Lens For sports photography

Craig2008

Craig2008

Suspended / Banned
Messages
1,092
Name
Craig Thomas
Edit My Images
Yes
I am thinking of getting a lens for shooting some sport images football and rugby and am after some advice of which one to get. I currently have a Tamron AF 18-200 f/3.5-6.3 LD Aspherical(IF) macro that I will probably use until I can afford a better one. I unfortunately I don’t have huge amounts of cash to splash around; I would think my top price range would be around £650 once I have saved up!

Many thanks

Craig
 
What focal length are you trying to get too ?

Cropped sensor body ??


Canon 70-200 f4 L would fit inside the budget, even with a 1.4x convertor.


Maybe a second hand Sigma 80-400 Opt Stabilised , or a new Tokina 80-400mm, might be worth a look.
 
Sigma 70-200mm f2.8. If you are shooting football and rugby in the UK you will need f2.8 without a doubt.
 
I used to use a sigma 70-200 for non-league football and achieved good results, good enough to be published put it that way.
 
i would recommend the 100-300 to, goes down to F4 which should be enough IMO

never done sports but its a fantastic sharp lens
 
Trust me, f4 is not going to be enough! At football in the middle of winter its not long after kick off that the light fades very quickly.
 
i never actually though of that in all honesty sorry. i was thinking of around now
 
whitey said:
goes down to F4 which should be enough IMO ...
never done sports
Click to expand...

If you've never done sports ...
rolleyes.gif


f/2.8 is a minimum for sports. A 70/80-200mm is plenty long enough provided you're close to the action i.e. touchline rather than terracing. On bright sunny days you migh add a TC but you should be fine with that. Go for a good second hand one and you'll be fine.
 
whitey said:
i never actually though of that in all honesty sorry. i was thinking of around now
Click to expand...

No need to be sorry mate, if you never done that type of togging you wouldn't think of those types of things!
 
Steveo_Hants said:
No need to be sorry mate, if you never done that type of togging you wouldn't think of those types of things!
Click to expand...

i was trying to think of a dark day i done some motorsports (different i know) but i managed ok with F4 and it was pretty dark, just thought it may have been similar but after thinking about it dont think it is lol
 
I have used the sigma 100-300mm f4 through summer and winter for a football clubs pics and was fine for me..used to use the 70-200mm but longed for more reach..
 
I'd recommend something like a Nikon 80-200 f/2.8. For around the same price as a Sigma you get a proper, well-built Nikon pro lens, which will take a 1.4x Kenko TC, if you need the extra reach.To be fair I'm not a fan of TCs, but the results are "acceptable".
 
70-200 f4 would be workable, just bump up the ISO a little and of course it is Canon glass so the images will be much nicer than through Sigma glass (JOKING !)

Alan
 
I used my Tamron 28-300 /f6.3 to shoot football during the winter without any problems, never had anybody complain about the results :shrug:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top