Tigger1 Loc: Surrey, BC Canada

Up front I should tell you I do not shoot night football games. But, I do own the Nikon 200-500mm f5.6 zoom lens which is usually mounted on my Nikon D7200 DX crop sensor camera. From my experience shooting wildlife, both stationery subjects and animals such as Cheetah (which move many times faster than a football player) in failing late afternoon daylight. The Nikon 200-500mm f5.6 lens hunts for focus even at 6400 ISO and f5.6. My suggestion is that you rent the 200-500 lens for a football game and try it before buying the lens.
Garth

toxdoc42

When I worked for my school newspaper, I also used a Speedgraphic in the early 1960s. I liked the idea of the 2 sided film holder, but for sports, it was just too much trouble. as I recall it, there was a pack that contained 12 or 20 sheets, I don't remember, but it was probably a Kodak product, and you pulled a tab which advanced the film. The 4X5 inch negative was amazing! I never used a telephone of any sort with that camera, I really don't remember what lens was on it, but I counted on my being on the sidelines to enable me to capture the action photos that I wanted.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Don't forget that even though you aren't shooting with a crop sensor camera you still have the option of cropping in post production to get the same results. This means that you can shoot with a shorter lens such as a 70-200 f2.8 or even the 300mm f4E PF. With a full frame you'll be getting the best of low light capabilities. I'm assuming you're shooting full frame. There'd be no reason to stick a 200-500mm on a crop sensor camera.

I recall that in the days of Speed Graphic cameras, photographers shooting professional baseball would have to stand very close to the batter to get a good shot.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

As a professional sports action photographer, I use two primary lenses for night football. The Nikon 400/2.8E FL, and the Nikon 70-200/2.8E FL. I shoot with the 400 on a D5 body and the 70-200 on either a D500 or D850 (untested, by me, combination at this time). I would not even consider anything slower for this type of work, but I am being paid for my work. The least expensive way to go, IMHO, would be a fast 70-200, or perhaps the Nikon 300/4E PF, on the D500. There is nothing wrong with the Canon substitutes for my equipment, but I am a Nikon shooter and not knowledgeable about the Canon system. All-in-all, Full Frame is a better way to go in low light situations, IMHO, but that D500 is surely a wonderful product at an amazing price. Best of luck.

fstoprookie Loc: Central Valley of California

I own a D5 and a 200-500 f5.6 & a 70-200 f2.8. I have shot High School Soccer and football for about 10 years now. I'd love to use my 200-500 f5.6 for night football but ya have to crank up the ISO so high to satisfy the lighting that it gets pretty grainy. I prefer my 70-200 2.8 for all my night games. Takes great pictures with reasonable ISO (1500-2500) settings. All HS football fields do NOT have the same lighting as most on this thread will attest to. Good luck.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

I was unaware they actually had lights!

bobbygee

I tried my 200-500 on a D500 last year and the results were mixed.
Before the sun went away for good (middle of 2nd qtr), the shots were good. But as the field lights took over, the ISO got ramped up to 25,000 so I could shoot at 1/500 sec and f 5.6, the max on that lens.
Unless you have very good de-noising programs, you will not be too happy with the results. Ok for phone pictures, but I don't think you would want anything larger than 4x6.

Two weeks later, I tried again at a different stadium with the same results. Started off well enough but I noticed the ISO creeping up as the sun went down. I used my 70-200 f 2.8 for the rest of the game and got better results because the ISO seemed to hover between 3200-5000. My 70-200 lens was not available the first night because it was being repaired!

I have used the 200-500 at all of my grandson's HS soccer games and it is a phenomenal lens in daylight!!
Hope that helps