Renting a lens for silverstone?

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silverstar189

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I'm going to silverstone for britcar 24 hours next month. I've read up on shooting at the circuit and focal length seems to be king at silverstone. I've been looking at renting a super telephoto for the weekend as I've got plenty of time to experiment with it, being a 24 hour race, and I recently got rid of my 70-200 as I never used it. I'll be taking a 40d. So far I see the best option as being to rent either a

sigma 300 2.8 (hsm)
sigma 120-300 2.8 (hsm)
canon 300 2.8

with both 1.4 and 2x teleconverters. Hopefully the 2.8 should help out for when the light is less than ideal, and the tc's should give me the extra reach in good light where I can stop down. Any advice would be appreciated.
 
300 not big enough?? With the 2x tc on a crop(?) that should be plenty. Just depends where you are going to be. Track side, cheap seats, walking around?

I shot some at the F1 free practice using a 70-200 and 2x converter, and in certain places, had to take the tc off as it was too long. ( Pics here )

Personally, from your list, I would go with the 120-300.
 
sigma 120-300 2.8 (hsm)
canon 300 2.8

One of those with a 1.4x will be good. Maybe even the 2x

You deffo need more than 300mm at Silverstone!!!
 
Thanks for your advice everyone! As said above, its more between the 120-300 and the canon 300 prime now. Should IQ be a consideration between the prime and the zoom?
 
Dragging up an old thread sorry, but I think this will benefit newcomers with what I have learnt from experience and advice.

I dont agree that 300mm is not enough for Silverstone, it has been pretty successful for me, sure a tc will help but ultimately its depends on what kind of shot you want...a close up of the drivers eyes as they turn into Stowe isn't going to happen, but if you are realistic you can get pretty good shots as long as you choose your location well.

I've posted links to large images on a few so you can actually see what is possible - i'm using a 40D for these so only 10mpx so most bodies now should capture some extra detail compared to these as well - all from spectator areas-never been media. all with sigma 100-300f4 non dg (No stabiliser) a £400 to 500 lens and ONE with a 1.4x sigma non dg converter (£60-70).

total gear value of about £600 max secondhand, so this is what you could do without spending £1000s on more reach.

40D @ 300mm - no TC @ Luffield complex grandstand - so behind a raft of spectator terracing as well

British GP 2009 by Fireproof_Art, on Flickr

40D @ 300mm + 1.4x converter @ at exit of brooklands pressed up against the fence :) (the full size image is 3 times bigger than this and quality is great)

8 by Fireproof_Art, on Flickr

40D @ 300mm no tc from inside of stowe - vale. behind fence again but not always accessible for big events.


Brundle WEC 2012 by Fireproof_Art, on Flickr

40D @300mm no TC from the loop (between village and wellington straight) shooting through vacant photographer hole - again not always accessible.

BritCar 24hrs Silverstone #88 by Fireproof_Art, on Flickr

40D @ 300mm (NO TC!) from club gold grandstand - granted this is a pretty large crop as I had whole car in frame, only a 10 megapixel sensor though

Sebastian Vettle by Fireproof_Art, on Flickr

And another one from Club - 40D 300mm no tc - i'm in the middle of the grandstand as well.

Jaime Alguersuari... 2011 Silverstone by Fireproof_Art, on Flickr


Hopefully this will give beginners a better idea of what is possible and a better insight into whether they need to have gear envy or not. I'm not saying my photos are artistically/compositionally wonderful - this is how close you can get for under £700 :D
 
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