Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM

rambusanna wrote in post #7930912
I am really interested in buying this lens. However, I am not sure if I should go with the non-IS or the IS version. I want to ask the non-IS users there opinion. I am a newbie to photography. I just recently got an XSI and have been using it with the kit lens. I have read a bunch of reviews and don't want to waste my money fooling around with inferior lenses. The big dilemma is: how important is IS especially at 200mm?? The IS version of this lens is twice as much!! I have fairly stable hands, but I have heard that at 200mm its tough to keep it from shaking. Help!!!!!!!

Bump your ISO up to keep shutter speed above 1/320" at 200mm, you will be fine. I had the same dilemma when I first bought mine, but have never really found it to be an issue.

ahobden wrote in post #7931411
Bump your ISO up to keep shutter speed above 1/320" at 200mm, you will be fine. I had the same dilemma when I first bought mine, but have never really found it to be an issue.

I've had great success with this lens. It gives me the best keeper rate
of any in my bag really. Still learning, so all will get better I suppose.
I have more hand shake than I would like and it's been fine. Just remember, it's not really going to excel at dusk and indoors. Give it some decent light and keep the shutter at 320 or higher and you should be very happy. I'd say if you're thinking of spending on the IS version of this lens consider instead the 2.8 non-IS. Opens up more low-light possibilities.

rambusanna wrote in post #7930912
I am really interested in buying this lens. However, I am not sure if I should go with the non-IS or the IS version. I want to ask the non-IS users there opinion. I am a newbie to photography. I just recently got an XSI and have been using it with the kit lens. I have read a bunch of reviews and don't want to waste my money fooling around with inferior lenses. The big dilemma is: how important is IS especially at 200mm?? The IS version of this lens is twice as much!! I have fairly stable hands, but I have heard that at 200mm its tough to keep it from shaking. Help!!!!!!!

I shot THESE at approx 1/250, hand held. Any faster and the wheels would be frozen, whick is not the effect I want. 1/320 as a minimum at 200mm is a pretty good rule.

The problem with the f/2.8 versions is that they are so much heavier, some people may find it harder to keep steady and prefer the f/4 IS so the f/2.8 non-IS.

Pauly_G wrote in post #7927026
Great cats!

Here's some wild garlic I found the other weekend.

amazing!

Thank you for the replies everyone! I am considering buying this lens on ebay. Are there any defects with certain copies of this lens?? This way I don't buy a bad copy. Thanks in advance.

rambusanna wrote in post #7933176
Thank you for the replies everyone! I am considering buying this lens on ebay. Are there any defects with certain copies of this lens?? This way I don't buy a bad copy. Thanks in advance.

Consider buying from a POTN member and always ask for the date code.

Good luck and happy lens hunting...

rambusanna wrote in post #7930912
I am really interested in buying this lens. However, I am not sure if I should go with the non-IS or the IS version. I want to ask the non-IS users there opinion. I am a newbie to photography. I just recently got an XSI and have been using it with the kit lens. I have read a bunch of reviews and don't want to waste my money fooling around with inferior lenses. The big dilemma is: how important is IS especially at 200mm?? The IS version of this lens is twice as much!! I have fairly stable hands, but I have heard that at 200mm its tough to keep it from shaking. Help!!!!!!!

no matter what kens you get 200mm is going to be tough since everythin is magnified so much if you are going to use the lens indoors then get the IS it ill help out some i use my mostly outside where the light is great and shutter speed doesnt get below 1/200 also from what i heard the is is a tad shapper

RAW-Shooter wrote in post #7933570
Consider buying from a POTN member and always ask for the date code.

Good luck and happy lens hunting...

What is the significance of a date code? How would I verify it? Here is one: UU1018 .

Edit: Found it on google. Thanks.

RAW-Shooter wrote in post #7933570
Consider buying from a POTN member and always ask for the date code.

Good luck and happy lens hunting...

Every time someone has one for sale, it's gone before I can get to it. People just sit around and wait for ads to show up or what?

That's basically it. That's how I've gotten everything I wanted. Mind you I had years of training doin that sort of thing for coins on ebay.

I'll keep you in mind though since I'm contemplating selling mine. Its a fantastic lens, but I just don't use the focal length that much since I have a 100-400L that I generally use.

SUB1IM388 wrote in post #7933591
no matter what kens you get 200mm is going to be tough since everythin is magnified so much if you are going to use the lens indoors then get the IS it ill help out some i use my mostly outside where the light is great and shutter speed doesnt get below 1/200 also from what i heard the is is a tad shapper

My fish shot was done at night. Shutter speed was much under the general rule of thumb 1/focal length. How? I was using flash with 1/32 compensation. Exposed the shot manually with -2 F stop of lights. F4 and no IS and shooting at night? No problem. If you are going to use this lens outdoor, you don't need IS. Indoor, you can learn how to use the flash....

This is probably the wrong place to ask this, but which retailer from your experience makes the best quality photo prints (i.e. Walgreens, Apple, etc.)??

rambusanna wrote in post #7935611
Every time someone has one for sale, it's gone before I can get to it. People just sit around and wait for ads to show up or what?

Try posting in the "wanted" section. I've bought a few things that way and paid the same or less then what they were going for in the for sale section.

rambusanna wrote in post #7930912
I am really interested in buying this lens. However, I am not sure if I should go with the non-IS or the IS version. I want to ask the non-IS users there opinion. I am a newbie to photography. I just recently got an XSI and have been using it with the kit lens. I have read a bunch of reviews and don't want to waste my money fooling around with inferior lenses. The big dilemma is: how important is IS especially at 200mm?? The IS version of this lens is twice as much!! I have fairly stable hands, but I have heard that at 200mm its tough to keep it from shaking. Help!!!!!!!

For me handholding is definitely no problem if I keep the shutter speed up to at least 320 (200x1.6 fov) but I can even get shots at much lower shutter speeds. Plus with the 6 fps shots I get with the 50d that helps too. If you are outdoors you should have no problems because the available light will keep shutter speed up.

My PEACE OF MIND rules for buying used: If I can't save at least $200 or more I will buy new because If there's something wrong with the lens there goes your savings and now you have a used lens that need repair for the same price of a new lens that has a warranty, plus $200 or more savings would cover Canon's minimum repair charge if the lens need repairing.

Btw, I got mine for $250.


Just One Man's Opinion