should i bite the bullet now or later??

hi all,im a newby on the forum,recently got interested in photography,picked up a 60d and a sigma 17-50 os ex lens and a canon 50-1.8 I also have a Nikon d5100 with 18-105.i have an opurtunity to pick up a 70-200 l is ii for a pretty good price,now I realize the lens is wayyyyy more than what I need as a beginner but if its something I shouldn't grow out of and need something better later on would it be wise to bite the bullet now or later?later I may not find one for this price,i think I would get some good use from the 2.8 as I shot some indoor lacrosse recently and I could have used a bettr lens than my kit 55-250,also tried to shoot a friends son in a rock band concert where the lighting was all over the place,the only good keepers were the ones with the 50 almost standing on the stage haha.im sure I will be using the 70-200 quite a bit but it is a lot to put out right now,more than I paid for my 60d with 2 lens anniversary bundle and 50mm tripod remote bundle and spare battery put together,but from what I have read its not something u grow out of,if I can afford it,should I just do it now instead of later on,thanx for any input

Lack of keepers due to noise or motion blur? If blur; I'd hold off for a while; the 55-250 is a nice lens; if slow; and you can learn allot with it.

thanx for quick reply,lack of keepers from venue being dark,it takes great shots outside in the day,i got some ok shots with the 250 when I moved up closer but theni was behind the glass,i went to the higher seats to get clearer shots but it was to dark,i do have a lot tto learn about exp compensation and iso settings and such but I thought if I can get the best now for a good price by the time I pay it off I should know how to use it haha.

The 70-200/2.8L IS mk I or mk II is not for everyone, especially when you are starting out. It is big (i.e., you might need a larger camera bag to store it) and heavy (e.g., heavy bag; you might be cradling attached to your camera along one arm like you would a babe to release your sore neck and shoulders).

Back when I had a 350D and just bought a 40D, a friend of mine loaned me his 70-200/2.8L IS mk I for about six months straight. I honestly hated the weight. I ended up going with a 70-200/4L (and the 4L IS) instead.

Later, after getting in much better shape, I bought the 70-200/2.8L IS II and made the mistake of selling the 70-200/4L IS.

I recommend trying out the 70-200/2.8L IS before buying it. Carry it in your camera bag all day. Have it around your neck for two to three hours. It is also worth renting. If you are thinking 70-200/2.8L IS, also consider the 100-400L if you are into birding and wildlife. Their weight and size are similar.

Other ideas when just starting out: invest in post processing software, tripod w/ cable release (to try long exposures), and external flash, light reflectors, and other light modifiers.

Personally, I was really happy with a 40D, 10-22, 17-55/2.8 IS, and 70-200/4L IS with 580EX II flash for a very long time. The 55-250 and a Yongnuo flash would have worked out for me just fine.

You don't know until you try it. If you know it's a good deal, you can buy it and sell it for the same money.

But it's one big lens. It'll make you bag huge and you'll only carry it when your only reason for being there is shooting, so it's a good purchase if you go somewhere as a photojournalist. But for casual use it's really not convenient. A 100mm prime would offer most of the same thing in a smaller cheaper package.

genesimmons wrote in post #16213958
hi all,im a newby on the forum,recently got interested in photography,picked up a 60d and a sigma 17-50 os ex lens and a canon 50-1.8 I also have a Nikon d5100 with 18-105.i have an opurtunity to pick up a 70-200 l is ii for a pretty good price,now I realize the lens is wayyyyy more than what I need as a beginner but if its something I shouldn't grow out of and need something better later on would it be wise to bite the bullet now or later?later I may not find one for this price,i think I would get some good use from the 2.8 as I shot some indoor lacrosse recently and I could have used a bettr lens than my kit 55-250,also tried to shoot a friends son in a rock band concert where the lighting was all over the place,the only good keepers were the ones with the 50 almost standing on the stage haha.im sure I will be using the 70-200 quite a bit but it is a lot to put out right now,more than I paid for my 60d with 2 lens anniversary bundle and 50mm tripod remote bundle and spare battery put together,but from what I have read its not something u grow out of,if I can afford it,should I just do it now instead of later on,thanx for any input

Hard to say. For indoor sports it definitely would help a lot, instantly, doesn't matter if you are a beginner, just one less thing to worry about and fight against. It can be a little on the short side for field sports, but indoor lacrosse perhaps uses a smaller field I'd guess like indoor soccer/football do?

It is a little on the bulky side for running around all day though so I'd keep the 55-250 for now too.

It really depends upon how much you are wanting to do inside sports and stage work now and for how long and how seriously. If you are wanting to do a fair amount and are even a trace serious having f/2.8 would help tons! Even a pro would have his hands more than full using a 55-250 for indoor sports. It's a fallacy that you need experience to get something out of more expensive gear, occasionally that can be true, but in specific scenarios like this it's not remotely true.

If you can get it for a good price, I say go for it. Heck, if the price is good enough, you can turn around and sell it for profit.

I've started from buying 70-200/4L few years ago, i had 400d with 18-55 and nifty fifty kit, and to be honest it was not the best idea to buy that lens then. It's better to buy cheaper lenses first, cause as you grow up as a photographer, you can see what shooting style do you prefer. Wide/tele/primes/zooms and so one.

thanx so much for all the great responses,i do believe its range fits my style for sure,the indoor events are not all the time but they do come up,i mostly shoot outdoor landscapes and cars and motorcycle events,my wifes soccer games,portraits and our energetic dog.i realize i have a ton to learn and i should prob outgrow what i have but if this lens will help my action shots and low lighting events making me less frustrated i wonder if the price is worth it,i do also feel as othersmentioned im sure i could sell it if i find its either to heavy or to much lens for my ability.another question is this lens some what wasted on a crop camera,im sure i will upgrade to a full at some time but like i mentioned i have a long ways to go till that happens,again thanx for the replies

One other thing to keep in mind, in many ways its easier to shoot with quality glass than the cheaper versions. It's possible to get a great shot from a 75-300, one of Canons cheapest, but it takes a lot of skill to get everything just right. I think that's why it gets such a bad reputation, a lot of beginners pick it up for it's price and get crap results and then blame the lens. With the 70-200 f/2.8IS you have a lot more latitude and can be sloppier with technique and settings yet still get good results.

Get the 70-200 2.8. You'll love it. Though, it might be worth checking around to make sure your price is "good" things can sell for a lot less here on forum than in stores.

I consider the 70-200 f/2.8L IS II to be an essential piece of gear. I have no problem with the weight. It pairs pretty well with Canon's MK III extenders adding to the versatility.

_igi wrote in post #16214352
I've started from buying 70-200/4L few years ago, i had 400d with 18-55 and nifty fifty kit, and to be honest it was not the best idea to buy that lens then. It's better to buy cheaper lenses first, cause as you grow up as a photographer, you can see what shooting style do you prefer. Wide/tele/primes/zooms and so one.

The 70-200mm f/2.8 IS II lens is a great piece of gear. If you can find one in decent condition "at a good price" snap it up if you can afford it! If you later find that it is more than you need, you can always unload it without losing much money and perhaps you might even make a profit. If this comes to pass, there will always be a plethora of 55-250mm lenses available on the used market...

My only complaint regarding this lens is the size and weight! It is quite heavy and bulky! I opted for the 70-200mm f/4L IS lens because it is much lighter in weight. The fact that it is less expensive didn't bother me either but, that was not the reason for selecting the f/4L IS lens. However weight has nothing to do with the excellent performance of the f/2.8L IS II lens it is a spectacular performer...

OTOH, if you purchase a used 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS lens, it "might" suit you and you would certainly have saved a lot of money. However, if you are not satisfied with this lens; you will have missed out on the f/2.8L IS II lens at that "good price". I have found that if I really want a more expensive piece of photo gear and buy a lesser model to save money, I am always looking longingly at the better gear and most often am not satisfied with the cheaper item. But, that is just my personality...

genesimmons wrote in post #16214004
thanx for quick reply,lack of keepers from venue being dark,it takes great shots outside in the day,i got some ok shots with the 250 when I moved up closer but theni was behind the glass,i went to the higher seats to get clearer shots but it was to dark,i do have a lot tto learn about exp compensation and iso settings and such but I thought if I can get the best now for a good price by the time I pay it off I should know how to use it haha.

I vote hold off; sounds like you're not yet familiar enough with the camera to know what settings or modes you need for a given situation yet; once you do you may find what you have suffices. Especially considering it sounds like you'll be buying the 70-200 f/2.8 on credit; not such a good deal if you're paying inflated interest and you may or may not notice the difference right away depending on technique.

This is your conscience. Get it.

Carry on.