If y'all have never shot with a real telephoto, Ie: something with a high speed fixed barrel focal at 2.8 or better, you'll die the first time you do.


I shoot with a 1d MkII(it's not about the MP for me, that sensor is plenty dense enough) and a 70-200 2.8L


With the slower focus lenses, learn the lag on your AI servo and learn to track. If you can get a hand held shot of a swallow or scissor tail in flight with a kit lens, you've learned in flight tracking correctly(I've done it one time, it's still the coolest in flight shot I've ever done, and was with a rebel XT and a 18-55 kit lens....)


I will say this as well.......don't buy into this "shoot it 2/3 of a stop under exposed and adjust the .Raw later".

I will also offer a thought from someone who used to sell cameras(me) on IS. IS is a cool thing to have on a lens, but remember: ONLY aperture will stop motion blur. IS will only stop your hand shaking, and by the time your shutter speed has dropped low enough your hand effects it, a moving subject is blurred. If it's the difference between a 2.8 non-is lens, and a slower f4 or variable 4-5.6 IS lens, take the 2.8 EVERY time.