summer is coming time for cricket....and a new lens

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imcalledleo

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hey everyone,

the new season is on the way and i'm looking at getting a lens for shooting sports in particular cricket, the focal length ill need is something that is concerning me slightly, i'm aware it need's to be long 300mm+ (on a 50d) but i'm struggling with the potential choices. the main ground id be using at is trent bridge.

I have a couple of lenses that i'm considering ideally id love the siggy 120-300mm but the expense is a little hard to swallow, other options are the 100-300mm f4 siggy or a 70-200mm with a tele converter. i really don't want a lens that is above f4 as the available light may be an issues especially under floodlights.

what do you guys use and what would you reccomend i've only got about 7-800 maximum to spend so im aware that the budget is tight.

thanks for the help,
cheers.
 
yea the good thing with trent bridge is that its quite a small ground, what other options would there be if i wanted to go longer would the 120-300mm with a tc be the best bet?

I'm aware that I'm not going to get the best lens for the money but i want something that i can grow into I'm cautious about the siggy xx-500mm range because of the high aperture at 500mm? just a bit gutted as a 120-300mm on ebay went for £530 so ill keep my eyes out.

cheers
 
I've actually used the Sigma 50-500 at Lords and it's fine during the day but I certainly wouldn't want to use it for floodlit cricket. I don't know how much smaller Trent Bridge is but I shoot a corporate tournament in the City each year on a very small pitch and I could just about get away with 300 there.
 
As long as you can, I shoot local cricket and use a 300mm with 1.4x and occasionally a 2x and that was before I got the 1D I have one ground I shoot where 300mm is spot on
 
I shoot cricket and use the 400mm 2.8 and sometimes the 1.4 mk2 TC....At some venues I'm still having to crop in and thats even with the 1.3 crop factor on the MKIV.

I looked at the 120-300 2.8 OS as alternative and with the reports back from other users, sounds very favourable...Gary43 has one for sale in the classified section.
 
Was going to say you could probably do with more than 300mm. Can remember about 2 years back, I was watching a game, and someone from Getty was shooting a 600mm + 1.4x TC....
 
What about the Sigma 50-500 as suggested? I have one I was considering selling.
 
Used a 300mm f/4 at Lords last year (on a 1.5x Crop body), and still had to crop in a bit to get shots 'working'
 
Tugster said:
I shoot cricket and use the 400mm 2.8 and sometimes the 1.4 mk2 TC....At some venues I'm still having to crop in and thats even with the 1.3 crop factor on the MKIV.

I looked at the 120-300 2.8 OS as alternative and with the reports back from other users, sounds very favourable...Gary43 has one for sale in the classified section.
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Hi Tug as you use a 400 f2.8 could i ask what do you use to support the lens when shoting cricket?, i have recently bought a wimberley head for mine for use when doing airshows not sure if i fancy lugging a tripod/wimberley around the ground. Was just wondering what you use ?? :)
 
Manfrotto 679b monopod...I use the same for rugby football and cricket...also take along a 70-200 on a second body for any close in action..

When I first started doing cricket I tried a tripod but I just found it too restrictive...I prefocussed and used a remote release....But as I say, for me, it was too restrictive.
 
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Tugster said:
Manfrotto 679b monopod...I use the same for rugby football and cricket...also take along a 70-200 on a second body for any close in action..

When I first started doing cricket I tried a tripod but I just found it too restrictive...I prefocussed and used a remote release....But as I say, for me, it was too restrictive.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply Tug used a 300 2.8 for the last few seasons but have recently changed to a 400 2.8 is so will give it a go with the monopod, roll on the start of the season :)
 
kev_blizard said:
Thanks for the reply Tug used a 300 2.8 for the last few seasons but have recently changed to a 400 2.8 is so will give it a go with the monopod, roll on the start of the season :)
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I covered some indoor athletics a few weeks ago, I found the 400mm just too long for that type of event and was hankering for a 300mm..but for the field sports, including cricket, the 400mm comes into it's own...especially with the 1.4 mk2 TC
 
Now stop it all of you I want a 400mm so much but love the 300mm so I need to save up I also want to go on holiday this year.
 
Tugster said:
I covered some indoor athletics a few weeks ago, I found the 400mm just too long for that type of event and was hankering for a 300mm..but for the field sports, including cricket, the 400mm comes into it's own...especially with the 1.4 mk2 TC
Click to expand...

I wanted to keep my 300 as well but it had to go to fund the 400 i;m sure that i will miss it, doing my first track day on saturday at cadwell park (bikes ) for a mate of mine who runs a 2 bike outfit with an American rider called Taylor knapp . First time out in anger with the 400 looking forward to it :)
 
Have a look in the Motorsport section...lots of advice in there ...good luck with the shoot.
 
I just joined the forum on the strength of this very thread. My business has got passes for Somerset Cricket Club and I'm now weighing up the options.

As a Nikon Junkie I cannot bring myself to buy Sigma, but given that 500mm seems the bare minimum I need, the Sigma 120-300 f2.8 OS and a 1.7TC seems to be the only 'affordable' option.

I shoot a D700, but I must admit to being sorely tempted by the 200-400 though, and whilst I'm not exactly poor, £5k is a LOT of money.
 
I find my 100-400L does well with cricket. OK, it's not a particularly fast lens but it's quite flexible and cricket's played in the summer sun right???? :lol:
 
Tugster said:
I shoot cricket and use the 400mm 2.8 and sometimes the 1.4 mk2 TC....At some venues I'm still having to crop in and thats even with the 1.3 crop factor on the MKIV.
Click to expand...

I have a similar set up to Tugster. The 400mm f/2.8 works fine for club cricket on 'smaller' grounds but for first class I use the 1.4mk2 TC. Under lights I ditch the TC and just crop closer. Not ideal but I can't afford the alternatives.

As for the Sigma 120-300mm I know a guy who gets excellent results with it on the club grounds.
 
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