400mm $$$$$$$$$

Hi
As ever hoping to get the answers here.
I am going to buy a 400mm 2.8 and am coming across the odd 2nd hand one but i need to know
1 the benefit of IS for sport (I shoot footy), I dont have it on my 300 and dont think it is useful for Rugby and football but happy to be corrected

2 what difference in speed of focus etc between the different generations ie 400 2.8 L II lens v brand new IS

3 anyone know what the names of the lenses are over the years ie was their a mark I if so how old is it likely to be
Unlike cars they dont have number plates so figuring out year of manufacture etc is difficult as I am only a 2yr oldCanon Geek having come from Nikon
Thanks in advance

This might help you find out the age .http://www.the-digital-picture.com …ses/Canon-Lens-Aging.aspx

bump

Do you need AF? If not, there have been some nice Nikon 400/3.5 going on eBay lately for $1.5K or so. Very sharp and takes TC well.

Here is another link that may interest you:

http://www.canon.com …s/ef/super_tele​photo.html

When you are shooting sports with your current lenses, what are your typical shutter speeds. Obviously, fast shutter speeds (i.e. fast enough to freeze fast action) will negate the usefulness of IS.

According to my information, there have been 3 versions of EF 400/2.8, as follows:
EF 400mm f/2.8L USM introduced April 1991
EF 400mm f/2.8L USM II introduced March 1996
EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM introduced October 1999.

Hope that helps.

thank you thank you

any idea how mark ii compares with is?