Best lens for shooting track & field: I have a Nikon D 5200 and I use it to take photos at track and field meets I also have a tamarron 18 x 200 lens and a Nikon 18 x 300 lens which...

Criss Riley

I have a Nikon D 5200 and I use it to take photos at track and field meets I also have a tamarron 18 x 200 lens and a Nikon 18 x 300 lens which would be the better to use to get the best photos

mdphelps Loc: Michigan

Criss Riley wrote:

I have a Nikon D 5200 and I use it to take photos at track and field meets I also have a tamarron 18 x 200 lens and a Nikon 18 x 300 lens which would be the better to use to get the best photos

Depends on your access & therefore how close you are to the action. I use my 70-200 from inside the field & 100-400 from the stands on a similar crop sensor body 7Dmkii. Remember to "fill" the frame on your specific athlete. The Sports forum may have more input to your question.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Criss Riley wrote:

I have a Nikon D 5200 and I use it to take photos at track and field meets I also have a tamarron 18 x 200 lens and a Nikon 18 x 300 lens which would be the better to use to get the best photos

"Best" is alway an individuals opinion. My "best" sports lens is the Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 lens.

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

...if you have good light your 18-300 would be best. More stretch and fast shutter gets results! Of course, if you're inside or under the lights it's a different ballgame...check out the Sports forum...

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

Criss Riley wrote:

I have a Nikon D 5200 and I use it to take photos at track and field meets I also have a tamarron 18 x 200 lens and a Nikon 18 x 300 lens which would be the better to use to get the best photos

The best lens for your camera would be an AFS lens such as the 70-200 f2.8.

That being said if you bought a body as a D7XXX and a used 80-200 AFD and a used 300 f4 you would be out less money and have what you need because the D7XXX series has the focus motor built in.

I know its not what you want to hear, but having the focus motor in the lens opens up a plethora of used but extremely durable and reliable NIKKOR glass.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Criss Riley wrote:

I have a Nikon D 5200 and I use it to take photos at track and field meets I also have a tamarron 18 x 200 lens and a Nikon 18 x 300 lens which would be the better to use to get the best photos

Neither of those lenses are best for action sports. I have the Nikon 50mm f1.8, and it is good for daylight outdoor kids soccer games from the sidelines. My Nikon DX 70-300mm is not a best sports action lens, but will work. Anyone shooting sports regularly, is best to own a 70-200mm f2.8. A friend just bought a Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 G2. His kids play a lot of sports, indoors and outdoors. He's equipped properly now. I would use your Nikon18-300mm because of the focal range. Good luck.

Criss Riley

Thanks everyone for the feedback all of it was helpful I just have to sit and digest all the information I got thanks

Bill_de Loc: US

Since you have used these lenses, check to see what focal lengths you used when using the 18-300. If you are not using it much beyond 200 you may not need to use the 300. Also try taking similar shots at the same focal length with both lenses.

You then will have an answer you can be confident about.

--

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

MT Shooter wrote:

"Best" is alway an individuals opinion. My "best" sports lens is the Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 lens.

I didn't know that Sigma lens existed until now. I'll have to read something about it later.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

mas24 wrote:

I didn't know that Sigma lens existed until now. I'll have to read something about it later.

Actually its in its 3rd incarnation, been out since 2003. Its the worlds ONLY 300mm F2.8 zoom lens. A masterpiece for action photography.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Criss Riley wrote:

I have a Nikon D 5200 and I use it to take photos at track and field meets I also have a tamarron 18 x 200 lens and a Nikon 18 x 300 lens which would be the better to use to get the best photos

Criss, welcome to the Hog!
It depends on from where you can shoot and what you shoot.
The tried and true standby is the 70-200.
I prefer a shorter, like a 24-120 and really close for dramatic shots.
The ultimate T&F lens would be the 200 f2!!!
SS

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

SharpShooter wrote:

Criss, welcome to the Hog!
It depends on from where you can shoot and what you shoot.
The tried and true standby is the 70-200.
I prefer a shorter, like a 24-120 and really close for dramatic shots.
The ultimate T&F lens would be the 200 f2!!!
SS

I almost bought one but the DOF is about nothing sat f2.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

LWW wrote:

I almost bought one but the DOF is about nothing sat f2.

Yes, the DOF is almost nothing but when you want the DoF to be nothing, few lenses can deliver that without being right on top of the subject!!!
Both shot with a Canon 200 f1.8.
SS

(Download)

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

Criss Riley wrote:

I have a Nikon D 5200 and I use it to take photos at track and field meets I also have a tamarron 18 x 200 lens and a Nikon 18 x 300 lens which would be the better to use to get the best photos

Good track and field photo's is more about technique than the choice between your two lenses. The difference in your lenses is at the long end, 300 mm vs. 450 mm. For me I love shooting hurtles with a long lens, either lens will do depending on where you stand and what shutter speed and lens opening you use. You see, technique here is more important than the lens you use. Techniques like panning is very important to you in shooting track. I love 1/30 sec. in panning for runners, makes it a great technique if done correctly. Again, I cannot stress enough, practice your techniques, your understanding of freezing or blurring, your ability to use rules of thirds, leading lines, subject mergers, color mergers, center of interest, depth of field, etc. etc. etc. Plan your work and then work your plan. Practice, practice, practice, it is not a choice between which lens to use, it is a choice of which skill to use when. Good luck and keep on shooting until the end.

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

mdphelps wrote:

Depends on your access & therefore how close you are to the action. I use my 70-200 from inside the field & 100-400 from the stands on a similar crop sensor body 7Dmkii. Remember to "fill" the frame on your specific athlete. The Sports forum may have more input to your question.

Definitely depends on how close you can get. I do a lot of running races but I usually have access to the infield so my 24-105 is just perfect. if i have to shoot from seats I would go longer as Md says and both good choices in range.

That said, whether to fill the lens with a single runner or back off and show a cluster of runners competing, depends on who you are shooting for. To shoot head on or from the side? Is in indoors or outside? Inside presents some lighting problems and how wide you lens can go or how high an ISO if your looking for DOF.

More questions than answers.