billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

The D500 is excellent in low light. You can get away with lenses that you can't on the D7200. With that said the 70-200 2.8 lens is great but the 70-200 f4 lens would also work great. But, like I said, the D500 is so good in low light you could probably get away with the Nikon 18-200, that body is that good. I use ISO 3200 all the time with good results.

Rhankins70 Loc: Florida

I shoot soccer games mostly and the link below is a night game shot on D750 with a tamron 70-200 f2.8 to give you an idea of what that lens can do. D500 would be a 100-300 equivalent in reach.



http://flickr.com/photos/87830993@N05/sets/72157677426751791

BJW

I use a Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 on my D500 for indoor ice hockey with terrible lighting. Very satisfied with the results. And the net cost of the lens after rebate from Tamron was about $1100 new. The D500 though is awesome.

StanRP Loc: Ontario Canada

The D500 has good 'High ISO' performance. Use the lens you have and increase the ISO.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 FL.

olsonsview

I would assume you are not forced to stay in one spot behind the catcher all evening? It would make for some very repetitive shots. If you move around a bit and anticipate where the action may occur, then the 70- 200 f2.8 with VR would be great. You should be able to capture many fun moments. Even Nikons first VR version of that range of zoom is an excellent lens that should serve you well for years to come with family sports photography. The longer lenses are great but become more specialized in their application.

Orso Loc: St. Augustine, FL

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

I use a 300mm f/4E PF ED VR lens for my grandson's baseball game and have good luck with it. I usually stand on the first base line and am able to shoot third base with good luck. I sometimes need to crop in order to achieve a "close up", but the photos turn out well. If you are using a tripod, you could try a 1.4 or 1.7 teleconvertor, but I mostly do not find the photos that great with the teleconvertor, but I always hand hold, so that could be causing the problems. I cannot remember the lens I used in these photos, but here are a couple.

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mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

I've had very good luck with Sigma 70-200 f2.8 that I found used for about $750. Also, I use an older Nikon 300mm f4 prime lens I bought on Amazon for $650. Both within your budget. If you are sitting behind the screen, a 50mm is too wide. Actually too wide no matter where you sit. You will need to zoom tight to fade out the net. Watch out for foul balls! Have fun!

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Any faster lens ( I would recommend a zoom lens) will be relatively large and heavy - so I would also recommend to be on a monopod.

truckster Loc: Tampa Bay Area

Just a thought, if you are behind the catcher and behind a chain link fence be careful focusing else you might have a bunch of snaps shots with the fence perfectly in focus and the grandson standing there fuzzy. (and you won't know till you get home and put them up on your computer.)

tomcat

Do NOT sit behind the catcher. You'll not get a good angle for 1st base. I shot sports pictures for the local papers and the best place to get a view of everything related to 1st base is on the third base side. You will get face views of him fielding and catching throws to 1st. I often shot from the dugouts. If there are no seats behind 3rd base, then go stand outside on the field, up against the outside of the fence, and beside the dugout. But definitely not behind the catcher. You'll have a problem with the wire fence being in every shot and your camera may focus on the fence. I used Nikon's 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII lens and it was perfect. Only buy a Nikon lens because they are faster focusing for sports and you'll need that speed for action shots. Keep your camera set to AF-C and set the shutter at C(H) continuous high speed. Be prepared to get a lot of bursts, but there will be many at sharp focus. Also try out the Group focus setting with the center point selected. If that doesn't work, then drop back to just the center point with single focusing. I am shooting my granddaughters soccer now and this D500 is an amazing camera for sports. I can see blades of grass kicked up from her shoes at 100 yds away, lol....

Festus Loc: North Dakota

I thought that's where the umpire is :~)

Orca Loc: Little Egg Harbor, NJ USA

Most times the umpire will make you move as being there is distracting to the pitcher. Many backstops have screens their to keep people from standing there.

hbbozsr

Thanks for the tip, I think I will now move to the dugouts for better shots.