I am looking for my first L glass lens and it's down to the 70-200L F2.8 but I have heard that the IS version isn't as sharp wide open as the non IS.  I will be using this mostly in low light.  usually indoor sports.  I was told to buy the non IS and use the 600 I save on a monopod and use the other 500 and go on a trip somewhere to take pictures.

Also I noticed many have the 1.4x TC and not the 2.0 TC.  Is there a reason for this other that the increase in 2 f stops instead of 1?   Is there a diference in quality because there about the same price.

Thanks for the input  

 

Most people I know that have the f/2.8 use the 2.0 TC which basically it's making your lens into a 140mm - 400mm f/4.8, When shooting at that distance you better be using the IS lens.

Both have the same sharpness, but when you use the IS it is just a micro second slower to focus.

I know you will want to try other things with the lens other then indoor sports and when you need the IS it will be there. And another thing if shooting action shots you will defiantly need the IS lens.

Rent them from the Local camera shop for a weekend and test them out yourself. This way you will know for sure.

hey

Yeah but the F4 is useless for me taking photo's of basketball and table tennis.   I'm shooting now at f2.5 and a 1/400 ss.  I can't go any lower than 1/250 and with the F4 I would have to.

Another bonus of getting the 70-200 f/4 is that it is cheaper than the f/2.8, of course. 5 Stops of stabilization compensate for any doubt you may have about getting f/4 vs. f/2.8.

szaydel:

Another bonus of getting the 70-200 f/4 is that it is cheaper than the f/2.8, of course. 5 Stops of stabilization compensate for any doubt you may have about getting f/4 vs. f/2.8.

The best thing on the f/2.8 is that you can make it into a f/4.0 any time you wish by turning off the IS and setting it to f/4.0, can't do that with the F/4.0! When you need the f/2.8 it is there waiting to take charge.

The f/2.8 gives you a wider range of selectivity and that is why it is selected over most other lenes by the pros.

Get the IS.  You can find people who look at their pictures at 200% and find imperfections and claim the IS is worse, blah blah blah.  The truth is that Canon's IS is outstanding if used properly (setting 1, or 2?) and it will save lots of images you wouldn't have gotten otherwise.

Here is an example of my 100-400, handheld with IS on... (this is not a "composition photo" it was done to test the lens, so no need to critique the composition folks.)  This was taken at probably 50 yards from my front step and I sincerely doubt that at 400mm I could have gotten this shot so crisp without the IS turned on!