Which lens should I get?

TonyUSA · Jul 27, 2018

Hello,
Been out for while and was thinking to come back again. I am still interested in sports and mostly will be swimming. I sold my 200mm. I was thinking to buy other good sport lens for swim meets. What do you think about 200-400 f4 with extender 1.4x and 400mm f2.8 II?

Thank you,

Jeff15 · Jul 27, 2018

Wow, how big is the pool.....?

TonyUSA · Jul 27, 2018

Jeff15 said:
Wow, how big is the pool.....?

25 and 50 meeter

Overread · Jul 27, 2018

You say the 200mm was too heavy so this might be food for thought:
200-400mm 3620g
400mm 3850
200mm L 2520

Both the lenses you are considering are considerably heavier than the 200mm you sold. Granted with tht you could use a tripod or monopod to take the weight but it is a valid consideration if weight is an issue for you. Personally I'd say take your 100-400mm and even if the aperture isn't wide enough to keep the shutter speed fast enough (without raising the ISO high) you can at least get an idea of how it performs. You can see if the 200-400mm range is important to you or if you're always at the 400mm end and thus don't really need a zoom.

greybeard · Jul 27, 2018

I know that you are considering a 200-400 but IMHO, a 70-200 f/2.8 would just about nail anything going on in the pool.

TonyUSA · Jul 27, 2018

Overread said:
You say the 200mm was too heavy so this might be food for thought:
200-400mm 3620g
400mm 3850
200mm L 2520

Both the lenses you are considering are considerably heavier than the 200mm you sold. Granted with tht you could use a tripod or monopod to take the weight but it is a valid consideration if weight is an issue for you. Personally I'd say take your 100-400mm and even if the aperture isn't wide enough to keep the shutter speed fast enough (without raising the ISO high) you can at least get an idea of how it performs. You can see if the 200-400mm range is important to you or if you're always at the 400mm end and thus don't really need a zoom.

Thank you for your reply. I am sure will use monopod for this new lens. Very good idea that I will try my 100-400 at 400mm at the whole time and will see.

TonyUSA · Jul 27, 2018

greybeard said:
I know that you are considering a 200-400 but IMHO, a 70-200 f/2.8 would just about nail anything going on in the pool.

Thank you for your reply. Yes, been using 70-200 at the meet for while and really love it but after switched to 100-400mm I hardly use 70-200 anymore. The zooming of 100-400 is much more better for me.

SnappingShark · Jul 27, 2018

yeah, I'd go 70-200 with a converter

Fujidave · Jul 28, 2018

Agree on going with the 70-200mm and converter.

TonyUSA · Jul 28, 2018

Thank you.

jamescooper18 · Jul 30, 2018

It depends on what you are wanting to shoot and what kind of access you will have. Do you want to shoot crop or FF? Then the constant 2.8 could be a big plus.

TonyUSA · Jul 30, 2018

Thank you.

TonyUSA · Aug 18, 2018

Thank God. I haven't pull the trigger on 400mm 2.8 yet. The new 400mm 2.8 III is coming out.
Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III one of two “Big White Lenses” coming ahead of Photokina [CR2]

Overread · Aug 18, 2018

I'm surprised!
I wonder what they've done as this is a fairly quick release of a new version of that lens. I wonder how they've improved it and what they've changed inside the lens. That said its going to come with a massive price tag!