Need help with decision

[yajsab]

Ok, my friend wants to buy my Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 and Canon 70-200 f4L.  He's giving me 850 for both.  The Canon has less than 20 shots thru. 

Here's my scenerio.  Should I sell those and get the Canon efs 17-55mm f2.8IS?  At some point I would like to get the Canon 300mm + the 1.4x for wildlife as suggested in here.  The 17-55mm will mainly use for portraits and walk around.  Will I miss the 70-200? 

[huntnphool]

Will I miss the 70-200?

I wouldn't miss it if I was seriously going to get the 300, I would save until I had the money and in the mean time rent what I need for my photo outings.

[blindpig]

 

[popeshawnpaul]

I would dump both for $850.  The 70-200 is nice but it does not have IS.  I would do what you are suggesting and get the 17-55 f2.8 IS.  Other than build quality, it's an L series lens all the way.  Great optics, speed, and IS.  You can't do any serious wildlife photography with a 70-200 anyways (unless you are named Cameraguy). 

[yajsab]

Thanks all.  Now that I get the nod from my photographers here.   

[popeshawnpaul]

Of course, it all kind of depends on your subject.  If you are shooting outdoor sports, the 70-200 is great.  If you are shooting more indoor shots, landscape, and general purpose then the 17-55 f2.8 IS is the best.  I guess it kind of depends on your shooting and subject.

[yajsab]

I shoot more indoors.  I hardly shoot outdoor sports, infact, none.  Thank you so much.

[smdave]

pope, helped me decide on the 17-55 f2.8 IS, and I do not think it has been taken off of my camera since then I found it on craiglist for $820.00, now all I need is the 70-200 f2.8 IS, and I will be set for awhile.

Dave

[Aneoakleaf]

OK, I can see I don't have a chance.... 

[popeshawnpaul]

You don't have a chance Ane...?   

[boneaddict]

Ane....?

Pope, did you ever shoot basketball?  Looks like that might be my next sporting venue.

[popeshawnpaul]

Yeah.  If there is enough light to get 1/500th or 1/250th minimum, the 70-200 f2.8 L IS is the way to go.  When I use to shoot college basketball in Beasley Collesium, I would shoot f2.8, 1/500th, ISO 3200.  That's a bright place to shoot basketball though.  Some of the high school gyms are really dark.  Because gyms can be dark, sometimes you need a faster lens.  On a crop camera a 100mm f2 would be a good basketball lens.  It gets you an extra stop of light.  If you need more light a 50mm f1.4 below the basket would be good too on a crop camera. 

There are 2 places to shoot for basketball.  The first good spot is the baseline below the basket or just on one side.  The next spot is in the corner of the baseline.  You need the action coming at you.  I have also done well right below the basket with a 24-105.  If you have the 70-200, I would be out on the corner of the baseline.

The 70-200 f2.8 L IS is the best sports lens there is no matter the sport.  You just have to know there isn't one lens that can do every shot.  You need to know your range and be selective within that range.  I would love to see some of your results...

I took a quick picture of a picture of an old basketball photo of mine.  This was the early 90's and that's Mark Hendrickson and Shaman Antrum.  I think Mark is telling Antrum if he misses the game winning free throw he's going to kick his @ss...  I think I was using a 200mm f2.8 L for the shot.  Grainy old iso 3200 film.