does this make sense to do.....

i own a canon 70-200 f/2.8 IS L which i pretty much just use for indoor school events and ballet. I own a canon 400 f/5.6 which i use only for birds ( ITS A RAZOR SHARP LENS ).
my problem is soccer, i need the reach! and adding a tc to the canon 70-200 doesnt quite make it......

what if i buy the sigma 120-300 f/2.8 with the 1.4 TC. and sell both canon lenses....
will the sigma with TC at 400 = the canon 400 prime in terms of IQ?
i know its heavy but does the 120-300 rival the canon 70-200 F/2.8 IS?

help!!
troy

Once I get a 70-200mm f/2.8 IS into my hands, someone would have to pry if from my cold dead hands, don't get rid of that lens, it's a great one. I guess it comes down to how much you can spend and what kinda reach is needed to shoot soccer. A bigma comes to mind for it's IQ and reach 50-500mm. It's a little less than 1000 USD and everyone that has it loves it.

that was a suggestion i considered. i REALLY want that f/2.8 though - need to blur those distracting backgrounds and light in the afternnon or on a cloudy day would be a problem i think.......
I CANT AFFORD the 300 f/2.8 unless i also want a divorce.....

but the sigma 50-500 is an idea i will consider again......

a big thanx to you!!!
troy

I'm assuming that you're not including your 400 prime in the mix because you want the zoom. What about the 100-400 Canon?

the problem with the canon 100-400 is its f/5.6......

troy

The sigma 120-300 + 1.4 = 4.0 not 2.8, mind...

the canon 400 mm = f5.6
so does a sigma 120-300 w/TC at 400 mm around f/4.0 beat the canon prime 400 mm at f5/6 in terms of IQ?

troy

Why not use the 400mm for football and birds and keep the IS L for indoor? I'd ask fstopjojo as he knows the IS L and EX well I believe. That 400mm is pretty fine. I dunno if the EX will beat it with a TCon. I doubt it but I haven't used either.

because my illogical thinking was the canon 400 wouldnt be fast enough to capture soccer with f/5.6..... is that correct??
and to shoot good soccer images i thought you needed the f/2.8 to "effectively" blur those distracting backgrounds...

troy

i was actually hoping he would chime in with his advice. ive heard him in the past talk positevly about the 120-300 but he doesnt own that one as far as i know...


troy

Sounds like you should try it Of course, it depends on the light as you know and maybe it won't stop action as well as a faster lens, but it does very well at birds in flight so it should stop football players. I think you can get decent bokah with that lens at distance too. You need some context for football but I get what you are saying about stuff in the background. You are considering giving up two great lenses when an hour of experimentation will give you the answer you need to decide the best route. 120-300mm EX seems to be about the best zoom you can get and certainly it is a popular sports lens for good reason.

condyk wrote:
Sounds like you should try it Of course, it depends on the light as you know and maybe it won't stop action as well as a faster lens, but it does very well at birds in flight so it should stop football players. I think you can get decent bokah with that lens at distance too. You need some context for football but I get what you are saying about stuff in the background. You are considering giving up two great lenses when an hour of experimentation will give you the answer you need to decide the best route. 120-300mm EX seems to be about the best zoom you can get and certainly it is a popular sports lens for good reason.

good advice, i should try it!


troy

well based on whats been said here in private messages, im gonna sell my canon 1.4 extender and get the Sigma 100-300 f/4 since 90% of my sons soccer games will be played at 12:00 am here in NY. Im gonna keep the two canon lenses....
Sound good???


troy

Maybe a 300 f4?

Can you use the 400mm 5.6 and a high ISO? Noise ninja if needed?

Well the 100-300mm f4 is a great lens, no doubt about that. Bokeh is excellent along with AF. As long as it's on a tripod or mono you will really enjoy the quality.