If you're looking for more range in your lenses, there's a minor instant rebate discount available for Sigma's 70-200mm F/2.8 lens with OS (optical stabilization). I'm not going to dive into hyperfocal distance lingo, but there's a certain look that you get when zoomed out to 200mm and opened up to F/2.8, over a 24mm lens at f/2.8.
Image stabilization is fairly important on these long lenses and if you wanted to check out Canon's 70-200mm version, that will run you about $2300 dollars. Sigma's 70-200mm F/2.8 with OS is a nice alternative lens option and will only run you $1299 right now
Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 via Amazon
Emm
Post author@Bill Trip - Not many choices out there for this range. It's the only 70-200mm F/2.8 with image stabilization at the lowest price, compared to Canon at $2500 dollars.
Bill Trip
Only $1299? Wow! Must be nice to be able to say only $1299.
Emm
Post author@Tony - Besides the nice Bokeh a 200mm F/2.8 gives, we actually use the 70-200mm F/2.8 religiously in studio. A 200mm lens has a narrower field of view so you can use smaller backdrops. Also, it doesn't distort the subject. Wide angle lenses can sometimes make your subjects look like their heads are bigger.
Tony
Emm, just curious... (or anyone else like to chime in). What video shooting situations you found a 70-200 IS lens suitable? I know for instance, shooting from the "press pool" at govt events is one. I used a 70-300 Tamron when President Obama was in town. Emm, I know what you mean by the "certain look"...what type of scenes/shots you refer to?
Emm
Post author@Shakezoola - Tokina also does not offer any image stabilization for this range. Hard to beat the Sigma.
Emm
Post author@Apostolos - Most guys I know who shoot canon are using the Canon 70-200mm or Sigma 70-200mm. It's really hard to beat the value of the Sigma with it's F/2.8 and OS (optical stabilization). It's not as quiet or as fast with Auto Focus as Canon, but that's something video guys don't regularly use.
Apostolos
Do you have any experience with the new offerings in this range of Sigma vs Tamron?
shakezoola
@Emm Tokina
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l2736&_nkw=Tokina+AF+AT-X+80-200+2.8
Emm
Post author@shakezoola - The Sigma 80-200mm does not have a constant F/2.8 aperture throughout it's range (slow in low light), and it also doesn't have image stabilization which is very helpful when used for the longer focal length.
Tamron offers a 70-200mm F/2.8 Lens
also, but it does not have any IS.
shakezoola
you can grab 80-200 f/2.8 from ebay for 200-300 bucks
grab 80-200 f/2.8 from ebay for 200-300 bucks without autofocus on nikon mount
Clay BItner
I'm curious how the OS of this lens stacks up to the Canon's IS on its 70-200 2.8 IS II. The Canon's IS is killer, but the price on this is very tempting.