is IS really that important ?

[JoelT]

I've read many reviews on the net and seen youtube.
I'm intending to get a 70-200mm lens
BUT, regarding the IS problem. because 70-200mm IS II is way out of my budget and im looking at 70-200 now.
If i really do need IS, Is Sigma 70-200 or Tamron 70-200 a good choice given the price?
I know that the quality of those is not as crisp as the Mark II.
Need help here

 

[BigBaby]

It is better to get the IS. Especially when you are hand holding it on 200mm or at a low light situation. Everything will be quite shaky and cause image blur. Unless you are shooting at a very high shutter speed. Or you know you will be mounting on a tripod at most of your shoot.

Yeah I understand the 70-200 IS MKII is very expensive. Maybe you can try searching a used 70-200 IS MKI at CS BNS section. Can get it below $2K. If you don't want used ones than another alternatives will be the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 APO EX DG OS HSM. The review for it are quite impressive for it's price. Although the performance will not be as good as the White Canon L but the difference is not very significant. So you must weigh it yourself whether the price and lens performance difference which is more feasible. Cheers!

 

[Dream Merchant]

Get the second hand Mk I in good condition.

Your clients will never know the difference, ..... really.

I've read many reviews on the net and seen youtube.
I'm intending to get a 70-200mm lens
BUT, regarding the IS problem. because 70-200mm IS II is way out of my budget and im looking at 70-200 now.
If i really do need IS, Is Sigma 70-200 or Tamron 70-200 a good choice given the price?
I know that the quality of those is not as crisp as the Mark II.
Need help here

 

[allenleonhart]

It is better to get the IS. Especially when you are hand holding it on 200mm or at a low light situation. Everything will be quite shaky and cause image blur. Unless you are shooting at a very high shutter speed. Or you know you will be mounting on a tripod at most of your shoot.

Yeah I understand the 70-200 IS MKII is very expensive. Maybe you can try searching a used 70-200 IS MKI at CS BNS section. Can get it below $2K. If you don't want used ones than another alternatives will be the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 APO EX DG OS HSM. The review for it are quite impressive for it's price. Although the performance will not be as good as the White Canon L but the difference is not very significant. So you must weigh it yourself whether the price and lens performance difference which is more feasible. Cheers!

well u realise if in lowlight, u handhold at 1/30, its still gonna blur...cause of subject blur.

then if ur gonna shoot at 1/200 ++ to reduce subject blur......... aint it 1/focal length? shld be handholdable already...
at least when i shoot footballs, i go up till 1/500

at least i find IS kinda overrated... a good to have, but certainly not a must have.

 

[brapodam]

well u realise if in lowlight, u handhold at 1/30, its still gonna blur...cause of subject blur.

then if ur gonna shoot at 1/200 ++ to reduce subject blur......... aint it 1/focal length? shld be handholdable already...
at least when i shoot footballs, i go up till 1/500

at least i find IS kinda overrated... a good to have, but certainly not a must have.

TS mentioned low light situation, highly unlikely for him to get shutter speeds of 1/focal length unless his ISO is like 12800?

 

[Deathegg]

For me, IS is important coz it's really difficult for me to hold the camera very still.

 

[yyD70S]

As long as you know it's limitations and when to turn it off, IS is an added bonus.

 

[UncleFai]

I've read many reviews on the net and seen youtube.
I'm intending to get a 70-200mm lens
BUT, regarding the IS problem. because 70-200mm IS II is way out of my budget and im looking at 70-200 now.
If i really do need IS, Is Sigma 70-200 or Tamron 70-200 a good choice given the price?
I know that the quality of those is not as crisp as the Mark II.
Need help here

In short YES!

 

[UncleFai]

In short YES!

Also, not sure about Canon, but in my opinion (and experience) the third party stabilization by Sigma and Tamron is in fact better than Nikon's.

 

[baggiolee]

Also, not sure about Canon, but in my opinion (and experience) the third party stabilization by Sigma and Tamron is in fact better than Nikon's.

huh? never heard of that leh...

 

[gundamseed84]

Not a must. I survived well with 135mm no IS and 400mm well with aid of monopod. IS system adds on weight and price too.

 

[markyen]

TS. I would vouch for having IS. Unless your object is stationary then I find monopod able to cater for that - I am not refering to stopping action here, cuz I find while recomposing I love the IS there. However, in the case of 70-200 (heavy lens) I'll go for IS. try MK I version 2nd Hand to stay within budget. You wont be that dissappointed with it.

 

[Ben Ang]

practice you technique to reduce shake. breathing, holding, how you press the shutter release. perhaps get a monopod for low like situations and you ll be fine. i shoot a manual 300 f4 and get away with 1/200 handheld, 1/80 on a monopod even lower when i use mirror up mode.

 

[allenleonhart]

TS mentioned low light situation, highly unlikely for him to get shutter speeds of 1/focal length unless his ISO is like 12800?

mm. so u think about it. if u are gonna handhold at 1/30, no matter how good IS is, it will never be able to compensate for the shutter speed required to stop subject blur.

i mean if subject isnt gonna move, i will just tripod and shoot the subject.

if it is, i'll need something like 1/200 to just get a good shot.

and if so... IS shldnt be that impt anymore

 

[JoelT]

Thanks everyone for the reply, I shall go try out this sat regarding the 70-200 non IS and the Sigma one.
Cheers !

 

[daredevil123]

Also, not sure about Canon, but in my opinion (and experience) the third party stabilization by Sigma and Tamron is in fact better than Nikon's.

Actually for the 70-200/2.8 lenses,

1. Tamron do not offer VC.
2. Sigma 70-200/2.8 OS claims 4 stops, but is tested to be effective around 3 to 3.1 stops.
3. Nikon's 70-200VRII claims 4 stops, but is tested to be effective to around 3.7 stops.

Tested by lenstip.com. So for 70-200/2.8 lenses, Nikon is still king. Not sure about the Canon 70-200 IS m2.

That said, the VCs from consumer lenses like 18-270VC and 70-300VC from tamron is said to perform better than Nikon's consumer grade lenses.

 

[daredevil123]

Thanks everyone for the reply, I shall go try out this sat regarding the 70-200 non IS and the Sigma one.
Cheers !

In good light, IS is less of an issue. But if you are going to be shooting in low light, IS actually comes in very very very handy.

 

[brapodam]

mm. so u think about it. if u are gonna handhold at 1/30, no matter how good IS is, it will never be able to compensate for the shutter speed required to stop subject blur.

i mean if subject isnt gonna move, i will just tripod and shoot the subject.

if it is, i'll need something like 1/200 to just get a good shot.

and if so... IS shldnt be that impt anymore

If you can't stop subject blur, then use it lol

 

[ahliang]

For me IS is important for such focal length. You r going to do fine during the start but by the end of the day you will wish the IS was there.

 

[ortega]

for me it is better to correct slow shutter speed with good use of the flash