Which new lens for track and baseball?

[neuroanatomist]

My budget doesn't allow for the really fast 2- 2.8 primes you mentioned. I was planning on spending around $1,500 net.

If that's a hard limit, and assuming you'll sell your current 70-200/2.8, the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II + a MkII extender would likely exceed $1500 net. However, you could add either the 100-400mm or the 70-300mm L to your current kit for around $1500 (well, a little more with the recent price increases ).

Aperture wise these events are mostly outdoors so I can do fine with f4 or 5.6.

From an available light perspective, yes. But, also keep in mind that a wide aperture is also useful for subject isolation. Here's a (somewhat funky, but sort of relevant)example.


Do you think 300mm will be enough? You can look at your images at 200mm and crop to simulate the extra 100mm (a 300mm field of view will be 2/3 the size a 200mm FOV). If so, the new 70-300 L zoom looks like a great lens. Excellent IQ, compact, and has the advantage of weather-sealing if you want to shoot in the rain (your 7D is sealed, as is your current 70-200/2.8 IS, but the 100-400mm is not). If you need 400mm, you need it. In that case, I'd go with the 100-400mm.