i am planning on buying a canon 70-200mm lense for my canon eos 3 but i am not sure which one i should get. i shoot mostly action sports so i need a fast lense. i am not sure though if i will need the image stabalization though because i shoot with fast shutter speeds. any suggestions as to which one i should get? do i really need the IS? do the benefits out weight the costs?

thanks.

-- Corey Coto (coreycoto@hotmail.com), December 13, 2001

Answers

i hear that the new IS version is weather sealed and more durable. that might be something you should consider also...

-- Jeff Nakayama (moonduck22@hotmail.com), December 13, 2001.

Go for the one that you can afford. They are both incredible lenses. I personally have the non-IS version that I purchased as a demo for $850.00. I'm not kicking myself for not buying the IS even though it was the lens I really wanted. I spent the other $1000.00 on a Canon 28-70 f2.8, Canon 20mm, and a Canon 1.4X converter {well actually the total was $1100.00} and have a set of lenses to chose from. So my best advice stick within your budget. If you are making money with it the lens will pay for itself. If you are on a budget and need it ASAP then well get what you can afford with out worry because they are both excellent lenses.

-- john (mr.-n-mrs.g@att.net), December 14, 2001.

thanks for the suggestions! i think i will go with the non-IS and maybe in the future i will upgrade to the IS version!

-- Corey Coto (coreycoto@hotmail.com), December 14, 2001.

I first got the 75-300 IS and found IS absolutely marvellous. Then I purchased the the 28-135 IS. It is obvious that at short focal lengths the IS helps less than at long lenghts, All the time I have drooled after the 100-400 IS and now I decided to purchase one. But, the importer said to me that I really should take the 70-200 IS.

So I asked a pro who should now. He said: "Do not even think twice, taka the 70-200 IS bacause it is f2.8. I've got the 70-200 and it is a gem and I am getting the IS version in January". This guy is really an authority in this matter. I think I will follow his advice even if it leaves me a short as far as focal length is considered.

Now, my experience of IS is such that no longer anything else will do.

Then the IS version has better MTF-curves than the non IS version. You can find Canon released MTF:s at http://www.usa.canon.com/eflenses/ just choose the right lense and in the new window choose "MTF"

Merry Xmas and a happy New Year.

-- Juha Kivekäs (juha.kivekas@apextrem.com), December 20, 2001.

ok. you can always get the 2x extender to get the 5.6 400mm that the 100-400 has.

-- Jeff Nakayama (moonduck22@hotmail.com), December 24, 2001.