Do I really need a 200+mm lens?

omens

omens

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I was at a car show at the weekend and there was a dragstrip. I was trying to work out the focal length of the lens I'd need so I used a website to calculate it which came out with around 235mm (IIRC). Seems a bit much.

Here's a video of two drivers on the strip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvRhvTZN5qc

I calculated that from the back of the grandstand to the far edge of the barriers was around 60m (according to google earth). The sensor would be APS-C (60D or 70D).

How can I work out what I'd realistically need to have pics of a car (or two) racing across the strip?
 
we often use 200mm+ at events, its actually not that much really...
 
Aye 235mm isn't that long in the grand scale of things, it's easily affordable for both crop and full frame. It's lenses above a focal length of 300mm that things start getting more expensive.
 
Any recommendations for a lens suitable for a Canon 60d/70d? The Canon L lenses are really expensive.
 
The latest Golf is 4.3m long. According to this website - http://www.tawbaware.com/maxlyons/calc.htm - a 300mm lens on a 7D would give you a frame filling profile shot of one car from 60m away.

What you need depends on what sort of image you want - do you want to shoot tight or wide, or both? How much environment do you want to include? What sort of shot do you want when the cars are further up the track? If one car opens up an early gap do you want to keep both in the frame? What if you are more than 60m away? What if you are less? Do you want to try slow shutter speeds for blurred pans, in which case panning mode IS/OS might come in handy.

Some options, which I believe are quite well regarded for IQ at the price point, although no personal experience of either of them....

Canon 55-250 for £165 new
Canon 70-300 for £354 new
Then there are the third party options such as Sigma 70-300, 120-400, 150-500, Tamron 70-300, Tokina 80-400 or the second hand market.

If you have the flexibility of a zoom then aiming for a little extra focal length at the long end will do no harm - you never know what the future needs might be - but then again, with a sharp lens a little cropping is also an option. You pays your money.....

So decide what focal length range you want. Check new prices and options on http://camerapricebuster.co.uk/index.php. Draw up a shortlist according to budget and then go and read some reviews. If you can't find a solution for the right price then it's time to check the second hand market.
 
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