70-200 2.8IS or 135 2.0

so i take many indoor staged events (ie. piano recitals, dance performances, etc). i currently have have the 2.8 non-IS. im debating should i sell that and get the IS with a price difference of 600-800 dollars or just buy a 135 2.0L for around 900? will the IS make up for that speed? i really like having the versatality of the zoom. i hear it is just as good as most primes. i already feel that with my non-IS, its tack sharp and razor fast, but im wondering if that IS will give me the edge...your opinions please.

flipm3 wrote in post #2148741
so i take many indoor staged events (ie. piano recitals, dance performances, etc). i currently have have the 2.8 non-IS. im debating should i sell that and get the IS with a price difference of 600-800 dollars or just buy a 135 2.0L for around 900? will the IS make up for that speed? i really like having the versatality of the zoom. i hear it is just as good as most primes. i already feel that with my non-IS, its tack sharp and razor fast, but im wondering if that IS will give me the edge...your opinions please.

Go for the 135 as it is a full stop faster.

As long as you don't need the 70-134mm part of the zoom and can crop the image from 136 to 200mm
Only you know what focal lengths you tend to use.
IS will not make up the speed if anything is moving though...

I've been tempted to get the 135L myself for outdoor equestrian events, but I do use the 70-135 end quite a bit as well as 200mm and I'm frightened I'd loose a lot of shots.

But as malla1962 says - It is one stop faster

flipm3 wrote in post #2148741
i take many indoor staged events (ie. piano recitals, dance performances, etc). i currently have have the 2.8 non-IS.

The 70-200 f2.8L IS is a great lens and will give you additional versatility over the non IS version, but for performances in particular IS will not be of much help.

The 135L is an outstanding lens and will give you one additional full stop to freeze motion, which can be more valuable for that particular purpose. (Depending on distance to subjects and camera crop factor you may also consider the 85 f1.8, a great lens as well but much cheaper.)

It depends on your needs...

malla1962 wrote in post #2148757
Go for the 135 as it is a full stop faster.

And, much, much sharper.

i would keep the 70-200 and add the 85 1.8 for situations where you need the extra light.

if you need to dispose your 70-200...im here =p

i was out taking photo's of a night peformance with my 85mm (outdoor ampitheatre), and foot zooming from the overall stage to a single person to a group was very difficult to do without disturbing the audience. though having a prime will allow you to get nice shots, especially with less light, i guess it would ultimately depend on how you shoot. in cases like last night, i surely could've used the zoom.

unix04 wrote in post #2149657
i was out taking photo's of a night peformance with my 85mm (outdoor ampitheatre), and foot zooming from the overall stage to a single person to a group was very difficult to do without disturbing the audience. though having a prime will allow you to get nice shots, especially with less light, i guess it would ultimately depend on how you shoot. in cases like last night, i surely could've used the zoom.

see this is what im worried about. i want to be as discreet as possible, which is why i like the zoom. i usually end shooting at f/2.8, ISO 1600, 1/30. this gets pretty hard when hand holding with the 70-200. my shots are decent, but i want them to be a little clearer and sharper. i know much of it has to do with user error, im not as steady as i would like to be. this is why im considering the IS. but with the 135...i would be able to capture some moments that i wouldnt be able to at the cost of no zoom...im kinda torn...

flipm3 wrote in post #2150029
i usually end shooting at f/2.8, ISO 1600, 1/30. this gets pretty hard when hand holding with the 70-200.

Well, in this kind of situations IS will not help, as 1/30 is rather slow to freeze motion. If you use a 135L or 85 f1.8 you will get 1/60 or a bit more, which will improve the situation although you will still need some kind of support to get sharp pictures, like a monopod.

In any case, as said, if you want to keep the 70-200 (as I woud) the 85 f1.8 (about 135 mm on a crop camera) may be an inexpensive solution to improve those shots.

Sounds like a flash may be handy.

flipm3 wrote in post #2150029
see this is what im worried about. i want to be as discreet as possible, which is why i like the zoom. i usually end shooting at f/2.8, ISO 1600, 1/30. this gets pretty hard when hand holding with the 70-200. my shots are decent, but i want them to be a little clearer and sharper. i know much of it has to do with user error, im not as steady as i would like to be. this is why im considering the IS. but with the 135...i would be able to capture some moments that i wouldnt be able to at the cost of no zoom...im kinda torn...

tough decision indeed. after last night's event, i'm thinking of renting out the 70-200/2.8 IS to another perfomance, and see how that goes. i just need to find an event with similar lighting settings...so i can do better comparison. without it, im quite torn as well

IS works well when you shoot at stuff like 1/30. However, it won't really freeze the anything.

You have a 30D, so i'd kick your ISO up to probably 1250. Then you can get some faster shutter. The IS would be useful even at anything under 1/500.
This was with my 10D.
http://img.photobucket​.com …hotoex-BodiesCRW_7118.jpg

The zoom is very useful in terms of being able to capture more space at times and then of course the option of moving in, especially if you aren't really allowed to move around much.

grego wrote in post #2150632
You have a 30D, so i'd kick your ISO up to probably 1250.

He says he is already using ISO 1600...

amarasme wrote in post #2150679
He says he is already using ISO 1600...

Guess i skimmed the thread too fast, but when i saw this:

Originally Posted by flipm3

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i usually end shooting at f/2.8, ISO 1600, 1/30. this gets pretty hard when hand holding with the 70-200.