Canon 70-200mm F4 L USM V EF-S 55-250mm IS lens

garden_snapper

Hi Guys,

I am an sports photography enthusiast and currently own a EF-S 55-250mm IS lens. I have been saving to buy an L lens but just want some advice before I buy. Birmingham’s have the Canon 70-200mm F4 L USM for sale at a good price and I am tempted to buy.

Question is despite the 50mm less zoom will I get better pictures with the Canon 70-200mm F4 L USM? I am shooting Gaa & Soccer and can get very close to the action.

I know that if I buy a Canon 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 L USM IS I will get super duper shots but I cannot get anywhere close to the cost so I am purely looking for advice on a Canon 70-200mm F4 L USM V EF-S 55-250mm IS lens.

All advice greatly appreciated

pixbyjohn

For sports shots you need a very fast lens, I think you would be best going for a 2.8 lens. A 70-200 f2.8 seeing as you can get close to the action.

joepenguin

Maybe a second hand sigma 70-200mm 2.8 is the way to go? You'll get one for 500 or under.
Ive used neither lens youve mentioned but the 70-200 f4 is said to be one of the shaprest lenses canon have and even though the 50-250 has IS you will be shooting at a speed so high that the IS wont be of benefit. Plus as you go up in range, 100mm, 150mm etc the lowest f stop will increase in the 55-250 therefor letting less light in. Id say its a decent lens in its own right but if your budget allows for the 70-200 go for that. How much is it going for in Berminghams by the way?

FoxT

a 70-200 f/2.8 will definitely be much better for sports. You will not need IS - is of no benefit as you'll need to shoot at 1/500 or so anyway to freeze the action.

I have a canon 70-200L non-IS that I am very pleased with. The sigma sounds like good value but I have heard mixed reviews. Fast AF is very, very important, and most lens reviews I have read do not test for it or quote it.

Best of luck & post some pics,

- FoxT

garden_snapper

Thanks guys. In a pickle alright. Shooting with a Canon 550D and would love to buy the 2.8L but out of my price range. The Canon 70-200mm F4 L USM is €649 in Berminghams. I can afford just about.

Here is a few snaps from yesterday with the EF-S 55-250mm IS Lens

Diabhal_Glas

Whats the name of that website where you can compare test shots of canon and sigma lenses at focal lengths and F stops?
I remember someone posted a link on here before.

The test shots are taken of black and white cards and show sharpness of the lenses.

Quite a good site

5uspect

Several sites have such tools. dpreview and The Digital Picture to name a couple.

I'd go with the 70-200 2.8L if you can. There is a mk II version out now. Maybe you can get a good price on the mk I.

pixbyjohn

Good photos there.

garden_snapper

Hi guys,

Thanks for all your help. I lost the plot and am awaiting delivery of a Canon 70-200mm 2.8 L lens which will cost me a lot more than money once the better half does the math on it! Thanks for all your help.

Problem now is the mount ring for a tripod/monopod is €115! Suffering ducks!

Has anyone used one if the imitation ones available on amazon for c€15? I need one but would struggle to pay above the replacement ring price.

Jimdagym

garden_snapper wrote: »

Hi guys,

Thanks for all your help. I lost the plot and am awaiting delivery of a Canon 70-200mm 2.8 L lens which will cost me a lot more than money once the better half does the math on it! Thanks for all your help.

Problem now is the mount ring for a tripod/monopod is €115! Suffering ducks!

Has anyone used one if the imitation ones available on amazon for c€15? I need one but would struggle to pay above the replacement ring price.

I havent used either, but do you really want to risk your lens and camera on a cheapo mount ring?

5uspect

Is it not coming with a mount ring?

gman2k

Jimdagym wrote: »

I havent used either, but do you really want to risk your lens and camera on a cheapo mount ring?

I have a cheap ebay mount ring on my 70-200 F4, works no bother, and is rock solid. I don't see the risk anywhere....

garden_snapper

No mount ring to the best of my knowledge. The only disappointment I seen expressed in any review of this lens was that despite the price Canon did not include a mount ring.

I think it will be an eBay job alrigt. Hard to justify over 100 quid for a piece of plastic.

5uspect

garden_snapper wrote: »

No mount ring to the best of my knowledge. The only disappointment I seen expressed in any review of this lens was that despite the price Canon did not include a mount ring.

I think it will be an eBay job alrigt. Hard to justify over 100 quid for a piece of plastic.

Odd, mine came with one.

challengemaster

Mine came with one too, and it's not plastic either....

garden_snapper

Hope your rights guys. Tomorrow will tell please God. Really hoping there is one in the box. Like I said I researched the life out of this and alot of reviews said canon stopped supplying the mount ring but I hope I'm wrong!

Decoda

+1 for the Canon 70-200L 2.8 non IS.

I got it last year for my sons sport etc and its sharp . I use it also with the canon 1.4x ll and it doesn't reduce by much imo. Love the lens, heavy but worth the weight. :rolleyes: Mine came with the mounting ring also.

Good Luck with it and hope you get as much enjoyment from it as i do every day

DC

kelly1

Yeah, I got one with mine too.

5uspect

There's a MK II version of the 70_200 2.8
out that's much more expensive. Maybe they've droped the collar on that model.