Decisions, decisions. I need some lens buying advice!

[scoot241]

I've heard a lot of very good things about the new Tamron 70-200mm F2.8, also.

Did they come out with a new one? Last I heard, the sharpness is excellent but the AF is slow.

 

[Steve's Girl]

I find the VR very useful on the 70-200. With the VR, I can handhold shots at 1/15 at 200mm. That lens is really heavy and there is no way I could handhold at that slow of a shutter without VR. Earlier this week, I was taking yearbook photos at the school Thanksgiving program. It was in a high school auditorium with less than stellar lighting. I was using a shutter of 1/80 to 1/100. My first few shots were blurry and I immediately knew the VR was off. When I turned the VR on, the shots were all very sharp.

All that being said, I bought my lens before the price increases last year and don't know that I would be willing to pay the current price.