topic Re: any tutorials to properly use canon 70-200 f2.8L is II usm lens? in EF & RF Lenses

any tutorials to properly use canon 70-200 f2.8L is II usm lens?

kertl7779 — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 02:17:19 GMT

I am a novice, but want to learn properly the use of canon 70-200 f2.8L is II usm lens. Please help with my question. I am using a canon 60D camera. Thanks

Re: any tutorials to properly use canon 70-200 f2.8L is II usm lens?

ebiggs1 — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 15:29:59 GMT

This is a great lens. My most favorite of all time.

There is a great big wide world out there with all kinds of fantastic stuff to shoot. Bolt that lens on and go out and shoot.

Shoot a lot. You will learn form the greatest teacher there is, experience.

Re: any tutorials to properly use canon 70-200 f2.8L is II usm lens?

TCampbell — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 16:10:33 GMT

Are you trying to understand the switches?

I do not know of any "tutorials" per se, but can run you through what they do and why you'd care.

The lens has four switches on the side.

The top switch is a focus-range limiter. In the 1.4-infinity position it will use the full range. In the 2.5-infinity position it will not attempt to focus on close objects.

The next swtich down is the auto-focus / manual-focus switch ... common to all auto-focus lenses. You probably are familiar with that one already.

The next switch is turns the image stabilization on or off. All image stabilized lenses have one of these as well, so you're probably familiar with it.

The final switch is the most interesting... this changes the stabilizer mode.

Mode 1 provides full stabilization and this is the mode that works like just about every other lens with image stabilization. Most of the time, this is the mode you want.

Mode 2 is a special mode useful for "panning" shots. This mode is intended for situations where you're tracking a subject moving horizontally across the image. You don't want the stabilization to fight you as you track, but you don't want to completely switch off stabilization either. Basically you need to track in the horizontal direction, but stabilize in the vertical direction -- that's what mode 2 does.

This shot was taken with an EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM (original... not the "II") using image stabilization mode 2.

To get this shot, I slowed the shutter speed down to only 1/40th sec. This is normally too slow to "freeze" action, but in this case I want to imply motion. The camera is not still ... I'm using the camera hand-held at this speed and I'm tracking the rider by "panning" the camera down the street with the bike. The image stabilization will correct for any minor up/down movement of the lens, but will not attempt to correct for sideways movement (because of course we WANT the lens to be sweeping sideways).

When the shot it taken at this slow shutter speed, we get a blurred background and we also get blurred spokes on the bike -- which really helps convey the motion in the shot even though this is a "still" camera shot (no Photoshop effects here.)

Panning shots do take some practice and plan to get a lot of bad ones. I use "continuous" shooting and take a burst of shots as the subject moves past me, then evaluate to decide which one ultimately is the strongest image.

Re: any tutorials to properly use canon 70-200 f2.8L is II usm lens?

trulandphoto — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 16:30:25 GMT

Nice summary of the possibilities with this lens. And there is material out there on when you miight not want to use IS. Sports, for instance.

It's not true, however, that all IS lenses have a switch. EF-M lenses, for example.

Re: any tutorials to properly use canon 70-200 f2.8L is II usm lens?

TCampbell — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 16:59:30 GMT

@trulandphoto wrote:
Nice summary of the possibilities with this lens. And there is material out there on when you miight not want to use IS. Sports, for instance.

It's not true, however, that all IS lenses have a switch. EF-M lenses, for example.

I would actually encourage the use of IS for sports. While the shutter speeds to "freeze" action are fast enough that IS isn't needed to prevent blur due to camera movement, the IS system is actually in use while the camera is focusing. The camera will be able to lock focus faster and more accurately if you leave the IS switched on.

If you put the camera on a tripod then it's a good idea to switch the IS off.

Re: any tutorials to properly use canon 70-200 f2.8L is II usm lens?

ebiggs1 — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 17:37:27 GMT

Ditto. Tim.

There has been lots written about IS and the bottom line is, it is usually a good thing. Mounting on a tripod is really the only time it may work against you.

Re: any tutorials to properly use canon 70-200 f2.8L is II usm lens?

kertl7779 — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 18:31:33 GMT

Thanks for your words of encouragement

Re: any tutorials to properly use canon 70-200 f2.8L is II usm lens?

kertl7779 — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 18:34:10 GMT

Thanks for the technical information and photo sample, I will try to follow your directions and perhaps, capture same photo situation sometime soon.

Franklin

60D

Re: any tutorials to properly use canon 70-200 f2.8L is II usm lens?

kertl7779 — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 18:35:03 GMT

Thanks for the clarification, will keep it in mind

Re: any tutorials to properly use canon 70-200 f2.8L is II usm lens?

kertl7779 — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 18:37:18 GMT

thanks, i got the lens to shhot minor league baseball, I believe the lens would help me a lot

Re: any tutorials to properly use canon 70-200 f2.8L is II usm lens?

kertl7779 — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 18:38:57 GMT

Thanks, I think using a monopod will help rather than using a tripod because of space need at minor league games

Re: any tutorials to properly use canon 70-200 f2.8L is II usm lens?

amfoto1 — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 01:39:02 GMT

Leaving IS on also helps stabilize the image in the viewfinder, which can be helpful with moving subjects.

There's no need to turn IS off, even on a tripod. If there's no movement, the 70-200 IS lenses self-detect and turn IS off automatically (so do the super telephotos with IS).

The only times I'd recommend turning IS off is if taking really long exposures or possibly when shooting video. Occasionally when there is no movement, IS causes the image to "drift" slowly. This isn't a problem at normal shutter speeds and shooting stills, but can effect long exposures and video. You also might turn IS off if you need to conserve battery power... but it really doesn't use much, so you won't save much. I've shot 1200+ images with dual LP-E6, all with IS, and still had plenty of charge in the batteries to keep shooting.

For sports shooting, you will likely want to use AI Servo mode and probably will get the best results using only the center AF point, at least to start. Later you might expand to use other AF points, too.

You also might want to try Back Button Focusing. It's a popular technique among sports photographers.

There is a series of three Youtube tutorials regarding Canon auto focus that I recommend viewing, posted by B&H Photo. The first of the three approx. half hour videos is here. It's not specific to that particular lens and discusses various camera models, though not the latest. However, your 60D's AF system is pretty much identical to the 50D's, which is discussed in some detail. Watch all three and they will help you get the best out of your camera and lens.

***********
Alan Myers

San Jose, Calif., USA
"Walk softly and carry a big lens."
GEAR: 5DII, 7D(x2), 50D(x3), some other cameras, various lenses & accessories
FLICKR & PRINTROOM

Re: any tutorials to properly use canon 70-200 f2.8L is II usm lens?

pjmacd — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 02:00:35 GMT

Tim, that's a wonderful shot. Thanks for explaining mode 2 - I always wondered what that was for, having forgotten to RTFM.

Re: any tutorials to properly use canon 70-200 f2.8L is II usm lens?

kertl7779 — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 21:23:00 GMT

Thanks for taking the time to explain and suggestions for taking better photos. Also thanks for suggesting I view the 3 videos about focusing, awesome information by watching all 3 of the tutorials.

Thanks again

Franklin Leon

Re: any tutorials to properly use canon 70-200 f2.8L is II usm lens?

benrub — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 17:43:28 GMT

Hi everyone,

This thread has been helpful.

I was wondering if I could get some advice.

This Sunday I'm shooting a road race.

I'll be standing in one spot while runners run toward me and then pass me by.

I'll be hand-holding, and will need to move around a bit in all directions to get the shots.

Which IS mode should I use?

Thanks,

Ben

Re: any tutorials to properly use canon 70-200 f2.8L is II usm lens?

RobertTheFat — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 17:59:01 GMT

@benrub wrote:
Hi everyone,
This thread has been helpful.

I was wondering if I could get some advice.

This Sunday I'm shooting a road race.

I'll be standing in one spot while runners run toward me and then pass me by.
I'll be hand-holding, and will need to move around a bit in all directions to get the shots.

Which IS mode should I use?

Thanks,
Ben

Mode 2 if you're panning, mode 1 otherwise. Note that what matters isn't how much you had to move around to get the shot, but whether you're moving in either the horizontal or vertical direction while you're shooting. At least that's how I read what the manual says. I've used my 70-200 IS II quite a lot, but I don't believe I've ever used mode 2.

Re: any tutorials to properly use canon 70-200 f2.8L is II usm lens?

ebiggs1 — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 20:47:30 GMT

These are people you are shooting? Boy that sounds bad, doesn't it? Anyway if it is I would not use Mode 2. Just leave it on Mode 1 and use One Shot. Use just the center focus point. Turn the others off. Use a fairly high ISO, say 800. I would try Av first but if conditions warrant, I might switch to Tv. Can't give specifics without knowing or seeing the exact conditions.

Two things, IS does not fix a moving subject. It fixes a moving camera. And secondly your location is more important than any of this. So grab the best spot you can.

If it is where they throw that colored powder all over everything, be very careful. It and cameras don't do well together. Don't ask but I know!

Re: any tutorials to properly use canon 70-200 f2.8L is II usm lens?

Tsleel2811 — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 15:10:31 GMT

I have the same exact setup. 60d with 70-200 II. I took me a while to master this lens. Non of my other L lenses have this many switches. I know this is the worst advice for someone asking for help but in the end you'll find its actually the best. Just go out and shoot. Trial and error. You know what you like and when you see what the camera gives you with your chosen settings. You try to correct and see what that gives you. You'll end up knowing your lens better and how it behaves. Good luck friend

Re: any tutorials to properly use canon 70-200 f2.8L is II usm lens?

ebiggs1 — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 15:20:03 GMT

"Just go out and shoot."

You get the 'Gold Star' for the day!

Re: any tutorials to properly use canon 70-200 f2.8L is II usm lens?

AB100 — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 13:35:14 GMT

Great review.