky.

... and I'm an inch shorter than you and much older!

With 6D.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/PbfR​b5

Picked up a copy of this lens around Christmas I found it on amazon for $1749.00 (ships and sold by Amazon) so best buy price matched it, $70 worth of rewards points and a US warranty now I just have to find some time to go shoot with it. My daughter has a cheer comp coming up in a couple of weeks so ill give it a go there.
John