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Zoom lens with an image stabilizer or…?

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Iggy183833

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Hi all,

I want to get a decent zoom lens for my new 20D, within the 24-75 or 28-135 range. My problem is deciding between a fast zoom lens (f2.8) or a zoom (say f3.5-f5.6) with IS.

The type of situation I need the lens for is say a conference, I have access near the stage, no flash allowed, the speakers won’t be posing, will be talking & possibly moving around the stage.

Now if I choose a fast lens I can keep the shutter speed to above 1/60 & dial in the extra ISO if the lighting is poor & shoot at f2.8, although the images might be a tad soft….or would it be better to go for a lens with IS? The speakers will be talking, their faces animated so basically ruling out dropping below 1/60 which makes the use of the IS lens pointless or am I missing something?

My budget is around £500 ($877) so it won’t stretch to a Canon lens, could anyone recommend a quality lens within that budget?

Thanks for any help.
 
I'm not really sure, but it would seem to be a wash, except that at the same focal lengths, the IS lens would allow a greater DOF at the same shutter speeds.

I'd make my determination then as to what FL is more desireable.

--
...Bob, NYC

http://www.pbase.com/btullis

You'll have to ignore the gallery's collection of bad compositions, improper exposures, and amateurish post processing. ;)

 
Thanks Bob but surely at the same focal lengths, the IS lens would only allow a greater DOF because you can drop the shutter speed?
 
Sorry I should have said, the IS lens would only allow a greater DOF because you can drop the shutter speed allowing a smaller aperture to be used.
 
It does sound nice but I think it's around £770 (my budget is £500) & the focal length is slightly short, I do the odd portrait & want a zoom that covers 24-75 or up to 135...shame because f2.8 with IS does sound great.
 
What I was thinking as I wrote that was that the IS lens won't allow you to go as open as the non IS.

If the shot calls for 1/15 at ISO 1600 at F4, your chances are better for a clear image with the IS lens. You'd have to open the aperture with the non-IS to get a reasonable hand-held shutter speed (and along with that comes less DOF).

Just thinking aloud. I don't do this sort of shooting, so the direct experience isn't what I have to offer. And of course, one's hand-holding technique comes into play (some are better at it than others).

--
...Bob, NYC

http://www.pbase.com/btullis

You'll have to ignore the gallery's collection of bad compositions, improper exposures, and amateurish post processing. ;)

 
IS really is great for helping to stop softness from camera motion. What it won't do is stop motion blur from moving subjects. For that you need shutter speed. The only way to get more shutter speed is with more light.

You can't add a flash; so, you can bump the ISO or open the aperture. To do the later you need a faster lens. I would pick up at the minimum an f/2.8 zoom. An even faster prime might be a better way to go.
--
Bill
Taking It One Day At a Time



http://www.pbase.com/slowpokebill
'The fact that no one understands you doesn't mean you're an artist.' Unknown
'Every man dies; but, not every man lives' Braveheart
'Sometime the magic works. Sometimes it doesn't' Little Big Man
 
that would be at the top of my list along with one of the little 50mm.
--
Bill
Taking It One Day At a Time



http://www.pbase.com/slowpokebill
'The fact that no one understands you doesn't mean you're an artist.' Unknown
'Every man dies; but, not every man lives' Braveheart
'Sometime the magic works. Sometimes it doesn't' Little Big Man
 
Yep, both the lens mentioned are nice ( I already have the 50 F1.8) but I really would like to get a zoom not a fixed focal length lens...any ideas, anyone?
 
You need as much speed as you can get out of a lens and in a zoom you're not going to find faster than a 2.8. For your budget the Tamron or Sigma equivalent should work fine.
 
I'm not going to gt to far off base, but if you are on the side of the stage you can use a tripod, so I would go wilh Bill on the recomendation. If your 40 feet away, I would go with the longer side of thing 135F2L if your in the audience I would bust you budget and say the 70-200 IS just because of the size of the subject in the frame.
--



Allias. dancin Wainwright
http://www.pbase.com/bob_foisel/galleries

Bob Foisel
 
the Canon 24-70f/2.8L is tops for this type of thing. Optically stunning and very fast to focus. Plus, it is built like a tank. Down side is the budget needs to be big to buy one.

I would say optically the Tamron f/2.8is very close to the Canon. the downsides are the build quality is poorer, focus is much slower and the focus is noisy.

I haven't played with the Sigma in this range and will leave others to comment on it.
--
Bill
Taking It One Day At a Time



http://www.pbase.com/slowpokebill
'The fact that no one understands you doesn't mean you're an artist.' Unknown
'Every man dies; but, not every man lives' Braveheart
'Sometime the magic works. Sometimes it doesn't' Little Big Man
 
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