| Sign in: |
| Members log in here with your user name and password to access the your admin page and other special features. |
|
|
|
|
|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Canon 200 2.0, anyone using this lens?
Denny Kyser, Photographer
 |
Russell | Pa. | United States of America | Posted: 10:21 AM on 07.12.11 |
->> I have recently been noticing some amazing images coming from this lens and while most were portraits can't help but wonder if its got a place in the sports world.
I looked at the reviews on here and its great, just have not noticed any sports images shot with it. |
|
Preston Mack, Photographer
|
Orlando | FL | | Posted: 10:34 AM on 07.12.11 |
| ->> Lens is fantastic, great for low light events, but it is really short. Hard to use for sports that typically need long glass for tight images. Now, with the Nikon D3 and other cameras with their amazing low light high ISO, this lens is not as important as it used to be. Longer focal length is more important now. |
|
Steven Limentani, Photographer
|
Charlotte | NC | United States | Posted: 1:42 PM on 07.12.11 |
| ->> Respectfully disagree with Preston's comment. Although low light shooting is an advantage of this lens, to me, the clarity of images and the bokeh are the major reasons to use the lens. When I shoot soccer, I usually have it on a body for anything within 40 yards. I believe that the images are better than those obtained with a 400, 2.8; 300, 2.8 or a 70-200, 2.8. |
|
Israel Shirk, Photographer, Assistant
|
Boise | ID | US | Posted: 2:10 PM on 07.12.11 |
| ->> Gymnastics + indoor track, it's the go-to lens. |
|
Michael Granse, Photographer
|
Urbana | IL | USA | Posted: 3:24 PM on 07.12.11 |
->> People have mentioned that high ISO performance has improved to the point that the low light performance is less of an issue in terms of the quality of the resulting image, and I have read this in many places.
My question, however, is has the low light auto-focus capability of these cameras increased at the same rate as high ISO performance?
Improving high ISO performance is a great thing, but it is only half of the low light imaging battle. The AF system requires areas of contrast and angles in order to figure out what the user is trying to photograph. If you try to shoot a high school football game at night at ISO 6,000 (stadium ambient light of ISO 800, 1/30 at f2.8) and you try to use your 300mm f2.8 and matching 2x converter (resulting maximum of f5.6) you are going to have a devil of a time locking on to your moving targets as you will be placing severe limitations on the amount of light entering your camera.
From a standpoint of image quality, your ISO 6,000 photo will look GREAT next to an ISO 800 image from five years ago, but what good is that if it is back-focused or NOT-focused due to the fact that the AF sensors shrugged their shoulders and gave up because they did not have enough information to make rational decisions?
We still need our high speed glass, I think. |
|
Keith Allison, Photographer, Assistant
|
Owings Mills | MD | USA | Posted: 4:00 PM on 07.12.11 |
| ->> I use the lens for baseball and golf and love it. Extremely fast auto focusing and great bokeh. |
|
Denny Kyser, Photographer
|
Russell | Pa. | United States of America | Posted: 5:24 PM on 07.12.11 |
->> I know its not the lens, its the photographer but the images I have seen created with that lens are amazing.
I think its just the right focal length and f stop combination to allow great bokeh and keep subject in focus.
The 85 1.2 had a tendency to leave part of the subject out of focus if you were not careful. Was way to slow focus for sports, but was a tact sharp lens. |
|
Frank Lauri, Photographer
|
Larksville | PA | USA | Posted: 5:54 PM on 07.12.11 |
| ->> Denny....I have the 1.8 and have used it for HS and mini football, Little League, wrestling, basketball, soccer, field hockey and V-ball....all with great results. |
|
Israel Shirk, Photographer, Assistant
|
Boise | ID | US | Posted: 8:26 PM on 07.12.11 |
->> Nothing's too slow to focus when you're using MF ;)
Ok, not entirely true... but within its limits, MF turns the 85/1.2 from an incredible annoyance to being a pretty incredible sports lens. |
|
Rick Yeatts, Photographer
|
Dallas | TX | USA | Posted: 2:20 AM on 07.28.11 |
| ->> I like mine I use a 1.4 extender all the time it's fast and the optics are great. Low light is not a problem and with the mark iv it's even better. I use it on a mark II as well and I'm very pleased with the performace. I use all the time for sports. It's a great addition to the 400. |
|
Patrick Murphy-Racey, Photographer
|
Powell | TN | USA | Posted: 8:53 AM on 07.31.11 |
->> I've always believed in the 2-4-6 rule of lenses for football. I like doubling and halving so that each lens is truly a different look when you switch. The new 200 is killer in terms of sharpness, contrast, and it's ability not to degrade a twitch when using the new 1.4x III converter. It's like a real 280mm f/2.8 prime in terms of image quality. Same thing when using that little guy on the new II version 70-200.
Another area where it really shines is shooting video. The internal IS is so good that I can shoot off a monopod and do pretty dang good giving results close to stix.... I was pissed to change from the old 1.8 version but I have found the new lens is well worth the extra cash.
One other pet peave is that for so many people that primarily shoot the crop sensor cameras like the 7D, the 200 makes more sense than the 300 2.8 for many assignments... But so few people ever consider that as an option...
Last season, I shot a lot on strobes during hoops with 2 7D's, one downcourt with the 200 f/2 and the other lens was the 24-105.... A killer combo for speedy af....
For theatrical use, it's tough to beat the 200.... |
|
Michael Fischer, Photographer
|
Spencer | Ia | USA | Posted: 11:54 AM on 07.31.11 |
->> I've been looking at this lens for the bokeh alone. Joe McNally loves it ( Joe tends to love the really expensive ones.. :) ) I'm referring to the Nikon 200mm f2 but it's the same Bokeh essentially.
I was researching it on the Fred Miranda website for used pricing last night. I think for someone doing portraits, esp. outside, this looks like a killer lens.
As for sports, I can easily see this lens being used for soccer, football, basketball as well as baseball/softball.
Do I need it? No. Do I want one... yes.... :) |
|
Max Gersh, Photographer
|
Rockford | IL | USA | Posted: 12:26 PM on 07.31.11 |
->> I can't speak for the 200 f/2 but I do use the older 200 f/1.8 from time to time. When it is sharp, it is arguably the sharpest lens I've ever seen. However, that is only when it is sharp.
I know this isn't exactly a fair comparison but its AF is noticeably slower than 300/400 2.8 (IS generation). It can make tracking fast sports a little spotty.
Also, if you're shooting wide open, your focus can vary simply by if the subject leans out of the plane of focus. For example, I was using it to shoot basketball the other night and had the camera on center point focus. If the player leaned forward, their face was no longer in focus. Your focus point needs to be dead on with this lens.
I loved the lens for swimming. However, if the AF catches a splash in front of the swimmers face, your subject will be noticeably OOF.
Again, my comparison isn't exactly fair since it's next to newer lenses. Also, this is all on a 1D2. I'd like to think the 200 f/2 is all around better and more intelligent as far as AF goes. YMMV |
|
Patrick Murphy-Racey, Photographer
|
Powell | TN | USA | Posted: 10:31 PM on 08.17.11 |
->> keep in mind that shutter speed is always your friend when shooting any type of sport action. the higher that shutter speed goes, the more you can totally stop what you're shooting. Much of what appears to be our of focus can often be attributed to motion blur. I am now midway through the switch from Canon to Nikon so I'm looking forwards to seeing that high iso quality-- but I still bought a Nikon 200 f/2 because I want to shoot volleyball at 1/2000th and really stop their hands and the ball.
shutter speed is everything.... |
|
David Seelig, Photographer
|
Hailey | ID | USA | Posted: 6:35 AM on 08.18.11 |
| ->> Another thing this is a great lens for music. That extra stop is great and I am getting images I could not get without it. |
|
Return to --> Message Board Main Index
|