Hand-holding your Canon 70-200 2.8 IS lens...question.

[ltilley]

I'm about to make the plunge and buy this baby. Just curious... what's the slowest shutter spead you'd hand hold it at 200mm?

Thanks in advance,
Lisa

[mwfanelli]

I'm about to make the plunge and buy this baby. Just curious... what's the slowest shutter spead you'd hand hold it at 200mm?

Thanks in advance,
Lisa

The general rule says 1/250 s. With a bigger, heavier, or telephoto lens it may require faster. Many people believe they are hand-holding gurus but, on examining the results critically, they aren't!

If you haven't bought this one yet and plan do do a lot of hand-holding, take a look at an IS lens. It will increase your hand-holding abilities by 2 -3 stops.

[ltilley]

yes, that's the one I'm looking at... the IS. Do you think it's hand-holdable at 1/60?

[Loupey]

Lisa, remember on a 1.6x crop camera, this lens is like 112mm-320mm zoom. Also, some people's definition of "good" or "acceptable" my not be for others.

I can tell you that I can get "acceptable" results at the 200mm end hand-holding at 1/45s and 1/60s with a little effort. But then again, I'm one of those self-proclaimed hand-holding gurus

I'm a big, BIG fan of IS technology. I have used this lens and the 300mm f/4L IS with teleconverters and extension tubes mostly hand-held. Go to my gallery or to the Nature and Wildlife Forum (that's where I reside most of the time) to see some examples.

[drg]

Most people can almost immediatly hand hold one of these at around 100-125th with very good results. That's assuming good shooting technique and a stationary object.

With practice and good breath control and shutter release discipline you may even do better.

I've hand held one of these down around 1/30th but the lens was propped on my knee and my back was against a vehicle.

Depending on the type of images you usually pursue, most people notice a bigger difference in tracking shots first, unless of course they have had a 'shake' problem.

Look forward to seeing some photos.

[ltilley]

thanks again guys... this is helpful. Loupey, I'll be sure to go have a look!!!