SHPSUPCO

I DECIDED TO POST THIS REQUEST BEFORE MAKING A DECISION ON THE TYPE OF CAMERA AND LENSES I WANT AND NEED. MY INTERESTS VARY FROM LANDSCAPE, WILDLIFE, INSECTS, PLANT, CLOUD FORMATIONS, GROUP PICTURES OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS. BUT, FROM MY VIEW,THE MOST CHALLENGING PHOTOS AND OR VIDEOS WILL BE TO CAPTURE QUALITY STILLS AND VIDEO OF MY GRANDSON PLAYING HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ON FRIDAY NIGHTS. THE LIGHTING IS TYPICAL OF A HIGH SCHOOL GAME NOT AS GOOD AS PRO BASEBALL. THE OTHER FACTOR IS DISTANCE AND PERSPECTIVE, I CAN SHOOT FROM THE END ZONE AND BE LEVEL WITH THE FIELD WITHOUT OBSTRUCTION, BUT MORE LIKELY I WOULD SHOOT FROM THE STANDS LOOKING DOWN ON THE FIELD. THE DISTANCE WILL VARY FROM SAY 50 FEET TO OVER 300 FEET, SO I NEED A VARIABLE ZOOM PHOTO LENS THAT CAN FOCUS ON A MOVING TARGET THAT MAY BECOMING CLOSER OR FURTHER AWAY. THE OTHER FACTOR IS THAT FOOTBALL IS A CONTACT SPORT I WOULD NOT JUST FOCUS ON HIM BUT MORE LIKE A SMALL GROUP PICTURE WITH 2 TO 4 PLAYERS IN THE PICTURE OR VIDEO. I AM WILLING TO SPEND ABOUT $1200 FOR THE CAMERA AND TWO LENSES, BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE DISAPPOINTED, SO IF YOU THINK THAT AMOUNT IS UNREALISTIC TELL ME. I VALUE YOUR INFORMED OPINION, BUT I RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS JUST AN OPINION BASED ON THE INFORMATION I GIVE YOU. I HAVE RESEARHED A LOT OF CAMERAS AND THE ONE THAT IS MOST APPEALING TO ME IS THE NIKON D7200 IT HAS A LOT OF THE FEATURES I LIKE AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IT WOULD BE A GOOD LOW LIGHT CAMERA. I HAVE USED A $300 DOLLAR NIKON SO I AM MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE WAY NIKON'S OPERATE BUT WOULD BE OPEN YO OTHER CAMERAS IF THEY WOULD DO A BETTER JOB AT CLOSE TO THE SAME COST. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT A COMPRABLE CANNON CAMERA HAS A BETTER QUALITY VIDEO THE THE NIKON D7200. I COULD TAKE VIDEO AND CREATE STILLS FROM THE VIDEO IS ANOTHER OPTION. LENSES IS MORE CONFUSING FOR ME. I AM ASSUMING WITH A ZOOM PHOTO LENS I NEED ONE THAT IS VARIABLE AND CAN REFOCUS ON A MOVING OBJECT THAT IS MOVING CLOSER OR FURTHER AWAY. IT SEEMS LIKE A HUGE CHALLENGE
HAVE CONSIDERED PURCHASING THE NIKON D7200 BECAUSE IT HAS LOTS OF FEATURES I LIKE AND IS SUPPOSE TO BE A GOOD LOW LIGHT CAMERA. I HAVE USED A NIKON CAMERA IN THE PAST. I HAVE READ THE A COMPARABLE CANNON CAMERA HAS A BETTER QUALITY VIDEO BUT NIKON HAS BETTER QUALITY PHOTOS. ALSO, NOT SURE IF I SHOULD GO WITH REFURBISHED CAMERA AND OR LENSES OR THIRD PARTY LENSES AS A WAY TO SAVE MONEY. SHOULD I MAKE MY MAJOR INVESTMENT IN THE LENSES AND NOT THE CAMERA? ANY HELP YOU CAN OFFER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. i TEND TO OVER ANALYZE SO IF YOU CAN SIMPLIFY ON OPTIONS THAT WOULD HELP.

At this point I an not worried about settings. I know I will have to experiment. But if I have a good camera and lens that has the capacity to do what I need, then I will discover the the appropriate settings to get the best pictures.

Thanks in advance for your help. Steve

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Factory-refurbished camera is fine - it will be just as good as a brand new one.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

I do not read navy old MSGs... You might want to ease on the caps.

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

I didnt read it either, kind of annoying ....and hard to read

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Caps notwithstanding, the D7200 is very capable. However, with your budget, you are only looking at either refurbished or used product. A 7200 new is between $1100 and $1300. A D7100, excellent in all respects, is $900 or so. For a lens, a 70 - 200 mm with vibration resistance, like the Tamron 70 - 200, $150 from B&H. A Sigma 18 - 300 $500.

On Ebay, a Nikon D7200 Digital SLR Camera Body 3 Lens Kit 18-55mm is $984, and a Sigma 18-300mm F/3.5 - 6.3 DC Macro Lens $380.

So, there you go.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

I didn't bother to read it either!
But he must hast have mentions a Nikon since it's what everybody seems to be pushing.
I suggest a canon and maybe an 85mm 1.8 or longer fast prime and just do the best you can.
NO camera/lens combo for $1000 will cut it once the sun goes down. Just the nature of inexpensive gear. With a prime you'll get SOME great shots, but you're just gonna give up a lot at $1000. Good luck
SS

Edit: just saw you mentioned video. Get a used/refurb Canon 70D with the 18-135 kit lens. The 70 has VERY good focus but a REALLY KILLER VIDEO. The best out there with AF video.

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

all that shouting has given me a pain

Leitz Loc: Solms

Looks like you also tend to not read in the rules what Admin recommends concerning capitals!

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

That does meet his price requirement, but for night football, those lenses won't cut it. The 18-55 is worthless as even at 55 is is about 150mm too short. The 18-300 has decent reach, but at f/6.3 it is allowing about 1/8 of the light that will be needed.

The minimum lens would be a 70-200 f/2.8. Unfortunately, I think the budget is not realistic for the task. For DAYLIGHT games, the 18-300 would be fine.

n3eg Loc: West coast USA

AND THE EXIF DATA MUST BE SAVED IN ALL CAPS TOO.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Guys, this was his first post and likely his last. Pointing out proper etiquette is one thing, putting him down for it in his first post is kind of harsh, and probably turned him off to posting here.

jim quist Loc: Missouri

The 70-200 2.8 is a great sports lens. end zone, sidelines, bleachers...it will do real fine.

jim quist Loc: Missouri

The 70-200 2.8 is a great sports lens. end zone, sidelines, bleachers...it will do real fine.

fyi: Caps are hard to read. In social media if you use all caps its a way of yelling at people.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

I for one have ever only belonged to one forum, and this is it. Before coming here I had NO idea that caps were bad. Not that I'd ever used them since this was/is my only forum.
BUT, on one of the post I started I put a couple of the title words, out of probably 8-10 words, in Caps and got a stern PM reprimand from Admin over it, yet I see it ALL the time in titles from people that have been here a while!
SS

tdekany Loc: Oregon

1 - admin must not be a Canon user and probably doesn't care for your over the top fanboyism.

2 - is this really the ONLY photo forum you frequent? Wow! You are missing out.