How important is IS?

[IDLaxStar]

If you are trying to shoot sports is it really important for your lens to have image stabilization in it? If you are using a monopod will IS really make your picture a lot better? Just wondering because you pay a lot more for IS in a lens? Also should i go for a faster lens or a slower lens with IS? Thanks guys

 

[Josh66]

I think panning will be pretty much the only thing IS might help in for sports...
Depending on the sport, you might not be doing much, if any, panning though.

You need high shutter speeds to stop the action, and with high shutter speeds I don't know how useful IS is going to be... If your shutter speeds are low enough to need IS, the subject is going to have motion blur (unless you're panning)...


I think I would go for the fastest lens you can get...

 

[IDLaxStar]

I am looking at two lens same focal length but on has f/2.8 non-is and the other is f/4.0 with is. Both are around the same price. Just don't know what i should go with.

 

[Opher]

personally i would go with the faster glass over the IS but gust remember the faster lens is a fair bit bigger and heavier.