why not buy sigma 70-200 F2.8

Well , I checked it out n I can't see where I can change it in the 300D except buy going into sports mode which makes everything else automatic...Is that what you are using for your race track settings RAJ ?

Finally made up my mind also and ordered the Sigma DG 70-200 2.8. Can't wait, Joe

Peachman... what your seeing here is a new feature... the "incredibly cute girl soft focus" mode. You may have wanted it sharper, but honestly, a sharper image for this particular example really isn't a good thing. If it is not too much trouble, an un cropped image make it easier to see really what is going on.

If you really want to test this, a controled test is the only way to go. I know I was doing some shooting around with my 1.8 when I got it, and got the DOF to be less then the length of my sons nose. 2.8 or less can be challenging.

That's a limitation of the 300D (the XT as well if I recall), thus my purchase of a 20D, ie; AI Servo is not available in the "Creative Zones" (M, PV, Tv, Av)

You'll LOVE IT! Congrats.

Peachman,
Stop chasing living things to test the focus. Put that kit on a tripod and shoot something that doesn't move otherwise you will never know if it's the lens or something else. Kids move all the time and if you half press the shutter to focus they will be out of focus a fraction of a second later.

I'm with you there ..I.ve got a nice colorful cereal box, lots of pattern and small letters all set up at your suggestion...dark out now...will do it tomorrow during nice steady day light...I'm calming down and thinking clearly now and this is the kind of ideas that are very helpful ..thanks

AAAAGGGGHHHHHHHH...You did it...I knew before long someone was going to give me a good reason why I need to cough up another $1200 bucks to get the 20d .....oh, twist my arm, twist my arm !!!:p:p

Peachman,
U r in luck, you dont need to go get a 20D just for AI servo focus mode. There is a hack available for 300D which will enable AIServo in creative modes + iso 3200 also. I am not sure of all miracles achieved by hacking 300D but if you searh here for 300D hack I am sure you will get proper links. As much as I know its totally harmless & reversible.
if you have 350D then you should have AIServo already.

You can use sports mode on your 300D but still you cant get beyond iso400 (when reqd.) + cant shoot RAW, so just HACK it

On the owl shot, yes DOF is too shallow but at 200mm & f2.8 thats what you get, I should have used f3.6 I guess to keep whole face in focus + still have good bokeh, but my point was to show that with proper shutter speeds you can avoid motion blur which (atleast in my case) is a major photo spoiler.

Raj wrote:
Peachman,
U r in luck, you dont need to go get a 20D just for AI servo focus mode. There is a hack available for 300D which will enable AIServo in creative modes + iso 3200 also. I am not sure of all miracles achieved by hacking 300D but if you searh here for 300D hack I am sure you will get proper links. As much as I know its totally harmless & reversible.
if you have 350D then you should have AIServo already.

You can use sports mode on your 300D but still you cant get beyond iso400 (when reqd.) + cant shoot RAW, so just HACK it

On the owl shot, yes DOF is too shallow but at 200mm & f2.8 thats what you get, I should have used f3.6 I guess to keep whole face in focus + still have good bokeh, but my point was to show that with proper shutter speeds you can avoid motion blur which (atleast in my case) is a major photo spoiler.

Owl looked great, just a comment as to how it all worked..too sharp and you'd be lost in details on that bird!! How far away was he/she??

You really think the hacks are safe?? What do you suppose it does to a 4 year warrentee??

I've been messing around inside with it tonight but I need a nice bright clear day outside to really test it out. Thanks for that info..

Peachman, there are lots of people on this forum with hacked rebels, hack is very safe & as I said you can always rollback to factory version if you need to send it back to canon for any reason. Hacking will void your warrenty but thats only if they know it.
I have heard people doing that & got their camera serviced without any issues.. If you need extra features, get it, else leave it
By the way I saw your post in people section from this lens & I liked the photo.

nope, XT has AI servo as well

Interesting thread, someone offered me his sigma 70-200 2.8 straight up for my f4 L, i know him through a friend and i was considering it...but...i love my f4, i don't think i can part with it. I barley shoot indoors at the moment.

Thanks RAJ...I'm going to look into it...

I'm attaching a photo that I took in a series of them as a test inside with some bright house lights onto check the resolution of this lens in inside conditions. It was on the wall at about 20 feet away with the following settings.1/600, f5.6, ISO 400, @200mm this was the best of the low light shots. I will also include one at 2.8 , 1/640, ISO 400 and 200mm both on a tripod and timed release so no shake was involved...Is this what I should be expecting? I was really hoping for a little better.

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cereal box at f2.8, 1/640, iso 400, 200mm

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It's not just about indoors...