I did it--300mm f/2.8L IS USM on the way...

SportsNut

I ordered a new 300mm F/2.8L Canon today...ordered overnight so I can have it for this weekend.

I'm 4100 clams lighter, but I think money can sometimes (help) buy happiness! I can't wait!

I've spent some considerable time looking at the Sigma 100-300 and the Canon 100-400, but I decided to spend more money and not look back. I hope I made the right decision. I'm not rich (by any stretch), but do have the money to pay for this.

I primarily shoot 8-year-olds' soccer and baseball games; my 70-200 just doesn't quite cut it; I hope this does. Add the 1.4x (I have) and I think it'll handle the job very nicely, even in cloudy Ohio.

Anybody got any tips or suggestions for a new 300mm owner? I hope the AF is as quick as everyone says...and the pics as sharp. I love doing the soccer games...can't wait!

ziggy53

Wow, great glass.

Do you plan on using a lens on both bodies? (I see some shooting that way.)

Good luck and please share some images.

SportsNut

ziggy53 wrote:

Wow, great glass.

Do you plan on using a lens on both bodies? (I see some shooting that way.)

Good luck and please share some images.

I think I'll probably do a few games just concentrating on action with the 300, until I get used to it. After that, I do plan the 300 on the 40D and the 70-200 on the 30D. That should be a great combo for the size soccer fields my son plays on.

I'm just an overzealous Dad (I sell a few, but primarily it's my hobby), so there's not much pressure for me to work too hard.

I can't wait to get it and I'll definitely share some images when the practices/games start back up.

I can't wait! I've read about this dream lens so many times, but never used it. I hope it is as wonderful as everyone says. I will let you know.

davev

It's big, and heavy, and awkward, and you'll love using it.

I have used mine on a Xti, a 30D, and now on the XSi.
It works great on all of them.

I mostly use mine on bird/nature shots with a Canon 2X tc.
The pictures are still sharp.

Congrats.

Jekyll & Hyde

SportsNut wrote:

I primarily shoot 8-year-olds' soccer and baseball games

J: Big congrats! It's one of my dream lenses.

H: It should be perfect for what you shoot!

J: I'm gonna hafta start saving my own clams now.

H: BTW, get yourself a nice Monopod/ball head.

Enjoy.
J&H

SportsNut

davev wrote:

It's big, and heavy, and awkward, and you'll love using it.

I have used mine on a Xti, a 30D, and now on the XSi.
It works great on all of them.

I mostly use mine on bird/nature shots with a Canon 2X tc.
The pictures are still sharp.

Congrats.

Big, heavy and awkward? You just described me!!

My Dad's thinking of getting an XSi, do you like it?

According to the UPS site, my lens is on the way right now. Can't wait to give it a whirl!

SportsNut

Jekyll & Hyde wrote:

J: Big congrats! It's one of my dream lenses.

H: It should be perfect for what you shoot!

J: I'm gonna hafta start saving my own clams now.

H: BTW, get yourself a nice Monopod/ball head.

Enjoy.
J&H

I'll let you know how I like it. It's on the way and I'm excited to try it out. We're going on a little trip this weekend and hope to get some good shots while I'm out. Maybe I can post some next week.

Yeah, it's a lot of money. I sure hope it's worth it.

Already have a nice monopod that I bought when I got the 70-200 (but never used). Should be good to go.

Thanks for responding. I'll let everyone know how things go.

davev

SportsNut wrote:

Big, heavy and awkward? You just described me!!

My Dad's thinking of getting an XSi, do you like it?

According to the UPS site, my lens is on the way right now. Can't wait to give it a whirl!

I like the XSi a lot.
I said this before, but I'll say it again.
I really like the info on the screen on the back of the camera.
I hate the tiny LCD on the top, like my 30D has.
I have older eyes, and that 3 inch screen giving me the info I need works out very well.

The shots coming from that camera are very good.
I basically replaced my 30D with the XSi. (the 30D is now in a backup role)

KED

SportsNut wrote:

I ordered a new 300mm F/2.8L Canon today...ordered overnight so I can have it for this weekend.

I'm 4100 clams lighter, but I think money can sometimes (help) buy happiness! I can't wait!

I've spent some considerable time looking at the Sigma 100-300 and the Canon 100-400, but I decided to spend more money and not look back. I hope I made the right decision. I'm not rich (by any stretch), but do have the money to pay for this.

I primarily shoot 8-year-olds' soccer and baseball games; my 70-200 just doesn't quite cut it; I hope this does. Add the 1.4x (I have) and I think it'll handle the job very nicely, even in cloudy Ohio.

Anybody got any tips or suggestions for a new 300mm owner? I hope the AF is as quick as everyone says...and the pics as sharp. I love doing the soccer games...can't wait!

You will be thrilled with the results; my sharpest out-of-camera images have most frequently come from the 300. I shoot the same 300/1.4x combination frequently with great results. Your monopod is a must unless you are also a bodybuilder. Under optimal conditions (on the sideline with very little non-shooter pedestrian activity) I like the 70-200 on one body and the big glass on the other; you have to be willing to lay the "big boy" down though. I'm surprised that your 70-200 (with a 1.4?) isn't cutting it. I generally use long glass from the midfield line, and the zoom down inside the "20" or behind the goal. Sometimes my major investment (Mk II N + 300 or 400) is lying on the ground 75 yards away, but in those situations the only pedestrians around are other shooters so I just hope for the best.

PS I grew up in Cleveland -- even there, the sun comes out at this time of year!

ian408

The 300 is a great lens. You'll love it.

You'll be tempted to hand hold it. You can do that in good light. With the 1.4 or
2.0 TC, it's still lighter than the 500mm

KED

ian408 wrote:

You'll be tempted to hand hold it. You can do that in good light. With the 1.4 or
2.0 TC, it's still lighter than the 500mm

Well it's also lighter than a VW Beetle, but all the same I've never been tempted to hand hold it! There's no shame in monopod'ing; I've seen people (and used to be one) using a monopod with a 70-200.

ian408

KED wrote:

Well it's also lighter than a VW Beetle, but all the same I've never been tempted to hand hold it! There's no shame in monopod'ing; I've seen people (and used to be one) using a monopod with a 70-200.

Ha! It's always a good idea to use all means to steady your camera

20DNoob

Congrats and enjoy it, it's a wicked lens.

harjtt

SportsNut wrote:

I ordered a new 300mm F/2.8L Canon today...ordered overnight so I can have it for this weekend.

I'm 4100 clams lighter, but I think money can sometimes (help) buy happiness! I can't wait!...

Anybody got any tips or suggestions for a new 300mm owner? I hope the AF is as quick as everyone says...and the pics as sharp. I love doing the soccer games...can't wait!

Wow, thats a lot of clams !! I thought my 35-100F2 ZD was spendy but not now !! Looking forward to seeing some fab pics !

lowbone

You are'nt gonna believe how good this lens is, even with a 2X

ian408

harjtt wrote:

Wow, thats a lot of clams !! I thought my 35-100F2 ZD was spendy but not now !! Looking forward to seeing some fab pics !

Welcome to the world of big primes...

KED

lowbone wrote:

You are'nt gonna believe how good this lens is, even with a 2X

I am evolving with my 70 - 200 f/2.8, and FWIW I think I am laying off extenders altogether, at least for shooting in AI Servo mode. Maybe it's my imagination, but I think even the 1.4 somehow slows AF down. Anyway, I shot 300 images last weekend (sports) and did better without the 1.4 than with; just need to discipline myself not even to bother with shots that are too far away. Experiment, learn and enjoy.