Please recommend a 100-300L or 100-400mm L lens

You might be able to get a used 100-400L on ebay for $900....but you would be lucky....or there would be something little that is wrong with it. They typically go used for about $1200 on ebay.....but it is a really good lens.

If you are shooting mostly indoors you may find the 70-200 2.8 L will be better as the speed may prove more useful than the extra range.

N

I can answer the first part of your latest questions. Those numbers you listed are the apertures of the lenses. My *guess* on the second question is that the first lens has a fixed aperture while the second lens has a variable aperture. But, that's just a guess.

FlipsidE

A lens that has is spec'd at f/2.8 has a maximum aperture of 2.8 across the entire focal range of the lens. One that is spec'd at 3.5/5.6 has a maximum aperture of 3.5 at the wide end, and 5.6 at the telephoto end.

Thus, for example, the Canon 70-200L f/2.8 has a maximum aperture of 2.8 from 70 through 200mm. The 100-400L f/3.5-5.6 has a maximum aperture of 3.5 at 100mm and 5.6 at 400mm.


- Joe

I don't think you'd be happy shooting martial arts with an f/5.6 lens - that's a full 2 stops difference from f/2.8, thus the difference between 1/125 and 1/500 shutter. I think you'll want closer to 1/500, or at least the choice to do so.

I highly recommend the Canon 70-200 L f/2.8, but it's about $1150 I think - which is about $300 cheaper than the Canon 100-400 L IS. The 70-200 also AFs much faster than the 100-400. And 200mm should be sufficient unless you're at an event in the cheap seats.

Why is Image Stabilization important for this application? If you are shooting martial arts, you need a fast shutter speed; thus, IS is irrelevant.

the sigma 70-200 2.8 ex hsm is 800 bucks then toss in a 1.4 converter and you would be right on target with your budget. this lense gets awsome reviews. I know its not an "L" but if you must have one now youve got the money.

JLS Photo wrote:
Why is Image Stabilization important for this application? If you are shooting martial arts, you need a fast shutter speed; thus, IS is irrelevant.

Because I'll be movnig around and can't lug a tripod around... have to take shots on the run.

I'm not sure how the lighting will be where you will be using the lens, but for less than decent lighting, f/5.6 is simply too slow to stop movement. If you want IS, I think the best lens would be the 70-200 f/2.8L IS... but that's quite a bit out of your budget range. I guess it depends on how the lighting will be whether the 100-400 will work for you. If from what I've seen on tv, martial arts venues are pretty well lit, so it may be fine... maybe go to a store and try one out in some lighting that will be similar to the venue (or as close to it as possible).

The shutter speed does determine how well you freeze movement BUT if you shoot with a fast shutter speed and you only have a small aperture you will not get enough light through the lens to expose a nice picture and all your shots will be dark. To get better shots you will have to slow down your shutter speed to compensate and this will not freeze the movement.

Imagine your aperture as a door way and your shutter speed is the amount of time in which the door is open. If you have a narrow doorway not many people will get through in say 5 seconds. However if you have a large doorway many more will get through in the same 5 seconds.
In this example the light is represented by the people and you need plenty of light getting through indoors!

Does this makes sense?