sports photography
Sep 8, 2011 19:38:59 #
I'm new to it, love it. rent an 70-200 f2.8 Canon lens for 7d. any better lens, any help for shooting under the lights?
Sep 9, 2011 01:01:10 #
I don't have the kind of mobility I would like so I use the lens you mentioned and add a 1.4 extender which gives me a little more reach and takes my aperture up only to f4, still enough to let in a lot of light on a well lit field. I also use a mono-pod. I occasionally shoot a semi-pro football game under the lights and am pretty pleased with the results.
Sep 9, 2011 05:58:43 #
Sep 9, 2011 06:20:32 #
Hi. I rented the 70-200 2.8 for several years to shoot live theatre productions without flash, and it has worked fabulously! Just a few weeks ago I broke down and bought my own with no regrets at the expenditure. In addition to the lens' speed, I shoot higher ISO, maybe 800 or even 1200 if it's a really active scene, although the higher ISO produces a bit more "noise" (graininess) if shots are going to be blown up to print larger pictures.
As for sports, which is very similar to theatre, anticipate where the action will be and aim at that spot. Plus, just be ready to shoot LOTS of images to get a handful that are true winners!! Good luck!
As for sports, which is very similar to theatre, anticipate where the action will be and aim at that spot. Plus, just be ready to shoot LOTS of images to get a handful that are true winners!! Good luck!
Sep 9, 2011 10:01:36 #
The Canon 70-200mm is one of the top half-dozen general use lenses in the world, according to many. "L" glass, weather proofing, super I/S, and the fixed 2.8 is glorious.
However, if you can't swing the $2500 for it, the f/4 model without I/S is a genuine steal at just over a grand, and you can find them used for $500 to $800.
However, if you can't swing the $2500 for it, the f/4 model without I/S is a genuine steal at just over a grand, and you can find them used for $500 to $800.
Sep 9, 2011 10:47:58 #
The Canon 70-200 F2.8 IS is a great camera for capturing many action shots, but it does not zoom far enough for others. For football games I prefer to have this lens on one camera body, while on another hangs the Canon 400 mm F2.8 IS. Since the latter is a prime lens, sometimes I take a single lens, the Canon 28-300 mm F3.5-5.6 IS. Its pictures are not as sharp as the first two lenses, but for most situations, good enough. The accompanying picture was shot with the 28-300 mm set at 1/320 shutter speed.
Sep 9, 2011 14:38:42 #
While I have a 70-200 2.8 IS and love it, I have read several places where it is a toss up whether you get a good one out of the box or not. Some of them come tack sharp and some of them are very soft. It might be desirable to test yours against a known sharp lens and contact Canon if you're not satisfied. Canon, I understand, is aware of this and has simply failed to address it, figuring we're all so isolated and ignorant that we won't figure it out. That lens cost quite a few bucks and should be what you paid for. My suggestion would be if you don't know all that goes into such a rigid comparative test, this is the place to ask. If you don't care to do it, have it done by someone you know and trust who does know how.
Sep 9, 2011 15:32:14 #
gessman wrote:
While I have a 70-200 2.8 IS and love it, I have r... (show quote)
I'd heard about this potential problem with some of the 7-2's. In Canon's defense, if they came out and said "We think there may be a sharpness problem with SOME of our 6.5 million 70-200 lenses, if you think yours is not tack sharp send it back", they'd get flooded with every 70-200 ever sold. If they accept a lens and adjust it to the owner's satisfaction, at minimal cost to the owner, that's probably as fair as you're ever gonna get. I know for me, every new lens I get I IMMEDIATELY test for sharpness and color reproduction, and I've I'm not happy I return it for another one right away.
Sep 9, 2011 15:36:55 #
...which is just one more major advantage to supporting your local camera merchant as opposed to doing mail order. A few extra bucks up front may pay big dividends later if and when it comes down to customer service.
There is a site that I've found very helpful in learning about various equipment and other issues over the years. It is probably the most comprehensive site I've found dealing with good information about photography and equipment. It can be found at
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/
There is a site that I've found very helpful in learning about various equipment and other issues over the years. It is probably the most comprehensive site I've found dealing with good information about photography and equipment. It can be found at
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/
Sep 9, 2011 16:31:56 #
+1 Gessman - Luminous Landscape is excellent. Have you visited http://www.CambridgeInColour.com? They're also excellent with tutorials, hints, and stuff...
My problem here is I have no "local" camera merchant. Apart from a Ritz about 20 miles away (and a $4 bridge toll!) in Delaware, the nearest real store is in Philly, about 40 miles and deadly traffic away. I wish I lived around the corner from B&H...
My problem here is I have no "local" camera merchant. Apart from a Ritz about 20 miles away (and a $4 bridge toll!) in Delaware, the nearest real store is in Philly, about 40 miles and deadly traffic away. I wish I lived around the corner from B&H...
Sep 9, 2011 16:47:54 #
Gessman and JimH,
I realize how fortunate I am to live in an area where I have a fabulous local camera merchant (danscameracity.com)where I have come to rely on them for equipment to rent or buy, classes and excursions, and just good old conversation and advice because I've been going there for years. They have been touted as FABULOUS and I guess I've just taken this resource for granted...I feel lucky! I will say when it comes to actual equipment (body and lenses), I stick to my merchant (I'm very possessive of them!) knowing it's money well spent even if it's higher than what I can find on-line. Extras like filters and tri-pods/monopods/cards etc, I go on-line. I believe in supporting locally especially if they've gained my trust! The other "lucky side" I have is that my daughter is an NYU student so when I visit her, I aim for B&H! Except for our recent flooding, the East Coast is a great place to live!!
I realize how fortunate I am to live in an area where I have a fabulous local camera merchant (danscameracity.com)where I have come to rely on them for equipment to rent or buy, classes and excursions, and just good old conversation and advice because I've been going there for years. They have been touted as FABULOUS and I guess I've just taken this resource for granted...I feel lucky! I will say when it comes to actual equipment (body and lenses), I stick to my merchant (I'm very possessive of them!) knowing it's money well spent even if it's higher than what I can find on-line. Extras like filters and tri-pods/monopods/cards etc, I go on-line. I believe in supporting locally especially if they've gained my trust! The other "lucky side" I have is that my daughter is an NYU student so when I visit her, I aim for B&H! Except for our recent flooding, the East Coast is a great place to live!!
Sep 9, 2011 16:51:12 #
I was unaware of CambridgeInColor but no longer, thanks to you. I'll be anxious to dig into it very soon. Looks very interesting.
Not living near a camera store is happening more often for more and more of us. It's a good thing we have a B&H, etc. Ritz/Wolf is "wal marting" us. They carry the quick selling fast moving lower end stuff that most people will settle for due to their individual reasons and they're driving all the full service merchants out of business. Denver, being a place with a lot of photographic interest, did have several independent stores and you could rely on them for about anything you needed because they carried the rarely used things but then digital and Ritz/Wolf hit town and now they're all gone. I still shoot some 4x5 and other formats and have to order about everything I use. It's a little maddening. I didn't mean to be critical and should have stipulated that. Thanks for pointing that out.
Not living near a camera store is happening more often for more and more of us. It's a good thing we have a B&H, etc. Ritz/Wolf is "wal marting" us. They carry the quick selling fast moving lower end stuff that most people will settle for due to their individual reasons and they're driving all the full service merchants out of business. Denver, being a place with a lot of photographic interest, did have several independent stores and you could rely on them for about anything you needed because they carried the rarely used things but then digital and Ritz/Wolf hit town and now they're all gone. I still shoot some 4x5 and other formats and have to order about everything I use. It's a little maddening. I didn't mean to be critical and should have stipulated that. Thanks for pointing that out.
Sep 9, 2011 17:17:41 #
Not a prob, Gessman - I would love to be able to utilize a local merchant for stuff - but I have a Walmart about five miles away, and then there is NOTHING, literally NOTHING until you go over into Delaware or up into Philly. The one hardware store about 5 miles away is 30% higher than the Lowes in Delaware for EVERYTHING, so unless I need just one 2x4 or something, it's always hop in the buggy and go over the DMB to Wilmington. Between gas and tolls, even that's getting to be such that I actually sit and calculate whether it's cheaper to pay a higher price, and lower gas/toll, or drive over to save money.
About the only saving grace is our gas prices are fairly reasonable - I paid $3.42/gal today for regular....
Go Raiders!..lol hope you're not a Broncos fan I might have to hate you.. :)
About the only saving grace is our gas prices are fairly reasonable - I paid $3.42/gal today for regular....
Go Raiders!..lol hope you're not a Broncos fan I might have to hate you.. :)
Sep 9, 2011 19:21:24 #
You mean you'd hate me after what the Raiders did on our home turf last year? What kind of sadistic photographer are you. I thought this was supposed to be a place for peaceful artistic minds and gentle souls to band together in a common cause. What's up with you? Go Broncos!! :-)
Sep 9, 2011 19:26:26 #
gessman wrote:
You mean you'd hate me after what the Raiders did on our home turf last year? What kind of sadistic photographer are you. I thought this was supposed to be a place for peaceful artistic minds and gentle souls to band together in a common cause. What's up with you? Go Broncos!! :-)
Yeah, well, I guess we'll find out on Monday.. lol
Being a Raider fan this decade has been an exercise in anguish. Ever since the debacle against Gruden & Tampa Bay they've just been...bewildered...
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