Soccer/Football (the round ball game) : How many bodies?

Alzibiff

Alzibiff

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Alan
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Camera bodies that is!
Looking at the EXIF on football pics on various sites (some referred to in this forum) and on photos posted in the Sharing section, I am coming to the conclusion that there are two flavours of soccer togs out there.
The first group seem to use a 300mm lens exclusively and the second group look to have two camera bodies - one with a long lens, 300mm or 400mm and the second body with (probably) at 70-200mm zoom.

First question - does the above seem about right? I have I assumed correctly?

Secondly, for those who use a single 300mm prime lens - do you simply shut up shop when the action comes too close or do you focus on just heads, feet...depending on the action?

Finally - if you use two bodies, how many shots do you miss whilst swopping and how do you go on if the action suddenly moves in the opposite direction you expected it to - swop again I suppose but then you are going to tell me that anticipation is the sport togs primary asset!

Thank you,
Alan
 
alan, let get something edited before you get harrased.

Its Football....Not Soccer :thumbs:
 
Title edited - wanted to be inclusive!

Alan :)
 
Dom_Cabarete said:
alan, let get something edited before you get harrased.

Its Football....Not Soccer :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Not strictly true, the english have been calling the game soccer for longer than anyone else in the world (try 1873) and actually invented the word, it's only in recent times that we have developed this big anti the word soccer thing. It's the good old British inferiority complex kicking in.

Back on topic I can't help the OP, when I've been to the footy most of the togs I've watched seem to be sat on a box with a big prime and a short monopod. The second cameras I've noticed most are the ones standing behind the goal on mini-tripods with remote releases.
 
It's footy

I have used a 70-200 only then moved to a sigma 120-300 for reach and versatility and then onto a 300 prime.

I ahve tried 300 and 70-200 using two bodies and its a pain with no real advantage...

I ahve settled on 300 prime from the dugout side of the ground and as near to half way as i can..

Not so long ago I decided i was missing too many goals and thought to go behind the goal with a 70-200 and 300 approach... team i was concentrating on got a free kick way out the penalty area.. nearly every player was between me and the guy taking the free kick.. even when i got a clear view...as he ran up all the players changed position and i missed it....

the ball hit the back of the net and i missed that for trying to get him taking the kick..
then he turned back on himself and ran the opposite way to me and i didnt get any goal celebrations..

the week after i went back to the prime at side and we got a free kick in same position.. i got these

free kick
http://matchpics.fotopic.net/p55918635.html


celebrations (Others as well)
http://matchpics.fotopic.net/p55918637.html


Thus its not the setup that will get you the shots .its luck as well.. because i dont think theres a position that will guarantee you a clear view of everyhting that happens on the pitch so you have to decide what type of shots are most important (for me its celebrations and players have a habit of running towards the bench) .. with a 300 and close to pitch i get all around the ground accept clsoe to me...

I could use a 70-200 where I am but anythign that happens along this wing will happen along the other wing at some point in 90 mins... thats my theory :)


ADDYONBIT: I must add.. I am in no way saying mine is the right way.. Only that its the right way for me.. You will see many photographers on the line wiht 2 bodies and thats the right way for them.. do whats best for you :)
 
Tony - Thank you - top answer, very comprehensive. Just a thought though - before getting the 300mm prime, did you ever use the same position:

"..dugout side of the ground and as near to half way as i can"

with your SIGMA 120-300mm?

Just thinking that this would give you the best of both worlds in a sense - (zoom to 300mm and as close as 120mm will allow for down the wing) - although now that you have the prime, I suspect that the image quality from the CANON L glass outweighs the advantage of a zoom lens.

Alan
 
with the 120-300 i used to go at about the 18yd line... the 300 is less versatile but as you correctly assume.. quality wins the day..

also now my club is in the football league I have found some grounds dont allow you along the touchline and only behind the goals.. this is when a prime 300 is too long and i suspect why you see so many togs with two bodies behind the line at top games.. most wont have a choice.
 
Depends on what you are shooting the football for. Personally I'm shooting it with editorial in mind first then stock second and the things that papers like most are goals, injuries, fights and manager torment :) If any of that happens close to me I could miss it unless I have a shorter lens to swap to and therefore not be able to complete the primary job which I am there for.

So I use two bodies, a D3 with Nikon 400 2.8 on and a D2Xs (going to upgrade this very soon) with Nikon 70-200 2.8 and depending on where I am sat will depend on how often I swap away from the big glass. I like to either sit close to the corner flag if I'm able to get behind the goal line or close to the edge of the 18 yard box if I'm on the sideline.

As Kipax says though, that's what works for me, it isn't what works for him and may not be what works for you. Even with 25 togs at a recent FA cup game we all still managed to spread out round the ground with very little fighting so we must all have had our own little plans ;)

As for how many you miss while swapping.. don't think anyone could answer that but bear in my that if you are on your short lens and the action suddenly changes direction and moves away from you, why do you want to shoot peoples backs? ;)
 
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