Canon EF 200mm f/1.8L USM Holy Grail

pkilla wrote in post #15977152
do you guys use this lens handheld or always on a tripod it's performance is killer but it's so large..

90% on some sort of support (tripod/monopod)... 10% hand held when I need quicker movement and such...

I'm 50/50 on the tripod (or monopod) vs handheld. A couple of weeks ago I was shooting a bike race with 2 cameras complete with lights etc. I mis-calculated exactly how much gear I needed to bring with me and I ended up short by one tripod (or monopod). So I ended up shooting about 800 frames over 3 hours all handheld with 1Dx plus 200mm F1.8. That pretty much SUCKED.

I was shooting a wide shot on a remote trigger so that camera needed my only tripod. The big camera just sat on my lap.

cwood wrote in post #15979644

nice capture and that bokeh,...mmm bokehliciuos.

Till today, 99% I shoot handheld. Why till? I think, I will move to monopod now. The combo is not heavy or to heavy for me - have shot drift and rally for a whole day. The thing is in other. The 200mm is semy large focuss distance, and even in bright day the movement by 1mm at my side results in picture quality at other side. Thats my thoughts.

cwood wrote in post #15979644

Great shot!

Hello cycling race today in Alsace "France"

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2 PM Sun directly overhead and SWEATING here in Atlanta!
1/5000 F1.8 ISO 200
Handheld sitting down on the hot pavement!

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …ngphotography/8​954656800/

Darwin Y wrote in post #16000407
2 PM Sun directly overhead and SWEATING here in Atlanta!
1/5000 F1.8 ISO 200
Handheld sitting down on the hot pavement!

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …ngphotography/8​954656800/

Nice work on the PP. Care to put the before shot?

silvex wrote in post #16000457
Nice work on the PP. Care to put the before shot?

Before shot? Sure...

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …ngphotography/8​954926938/

Nice shot,good job!.

Darwin Y wrote in post #16000470
Before shot? Sure...

Thanks I was curious that you do not have "racoon eyes" when shooting at noon. Unless you used a reflector or flash fill.

silvex wrote in post #16000784
Thanks I was curious that you do not have "racoon eyes" when shooting at noon. Unless you used a reflector or flash fill.

I've ALWAYS broken the rules!
I used 3 Canon 600EX-RT flashes for fill!

^

Okay all you 200 F1.8 owners if I decide to sell my 70-200 and my 580's I can almost buy one outright. I am a bit worried. Say I get one and it needs a focus adjustment basic service is that possible anywhere at all? Also do date ranges even matter with this lens?