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>I have been seeing a lot of people saying 'get a 80-200/2.8 lens'
>here and on the www. I would say that it's really a nice focal length
>lens zoom and really nice aperature. Optical quality is always good.
>The only shortcoming is the size (and thus, weight). I think these
>1.3 kg lenses are always too big for normal handhold usage. Together >with a tripod or monopod they are really good. [....]
When it comes to carrying an 80-200mm f2.8, uh, I'd rather not, except
for commercial work. But, the larger size, greater weight, and wider
aperture gain me a slower hand-holdable shutter speed. 1/250 at f4
is the best I can do (reasonably reliably - though 1/125th is possible
on a good day) with my light-weight 200mm, but 1/125th at f2.8 is
sharp most of the time (at 200mm) with the big zoom, and 1/60th is
often good. The length and weight serve to slow shaking (basic physics, at least until I have been holding the rig up to my eye too long, but
a short rest restores the advantage of the big lens). I sold my 180mm f2.8, because the zoom is almost always what went into the bag when it came to a choice - the zoom versatility, and slower shutter speed hand-holdability won.
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