IS vs Non IS lenses

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dallasphotog

I want to see a bunch of those pictures from the EF200 f/2.0...I keep telling my daughter we need it for basketball season.
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If you get one, you might as well super-glue it onto the camera, 'cuz you won't want to take it off. The 85L may be addictive, but the 200/2 turned me into a bouncing superball with glee for the better part of 40 hours last month. Oh, is there an aperture control? I can't imagine why I'd need it...I seem to enjoy framing singular things in this viewfinder. Oh, is there an ISO knob? I can't imagine I'd need it...ISO 200 and f/2 and a ridiculously good IS unit means my pictures are awesome every time (unless the subject moves a lot).

All shots 200/2LIS on a 1D Mark III, ISO 800 (don't know why!), evaluative metering -1/3 (I was experimenting then), AI Servo on center point, RAW, white balance correction and JPEG conversion in DPP, no other processing.

Down the slide (1/500th). This is about the sixth frame I shot with the lens whatsoever - learning curve isn't bad.

http://photos.templin.org/albums/kin..._002.sized.jpg

Hey ma, no hands (1/640th)

http://photos.templin.org/albums/kin..._009.sized.jpg

Check the bokeh. I'm 5'9", the boys are in one of those playground plastic cars on a bendy spring, so they're probably sitting 1' off the ground. I'm 10-12' away, shooting downwards though not very much so, and the background is just plain mush.

http://photos.templin.org/albums/kin..._005.sized.jpg

Portrait orientation, on-camera flash (thankfully it clears the lens hood enough!), and you can count the eyelashes.

http://photos.templin.org/albums/kin..._018.sized.jpg

As Bryan's review says, "This is one of those lenses that can set you and your work apart from the competition", and he isn't kidding. However, as a "beginner lens collector", I sadly realize that it's a long way away on the shopping list (especially with a girlfriend into photography as well). Since I have a very functional and very versatile 70-200/2.8IS, I have the 200mm focal length covered, with IS, only one stop slower, and I anticipate getting the 300/2.8 and 500/4 before I come back for the 200/2 and 400/2.8. :( More to come from the wedding rehearsal once I post those.