with ISO 6400, can I stay with F4 vs F2.8 on 70- 200 mm?

continuing my due dilligence for lens to buy- with the high iso, say 6400, support on the 5DMKII will this allow one to take good indoor shots with F4?

Totally depends on the lighting indoors. In a high school gym, still maybe not. You've got a number of lenses that can do F4, so try it out yourself in the conditions you will be shooting. Make sure you can still get the Shutter speeds you need and you are happy with the quality.

Regardless, though, F2.8 would still be a stop lower. 3200 looks better than 6400 on any camera.

tkbslc wrote in post #9695405
Regardless, though, F2.8 would still be a stop lower. 3200 looks better than 6400 on any camera.

Yeap...

tkbslc wrote in post #9695405
Totally depends on the lighting indoors. In a high school gym, still maybe not. You've got a number of lenses that can do F4, so try it out yourself in the conditions you will be shooting. Make sure you can still get the lenses you need and you are happy with the quality.

Regardless, though, F2.8 would still be a stop lower. 3200 looks better than 6400 on any camera.

Good point I can try at 85 mm at f4 from my 24- 105 mm kit lens and then with my nifty 85 at 2.8

the reason for the question is if I get the F4 70- 200, I can stay without the IS because it is not as heavy as a F 2.8 and easier to handle. I have taken good shots with the 75-300 without IS.

I wouldn't try to save money by getting the f/4L instead of the f/4L IS... the f/4L IS is much more versatile and sharper. They really shouldn't be considered interchangeable... the IQ of the f/4L IS can't be beat.

But as others have said, f/2.8 is f/2.8... 1 whole stop faster than f/4. And ISO3200 is going to be cleaner than ISO6400 no matter how well you expose.

Once you shoot with the 70-200 f/2.8 IS you will know if you want it or not.
Everything else is hearsay...
This is my favorite zoom, and I find it easy to manage. I prefer it on the MK-3 though for the 1.3x crop and easier handling.

If you're buying it just for the long end, you might consider getting the Canon 200mm ƒ/2.8L. It is a lot lighter than the 70-200mm ƒ/2.8 and you could get the 70-200mm ƒ/4L for the times that you don't need the extra stop.

Just ordered the 2.8 IS, I have the 4 IS right now and, while I can get sharp shots with the IS, the shallow depth of field is what I am missing with the f/4. Just hoping the 2.8 isn't as soft as people make it out to be.

good points all, thanks.

youd be better off with some indoor primes... either the 24L, 35L, or 50L. It really all depends on what you shoot.

Yamaha451 wrote in post #9695511
Just ordered the 2.8 IS, I have the 4 IS right now and, while I can get sharp shots with the IS, the shallow depth of field is what I am missing with the f/4. Just hoping the 2.8 isn't as soft as people make it out to be.

Here's one at f/2.8, this lense is just plain fun to shoot with...

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Marloon wrote in post #9695535
youd be better off with some indoor primes... either the 24L, 35L, or 50L. It really all depends on what you shoot.

Probably none of those if he is looking at a 70-200!

tonyniev wrote in post #9695448
Good point I can try at 85 mm at f4 from my 24- 105 mm kit lens and then with my nifty 85 at 2.8.

You can try both f/4 and f/2.8 from your 85.

tonyniev wrote in post #9695376
continuing my due dilligence for lens to buy- with the high iso, say 6400, support on the 5DMKII will this allow one to take good indoor shots with F4?

You have to define what kind of indoor shots. f2.8 is a slow glass for lot of indoor stuff, depending on the lighting conditions. So even with higher ISO performance of new gen of cameras, I will still look for fast glass.

bobbyz wrote in post #9696118
You have to define what kind of indoor shots. f2.8 is a slow glass for lot of indoor stuff, depending on the lighting conditions. So even with higher ISO performance of new gen of cameras, I will still look for fast glass.

The shot I posted was shot at ISO 200 at 200th of a sec. In shade you will want the f/2.8 version.