bigwolf40 Loc: Effort, Pa.

If you are using a crop sensor camera check out the Tamron 18-400mm Lens. Cost is $649.....Rich

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

That should be easily answered by you, you know how close you would like to hone in on the swimmers, so you should know which kind of focal length you would like to have and then it's just pretty much a question of how much speed you can afford. The more, the better, but your budget will tell you how far you can go!

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

It depends on what you have access to. If you are at either end of the pool, the most impressive images are taken with a 70-200 or longer. I suggest you rent before buying, and don't get a lens with a maximum aperture that is less than F4, but preferably not less than F2.8

JacqW Loc: South Dakota

I have also photographed swimmers for many years (definitely not 30, though!). Indoor pool lighting is rarely good, so a faster lens is always better. I agree with Gorzek about shooting at deck level. This gives a better perspective, but I realize that spectators are not always allowed there (depending upon the meet). If your team is hosting an event and you (as a parent?) are required to work, you can often get special permission to be on deck. I shoot with a D750 and usually my 28-300 lens and try to have a shutter speed of at least 1/250. Since it is not the fastest lens, I have to increase ISO. Here's an indoor sample at ISO 800, but I really prefer the outdoor meets!

bel air bill Loc: Bel Air Maryland

What ever you decide, Buy a Refurbished lens from the camera's manufacture. You will save about 40% and the lens will be just as good with a Warranty.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

For indoor shooting by available light, you need as large aperture a lens a possible. A 70-200mm f/2.8 would be my first choice and is a lens you'll find in most pros bags.

Shooting indoors, forget about 70-300mm, 18-140mm, 80-400mm, 18-300mm & 18-400mm lenses that have f/5.6, f/6.3 max apertures at the longer end of their zoom range. That's two full stops slower than f/2.8 and would force you to use too slow shutter speeds and/or too high ISOs.

Prime lenses such as 85/1.4, 85/1.8 or 135/2 can be used to get an additional stop or two, without being too big and extremely expensive (such as 200mm f/2 or 300mm f/2.8).

Sigma offers a 120-300mm f/2.8 zoom... Not cheap at around $3500, but half the cost of a Nikkor 300/2.8 or 200/2. And, as a zoom the Sigma would be more versatile. However, it is big and heavy (105mm filters and around 6 lb., if memory serves) and you might want a tripod or monopod for anything more than a few minutes of handheld shooting.

No matter what you get, if at all possible you should try to get out of the stands, closer to the action, and shoot from down close to level with the pool and competitors.