I currently shoot indoors sports, and have the 24-70mm f/2.8 L and the 70-200mm f2.8 L IS lenses, that I use on my 1Ds MKII and 1D MkII N. I have to shoot available light and the 2.8 is really only just fast enough. (Roll on the availability of the MkIII!)
I would like to get involved in some motor sport photography, club events and driver's education level to start with. I am new to Canon having been a Nikon shooter my whole life, and was very happy with my VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 on my D2X (see attached examples). I know that I need something longer than my current 70-200 especially as I would prefer to shoot with the 1Ds.
I am considering the 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS which looks like a terrific all round lens provided you don't need to work in low light and would probably be all I would need to take with me to an event, but it is only 50% longer than my 70 - 200 and I have a 1.4X converter that would take that to 300.
The cheapest alternative seems to be the 400mm f/5.6L, but it isn't an IS lens, nor a zoom and is a bit slow.
The 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS looks like an ideal addition to my current lenses, but I would probably have to carry the 24 - 70 with me, or maybe add a 24-105mm f/4L IS for outside work.
Any suggestions or advice much appreciated.
David.
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
For what it's worth, I recently began using the 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L. Although I don't shoot sports, I'm accustomed to the 70-200 f/2.8, and the 100-400 handles similarly. It features a push/pull zoom design that drives some people nuts; doesn't bother me so much. It worries me somewhat that the lens may be a $1400 device for pumping dust into my camera body, but so far, so good. You might want to try renting one for a week and seeing how it feels.
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
Sorry if I didn't make it clear. The 2.8 is just fast enough for the indoor stuff that I do. I don't think that I would need anything that fast for the outdoor motor sport events, where there is much more light, and in many cases, the subject motion relative to the camera frame can be much slower.
David.
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
I think the 24-105 and the 100-400 would probably do a good job for you. I have the 24-105, and plan to get the 100-400 by next September to shoot a seaplane splashin. I am also a former Nikon shooter, and I found the 80-400 was ideal for the job, so I reckon the 100-400 should be as well.
__________________ Dennis
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
I am considering the 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS which looks like a terrific all round lens provided you don't need to work in low light and would probably be all I would need to take with me to an event, but it is only 50% longer than my 70 - 200 and I have a 1.4X converter that would take that to 300.
For what it's worth, I have the 28-300. It is a good lens, but I really don't like push/pull - especially as the focus ring is what I tend to naturally grab when tracking my subject. I am learning though.
I have done some tests and it's not far off the 70-200. I used it last weekend for the first time 'in anger' because I could not get far enough away from my subjects with the 70-200 on my 1DMkII.
I would say that the 28-300 is better than the 70-200+1.4x convertor in terms of quality and speed, and obviously range!
Not exactly motorsport, but similar requirements, just 1Hp instead of 800Hp:
Shout if you want some hi-res examples.
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
Sigma just launched a new fast lens, I know its not a canon but its a 200-500 f2.8, not out yet and have no idea the price but you can read about it here. APO 200-500mm F2.8 EX DG - SIGMA CORPORATION
Looks like a nice beast we all would want
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
Linear Mode
