70-200 f4 L a good choice for horse show type work?

For the last few years, i've been using my 35mm EOS300 camera and a pair of kit lenses that came with it ( 28-90mm and a 70-300mm ) to do all my photography, but its now at the point where I want to make the jump to digital.

Camera wise, there is no doubt, its going to be the 30D. I was pondering between the 400D and the 30D, but after spending a week on holiday with my friends 350D+ 18-55mm lens, it just confirmed that a) the 400D is going to be too small and b) that 8Mp is plenty for my needs - i dont need to get 10Mp or wait for the 30D's replacement.

Initially I will use the kit lenses i already have, but in the existing photos I take, I can see some of the image issues that a synonimous with basic lenses. This was also confirmed by looking through the holiday images from the 350D and kit lens . . . i can see colour fringing and the like and I know its going to annoy me. So i'll be wanting a good lens in the near future for the digital work.

Principally, what i like to take pictures of, and what i will be taking pictures of most is horses. I have 2 and I like to take photos of them in the field, down at the beach or at horse shows. Of the photos I have taken to date, a lot of people comment on them and i have often ended up taking snaps of friends we meet at the shows on their horses. Feedback on returning the prints to them has been very good and i would like to make them better yet. I have blown up a couple of scanned 7x5" prints to poster size, but i can see the image lacks detail.

The lens that jumps out for this is the 70-200 f4 L. I cant afford the IS or the 2.8 versions, but having read many comments, i think this is the one for me. Whilst I know the reach wont be as far as the 300mm, it'll be pretty close given the 30D's crop factor.

What i'd like to ask is whether anyone on here uses the 70-200 f4 for things like horse shows and events? and how have you found it? Am I going along the right track?


Many thanks for any advice / comments

Don.


To give a couple of examples some of the types of shots i like to take, here are a couple of poorly scanned photos from the past.

(this is my all time favourite. . . just its an old piccie and i just wish it had more detail )

Tell the wife this lens is the cheapest of those you were looking to buy! She'll understand and agree to get the cheapest lens!

The f/4 should do well for day time, action shooting, but for indoors, you'll better get the f/2.8. At least the non iS ver...

i will tell her that. unfortunately, i've already blurted that the white lenses are the good expensive ones . .. doh!


as for the lighting, all shows round our way are outside during the summer months and considering both the wife and horse are wimps, unless its a nice day, they dont bother going!

Than the f/4 should do fine, I photographed birds in flight with my f/4, and it wasn't a sunny day.

First all, let me suggest to you you reevaluate your camera choice. While both are good cameras, you might be better served by getting the less expensive one to fully learn digital photography. Then when you need the added capabilities, the next level up will be a good upgrade.

The 400D is a very good camera and will serve you very well.

As you have already discovered, pictures are MOST impacted by two things, your talent & understanding of photography AND the glass you use. With that said, spend as much as you can on the glass you use. Given the choice to buy a better camera or better lens, it serves you better both in the short term and the long term to buy the better glass.

To the original point, the 70 - 200 will do fine.

i did a dog show earlier this year. i think for outdoors events the 70-200f4 is a great choice.

ed rader

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I would take a look at the lens sample archive. There you can see some examples of the incredible sharpness of the lens. EF 70-200 F/4 L archive.

Have fun with digital photography.

EDIT: Nice picture Ed. Was it wide open or stopped down a little?

Mcminty.

mcminty wrote in post #2179067
I would take a look at the lens sample archive. There you can see some examples of the incredible sharpness of the lens. EF 70-200 F/4 L archive.

Have fun with digital photography.

EDIT: Nice picture Ed. Was it wide open or stopped down a little?

Mcminty.

thanx. i was stopped down to f5.6. i usually shoot at f4.5 or f5.6 but f4 is fully usable.

ed rader

Here's some of my horse photo's taken with the 70-200 f4 "L" it's a stunning lens on the 350D, (don't be put off by the photo's you've seen taken with the std kit lens on the 350D, the lens is a major limiting factor on the 350D, put good quality glass on it and it's an amazing camera !)

Alan

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The 30D (even 20D) is still a better camera then the XTi despite the 8mp. MP is the last thing to look at when buying a camera once they get over 6mp and the 20/30D will deliver better results then the XTi.

The 70-200 f4 L is one of the best lenses I have ever owned. It will serve you so well. Because you shoot mainly out doors it seems a f2.8 version really isnt needed because f4 is fast enough out doors. Also it weighs half as much as the 70-200 f2.8's and costs half the price.

Here is a example of how fast the 70-200 f4 L is out doors.

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Also consider buying used. There are plenty of the out there on Fred Miranda, POTN and eBay for good prices. Mainly being replaced by fools like me that just "HAD" to have the bigger version so they sell their lenses used for around $550-$600 US.

If you really want the faster lens, I would recommend it, take a look at the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM lens. Excellent lens. I tried both the 70-200mm f/2.8's from Sigma & Canon(non-IS) and the Canon 70-200mm f/4 and decided the f/4 wasn't gonna cut it but the f/2.8 Canon was too much, but the Sigma fit in the middle and performed just as well as the Canon.

the lenses mentioned here will all serve you well. the 70-200 f/4 is amazing.

Just show your wife the pictures you you took, and when she sees the CA on the second shot there is NO WAY she can refuse

I personally wouldnt get the f4 for horse work, from experience I use a Sigma 70-200 f2.8 and I get the most out of it when doing equestrian work, other than that get an 85mm f1.8 and use the foot zoom!


Ps . No Sigma are not paying me...!