philo Loc: philo, ca

First of all you do great work. I believe you will have a hard time finding a 4 under 2K.

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

I don’t believe Amazon is an authorized U.S. Canon dealer there products maybe imports or known as Gray Market and there sellers are 3rd party vendors. If a Canon is refurbishing 5D Mkiv you get a one year warranty.

Amazon states only a 90 day warranty for there Canon 5D Mk iv.

Low Budget Dave

I agree with most of the advice so far:

1. The Canon 70-200 2.8 should be your first choice. It is so much better in low light that it will save you money. (Because if you buy an all-in-one, you will end up selling it.)

2. The Canon 24-70 2.8 is also a great lens, but if you only have the cash for one lens, this should NOT be your first choice. Instead, go for the excellent 50mm 1.4, and save money until you can afford the fast zoom. The 50mm 1.4 is fast, sharp, inexpensive, and small. If you practice using it, you may find that you don't even need the 24-70.

3. There are some pretty inexpensive off-brand full-frame all-in-one lenses. The Tamron 28-300 (3.5-6.3) is better than you might think for the price. I don't know if you will be happy with it for the kind of work you are doing, but a lot of people use it, and find the sharpness, color, and versatility make up for the slow aperture.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

First of all, you really don't have sufficient budget to "go full frame". At a minimum, you need about 2X that much $ (camera and one lens) and really could use 3X or 4X that much to put together a proper FF kit.

A 5D Mk IV body alone costs upwards of $3000 (currently offered with a free battery grip). The best full frame, low light zooms are 24-70mm f/2.8 II ($1600 currently on sale) and 70-200mm f/2.8 IS II ($1800 on sale, new version III coming soon for $2100)... and 200-400mm f/4 Teleconverter ($11,000). An alternative would be to get full prime lenses instead (as opposed to zoom). They can be smaller and even faster, but that ain't cheap either. Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM: $1550. EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM: $550 (+$45 hood). EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM: $1650. EF 35mm f/2 IS USM: $550 (+$45 hood). EF 50mm f/1.4 USM: $330 (+$25 hood). EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM: $1600. EF 85mm f/1.8 USM: $350 (+$25 hood)... etc.

You don't mention what camera and lenses you have now. So it's a bit hard to advise, but here's a radical thought....

Don't buy a full frame camera. You may well be much better served sticking with a crop camera.... maybe upgrading to a newer model, which are far better in low light than older ones... and getting better lenses to use upon it. Crop sensor cameras have some advantages of full frame for sports/action photography.... Primarily a crop camera allows you to use smaller, lighter, more affordable lenses. Even when using full frame lenses on a crop sensor camera, they can be smaller and lighter.

You mention 18mm, 70mm and 250mm focal lengths. I'm guessing you have an 18-55mm or 18-135mm lens and maybe a 55-250mm. Are they STM lenses? If not... they are micro motor and bound to be slow/noisy focusing. If STM, they're quieter and faster... but a further step up offering even faster focusing would be Canon USM lenses. For example, EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM is an excellent, crop-only zoom with a larger aperture for low light ($800 new, $600 or so used). A 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM (orig. version, discontinued but avail. used as you've found for $909 in "rough" shape) might serve well along with it as a 2nd lens... if you need f/2.8. But a 70-200mm f/4L IS USM is considerably smaller and lighter. (Note: Canon has just announced new versions 70-200/4 IS "II" and 70-200/2.8 IS "III", so there will be a lot of the previous versions of those lenses showing up on the used market as people run to upgrade, very likely driving down prices on the earlier models.)

Of course, any of the EF primes mentioned above can be used on crop cameras, too... though thanks to the crop sensor you can generally use smaller, lighter, faster less expensive ones (such as $350 85mm f/1.8 USM instead of a $1000 135mm f/2 USM.... or a $750 200mm f2.8 USM instead of a $1350 300mm f/4L IS USM or a $6100 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM).

Again, you didn't mention what camera you're using now, but....

7D Mark II (20MP) is a near ideal crop sensor sports camera... currently on sale for $1350 (deep discount suggests a new version might be coming soon). Its 65-point AF system is low light capable and fast, especially when combined with higher performance USM lenses. It uses a separate chip to run the AF system (like the most pro-oriented 1D-series cameras do). And it uses a pentaprism for reasonably large, bright 100% coverage viewfinder. Shoots at up to 10 frames per second, has dual image processors and uses a large buffer so that with high quality memory cards it rarely needs to slow or pause (dual memory card slots: one compact flash and one SD). Top shutter speed is 1/8000 and it has a 1/250 flash sync. The shutter life expectancy is rated for 200,000 actuations. (Note: 7DII is almost identical size and weight as a 5D-series full frame camera... However, the lenses used on crop 7DII can be considerably smaller and lighter.)

80D (24MP) is also quite good for sports... currently on sale for $1000. It's 45-point AF system is slightly less sophisticated than the 7DII's, but still quite low light capable and fast when used with the right lenses. It uses a pentaprism for reasonably large, bright 100% coverage viewfinder. It can shoot at 7 frames per second using a single processor and a fairly good size buffer. May need to pause after high speed bursts, uses a single SD memory card. Top shutter speed 1/8000, 1/250 flash sync..... Haven't seen any Canon specs for it, but usually this level of camera has a shutter rated for 100,000 actuations.

77D (24MP) is currently on sale for $650 and actually uses almost exactly the same AF system and sensor as 80D. To save weight and cost, it uses a penta-mirror and a slightly smaller, less bright 95% viewfinder. It's not quire as fast shooting camera either, but pretty darned close at 6 frames per second with a top shutter speed of 1/4000, flash sync 1/200. Uses a single SD memory card and a smaller battery that gives fewer shots per charge (and surprisingly Canon doesn't make a battery grip for it, to increase battery capacity... BGs were avail. for previous models and are avail for 80D, 7DII). Depending upon what you are using now, might be a significant step up.... and the price of it would leave you with a lot more to spend on high performance lenses!

In conclusion, I'm suggesting you buy less camera and more lenses. Can't say for sure without knowing exactly what you are using now and upgrading from, but there's a good chance that one of the above, newer crop cameras paired with a couple higher performance lenses would be a better choice than "going full frame". Depending upon your current camera, the above might make for a big improvement in low light/sports/action shooting capability... These newer cameras are able to focus in as low as -3EV light (moonlight). Older models' AF systems quit focusing at -1EV or -0.5EV typically. Keeping to a crop camera also allows for a smaller, lighter lens kit that can be both higher performance and more affordable.

IF you insist on full frame... the most affordable Canon with really good low light capability would be the original 6D (20MP).... It's discontinued, but can still be found new for about $1000.... or used for around $800. HOWEVER, it's autofocus system is fairly primitive... 11-point, with only the center one up to the task of sports photography and low light shooting. Forget using the other ten AF points for anything that's moving or in low light. It's also a rather slow shooting camera... 4.5 frames per second if memory serves. It's also got top shutter speed of 1/4000 and flash sync 1/180.

6D Mark II is much improved model, but at $1600 would wipe out most of your budget. It's not any more low light capable than the original version (which was very good), but has a bit more resolution at 26MP and is blessed with a much improved AF system... actually the same 45-point system as used in the 80D.

I still think there's a very good chance a crop camera would be better choice for you.... along with some lens upgrades.

Personally I use a pair of 7D Mark II for sports photography. I have a full frame 5D Mark II, as well, but rarely used it for sports/action and don't use it much any more low light either, since the 7DIIs have as good or better high ISO performance. Newer full frame models are better at low light, of course... and have better AF systems for sports/action... but there's a high price to pay for both the FF camera and the FF lenses to use upon it.

hookedupin2005 Loc: Northwestern New Mexico

I don't know why they(Canon) would tell you that, when their 1D X ll is supposedly the "cream of the crop" for shooting sports.

DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca

Jacqueline-
I don't want to discourage you from your 5DIV but with that budget I doubt you will find a body except off of, maybe, Craigslist. These cameras are very robust anyway so maybe the warranty wouldn't be as important to you. Here is what I have done in the past that helps me pay off over time. Best Buy can order anything you want new and you can pay interest free for 24 months. You can also get their 3 or 5 year in store warranty witch covers quite a bit. So maybe you should think about getting your body new from Best Buy and pay off over the next 2 years (by the way they price match so find the best deal on line first) and then use your budget to get used lenses off of Craigslist. I have recently picked up 3 very nice lenses off Craigslist (A virtually new 70-200 f2.8L II for $1350, 100mm f2.8L macro for $520, 24-70 f2.8L $550 <not the vII but still great). The deals are out there you just have to go looking. Good luck.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

We are giving you all kinds of advice and from our perspective we are all correct. Now that you are totally confused I want to add to it. Know what you do from now on, be add to you lenses buy a 7D etc. Think of only gettin full frame lenses. Maybe only "L" lenses so you will be able to grow in any direction in the future. That is what I did years ago and never regretted it.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

As you seem to know, the 5D IV has better low light performance than crop frame bodies. For good low light performance you should go for the widest aperture lens you can. f4 isn't as good as f2.8. Fixed lenses can do better, but can be expensive.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

I guess someone at Canon may have told you that but I would think that they would say 1D or 7D Series as the sports cameras. I do know a few people who shoot drag racing with 5D3 and even less capable Canons. It also depends on the weather sealing that you are looking for too. Some models have better weather sealing than others if you are going to be out in the weather shooting or in very dusty conditions, like motocross...

ronf78155 Loc: Seguin Texas

70-200 f4 IS

1/2 the cost of the 2.8 ane with IS performs just as well

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Good lens and a bargain, BUT the OP’s stated goal is sports photography, and for indoor sports, the extra stop of speed of the f2.8 is worth its weight in gold.

jwn Loc: SOUTHEAST GEORGIA USA

check nikon and professional blogs and sites, I picked up low shutter count 5d4 from pro looking to go to nikon. many pros are moving to the nikon d850 don't want to wait 5 years for canon to catch up. the 5d4 works for me.

MidnightManiac

The 5DmarkIV is a great camera. I used one to shoot wedding photographs. Great results. I mostly shoot sports and IMO the 7DII is the best camera for action sports. Outdoors I use a Canon 70-200F4.0 L lens and it produces outstanding images. Indoor sports a Tamron 70-200F2.8 (love that lens). If I need a little more use a 1.4X extender and again great results. The 10 FSP on the 7DII makes it a real sports camera to me. My favorite walk around lens is a Sigma 24-70F2.8 on the 5D. I can't compare Nikon gear as I have sold all of what I had years ago and went to Canon with no regrets.

gator81 Loc: Jeffersonville Indiana

I am far from the quality of information I have read others have given, and someone may of already said this as I didn't read all the responses :/
Have you considered renting the lens? If you are doing this as a business for testing you might consider renting a lens to test and you will get first hand feel of how it will work with what you want to do and it could still be considered a tax write off. I wouldnt want to see you spend all you budget this way but it could also save you in the long run. I have seen and read where alot of people have done this so they wont go out and spend alot on a lens that they seem to never use.
this way if you find the lens you want you can get it for yourself and will know that it will be what you want.

again sorry for the newb suggestion but wanted to pass on my thought :)

pbradin Loc: Florida

I agree with RichardSM. Try Canon's website and look at their refurbished stuff under "deals". I have also used KEH, but since they changed ownership a few years back, they are not quite the bargains they used to be. I have been looking at the Canon 100-400 f4.5-5.6L IS II and I can get a refurb for less than a "like new minus" from KEH. They do not always have what you want in stock, so you may have to keep an eye out for a week or two or sometimes more for really popular stuff, especially in the lenses. I have been shooting with a first generation 70-200 f2.8L IS for about 5 years, now. Before that, I had the non-IS version for about 8 years. I shot rodeos in both indoor and outdoor arenas and used a flash with a "Better Beamer" in the indoor arenas because those types of arenas tend to be rather dark and I also shot some indoor basketball games without a flash in a typical gym. I used the non-IS version for both and came out with good shots. The newer glass did not make a big difference but I wanted the IS more for nature shots. My wide angle is a used 17-40 f4.0L and it gives me wide enough shots on my crop-sensor 7D II. I use the 7D II because of the 10FPS for rodeos. Stuff happens way too fast and it is not predictable (at least not for bull riding, saddle bronc, bareback and calf roping). Just for information sake, I also have a 24-105 f4 L IS. I also have 1.4x and 2x Canon TC's for the 70-200, so I have coverage from 27mm (the 17-40) equivalent to 560mm equivalent (70-200 w/2x). I can use the 1.4x and the 2x stacked but it gets a little soft (the 7D II will autofocus at f8). I would really, really recommend the 70-200 for you and maybe the 17-40 f4. There is a pretty big price difference between the 17-40 and the 16-35 for 1mm of extra "wideness"(?) and one extra stop of speed and I have never missed it. That's my ten cents, and it may be a nickle over priced. I think you will like the image quality on the 5D IV, but it is a little slow on FPS performance for what you will be primarily using it for.