[dunganick]

Im after a lense, ideally i would like a IS lense, with 300MM, however an L lense is way out of my reach. I have narrowed it down to these:

http://http://www.devoncamera.co.uk/index.cfm/photographic/Products.Details/product_id/301/subject/canon_ef_70300mm_f456_is_usm

http://http://www.devoncamera.co.uk/index.cfm/photographic/Products.Details/product_id/1937/subject/canon_efs_55250mm_f456_is

Or possibly this, however its not IS and its more expensive than the above:

http://http://www.devoncamera.co.uk/index.cfm/photographic/Products.Details/product_id/300/subject/canon_ef_70200mm_f4l_usm

There are few reviews about the 250mm as its new as i understand, the 300mm i hear mixed reports on and quality control being poor on. the 200mm is shorter than i would like, however apprently its a brilliant lense, but its not got IS, which for low light motorsport (this time of year, is prooving to be a pain)

which would you choose? Or any other suggestions

[allymac123]

I'd probably suggest the 70-300 IS. The IS is also a great help panning otherwise the 70-200 would be the better bet due to it being faster, sharper and having far superior focusing.

[Luffy]

Try the reviews here http://www.bobatkins.com/photography...is_review.html

BTW your links have errors too many http's

I have the none IS version of this lens its ok for the price its not a lens I use alot generally only a couple of times a year so I don't feel inclined to upgrade

[dunganick]

unfortunatly its just too short and i cant strech to the IS version

And if i use it with a converter, that i cant afford, then i will bring the F right down anyway i believe, so better off with the other two.

The other criticism of the 300mm was the sharpness at the long end. Anyone got any experiance of this. Certainly my 90-300mm isnt sharp at that end, or fast enough for fast paced motorsport. Really struggling to get a good rate of keepers to bin'ers.

[richard plumb]

70-300IS. Thats what I chose and I'm happy with the choice. It has panning IS so you can still stablise up and down movements while panning left/right.


Some may suggest the 70-200 f4 but thats a bit short and if you add the 1.4x teleconverter it becomes an f5.6 anyway.

The 55-250 might be a good budget option but if you check reviews of the 70-300IS it gets very good image quality reviews - up there with the 70-200 f4L. Its a cracking lens.


edit: some examples from last year, taken with the 70-300IS

[Beachball]

I'd recommend the 70-300IS, too. Here are a few motorsport pics that I took early last year with that lens (you can click on my flickr link in my sig. to see larger versions):

[dunganick]

would it be possible to post links of the pics full size, as my non IS lense gets pretty sharp images, its just the last bit of quality its lacking, esspecially down the 300mm bit.

have a look at some of the pics on my flickr, the two with comments down the bottom are typical of alot of my pics, however getting a monopod seems to have helped alot. But still lacking that last 10% imho.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dunganick/

[mwncidur]

I know a chap who is big into his motorsport photography, he uses a lot of the time a 70-200IS L F2.8, and the results are fantastic. I am now starting to save up to get one. His website is here

[dunganick]

thanks guys, i think im going to go for a 300mm IS, as i really cant strech to an L lense with IS atm. So long as i get a good one it should do me.

Just as a side note, the clio in one of the above posts was also at brands on friday,

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2198/...c17130b0_b.jpg

One of my pics of it.