3rdcoast

I started taking sports pics for the local school and paper about two years ago due to having better equipment than both, but now that I have traveled to take pics for everyone I see how out of my league I am. ( I had not been charging anyone to download my pics off of my site until now, but see how much better they can be.) All of my equipment is about two years old I shoot a Canon 60D and T3i Lenses are a Sigma 70 - 200 2.8 (this lenses is about 4 years old and has seen better days) and a Canon 17 - 85 wide angle lenses for the group pics. I am saving up to get a full frame Canon but as the title states I am on a budget. What do I need to get to play with the big boys or at least join the minor leagues if you know what I mean. I try to cover all sports but primarily focus on Football and Powerlifting. Added information getting on the field is not a problem when considering the equipment. Any help is greatly appreciated.

charles brown Loc: Tennesse

You already have two very good cameras. I would focus on upgrading your lenses before investing in another body. To ensure you can change to FF without spending another fortune I would buy FF lenses only. I would get all 2.8 lenses (with IR when available) beginning with wide angle 18mm covering up to at least 300mm. Would also get fast 400mm lens and 1.4 teleconverter to go with it. Take a look at the pictures you have taken and start with the focal length that you use the most. Also, if possible go to a professional sporting event to see what kind of lens(es) most are using. If you know any personally talk to them and get their opinion also. If you want to move up to a FF camera now, I have read that Canon makes a FF with around 16 megapixels that has a high burst rate (FPS)and is great for sports photography. Of course, all of this is dependent upon your budget. FF camera with fast lenses is going to be very expensive, as I am sure you already know. Sony also makes cameras that have a high burst rate.

rebride

I am not sure I "know what you mean". Are you just comparing equipment? Or are you comparing actual prints/photos.
How are the majors or minors better?

3rdcoast

I am looking to buy some equipment to get better sports photos on like a 5K budget. I listed some of what have just need figure out what next steps are.

3rdcoast

So should I go with canon lenses or would sigma do just as good a job?

jimberton Loc: Michigan's Upper Peninsula

the canon fanboys will tell you to buy canon..

the sigma fanboys will tell you to buy sigma.

I have some sigma lenses for my canon stuff and i have some sigma lenses for my nikon stuff.

I do have the 70-200mm Sigma 2.8 OS for both the canon and nikons. I love those sigmas.

Best thing to do is take your camera bodies to a camera shop and try out some other lenses.

When i first bought a sigma lens, i bought it from a place that I could return it if i didn't like it. I took the sigma recommendation from MTShooter..he strongly likes his sigma lenses and he has both sigma and nikon lenses.

For sports, look into the sigma zoom lenses that go to 300mm or 500mm. For action shots..VR or IS don't do a whole lot of good because of the movement of your subjects. you just need fast shutter speeds.

3rdcoast

Do you happen to know if the sigma 70 - 200 is FF if I decide to get a FF camera later.

Novots Loc: Grand Forks, ND

With a $5000 budget you are in excellent shape. The cameras you have are also quite nice. Glass might be where it is at if you are already comfortable with the frame rate of your gear. Personally I'm shooting sports with both a Canon 7D and 5D Mark III. The speed of the focus and focus points can also be a discriminating factor. Since you're a Canon guy already you might want to see what the final specs are for the new 7D Mark II. If you do the research, 5G's will set you up very nicely. Good luck, and isn't it fun shooting in less than ideal lighting conditions in most high schools?

3rdcoast

Yes it is and it's kinda cool when people who have been shooting for 30plus years come over to ask your settings. Feel like am doing something right.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

More than equipment learn to anticipate action. The hard part of sports photography is capturing the dramatic moment. Some of the best sports photographers learn play books or formations so that they can anticipate what is going to happen and then be at the right spot at the right time.

Also, don't be wary of boosting the ISO sometimes noise or grain better presents the moment.

Novots Loc: Grand Forks, ND

Sometimes the most dramatic shot is not of the action on the floor/field, rather it is of the players or coach on the bench or someone in the stands. Being a former athlete one of the hardest things for me to do when shooting an sporting event is to "turn around." Kind of like getting the shot of the winning shot or the shot of that players parents hugging! So many shots, so little time!

Singinman Loc: Newport News, VA

I replied to your FF thread. Here I will add a couple of thoughts on football. My Sigma 100-400 works great for me. I have a the Pentax K-30 (which several reviews have labled the best APC camera ever made). I use sport mode. I'm 70 years old. My eyes are not the sharpest and I am dependant on AF. The lens and the camera give me fast focus. I use Lightroom 4 for post processing. For 99% of my sports shots Clicking on auto for exposure and other corrections, cropping, and a little push on the clarity slider gives me a final image that I like.

Every once in a while, I have the pleasure of having my son serve as my spotter. He stands directly behind me looking at what the cameras sees and calls out clock numbers to steer me to the action if my grandson/quarterback fakes me out.