sdmike

I am new at photography and have a question. When I see a professional photographer on TV, most of the time the telephoto lens they use is black with light grey bands around the lens. What kind of lens is this, and what is the difference between it and most long lenses that are used by the main stream photographer...

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

A prop?

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

I think you are seeing a white ( light grey) lens with black bands - called Canon.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

The "pro" lenses you see are the same ones you can buy right off the shelf if you're willing to pay the price.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

p.s. - Biggest difference between pro and main stream is that pro equipment cannot make phone calls.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Pros are too busy shooting or setting up the next shots to make calls! That's why their equipment is not set up with a built in calling device, like host selfie shooters!!! LoL
SS

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

I own several off white lenses with black bands around them. The most common one you see is the Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8 although my favorite is the Canon EF 28-300 f/3.5-5.6, a little slower but super versatile.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"...what is the difference between it and most long lenses that are used by the main stream photographer..." sdmike those who photograph "Professional Sporting Events" typically use very fast "prime" optics... i.e. fixed focal length optics with apertures of f/2.8 These wide apertures requires massive diameter elements thus they tend to be rather heavy. Thus you notice that the commercial shooters (a.k.a. those with press credentials) are also using monopods... Rarely if ever are tripods allowed since they would be a potential hazard to the athletes.

Canon is keen on white lenses for "purported" reasons of thermal expansion mitigation... Albeit I've not seen anything in Canon's documentation to this effect.

Food for thought... Either you have "Credentials" or you are not allowed to bring a long lens into a sports arena... Security is tight and getting tighter with each and every "incident". Best advice is to maybe seek another genre to work in or better yet try to get taken aboard as an assistant by other tenured commercial shooters... This has been my path and I've grown professional from the aforementioned... Please be aware that there is a rather strict etiquette for assisting... You are hired for one single purpose which is to make your photographer appear absolutely amazing... Asking questions will likely get your shown to the door and is pretty much a career limiting (a.k.a. ending) move for assistants... enough said...

Hope this helps or is at least food for thought...
I wish you well on your journey sdmike

canon Lee

I understood that certain companies that hire photographers require them to have a Canon lens.
I read that the reason they are white is to keep the lens cool, as to reflect the sun.

BrentHarder Loc: Southern California

Well Canon Lee........they are pretty "cool" lenses! lol

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Welcome to our forum!

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

Professional Photographers take images for a LIVING. They use a variety of cameras and lenses.
If you want to get pro results you have to do what most pro's did starting out. Most of them started out assisting a professional, ie. they were their personal mules. I did this for a couple of years and learned a ton of stuff from the guy I worked for. Did it when I was 16 to the age of 18. He was very generous in paying me MORE than minimum wage, and back then minimum was $1 an hour. I would ask questions AFTER he was done with a shoot, and he would sometimes take me through his thought process. I got rich in experience, later I became well paid for my own work.

Mary Kate Loc: NYC

Funny thing you should mention that. We were recently at a wedding. There were a 150 people in attendance. I did my math. Fifteen tables times ten per table. There were two photographers with cameras. NOT one other person had a camera. My husband, even though he is retired still has the; he who dies with the most toys wins mentality. Has the new Apple phone. Those who did take pictures were using cell phones. I will have to admit his phone takes some damn good pictures. Oh, there is the advantage of instantaneous sharing.

Mary Kate Loc: NYC

"Photographers take images for a LIVING" As a retired CPA and CFP "making" a living is really a broad term. Making a profit is key. There were quite a few clients that had a business. The truth be known they were not profitable. Making a living was the dream. We tried to set up a business plan and offer to advise a new direction. Some listened some did not.

Novicus Loc: north and east

I thought them lenses are in white so as to avoid getting arrested....