sumoballet request -camera help needed

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sumoballet

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richard wright
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The reason I am trying to contact you is I am after a bit of help. Please could you recommend a good quality Digital zoom camera capable of taking some close up shots of our cricket team in action on the field from off the boundary fence. I have in the region of £500 to spend but do not want to waste my money.
Please is there a digital zoom camera out there capable of taking some really close up shots of our players in action that I can include on our website.
In return for your help I will put a link into your own website if you would like.
I am using a Olympus Camedia 3.2 at present but its no where near powerful enough
Very best wishes,
Richard
Ps I am a total duffer as far as taking good quality photo's are concered. Thank god for Photo impression I say
 
Hi sumoballet

I'm afraid you're asking the near impossible here.....

For cricket (close up batsman / close up bowler / reasonable square frame) you'll need a compact capable of zooming between 100mm and 300mm (35mm equivalent) Can I suggest you look at a site like Steve's Digicams linky which is an excellent resource and allows you to drill down by manufacturer or requirement.

Alternatively, you could look for a second hand digital SLR with a 100-300 / 75-300mm lens. The advantage with this combo is that you can 'crop' part of the image to achieve the illusion of a bigger lens, whilst retaining enough resolution in the cropped shot to make it perfectly usable on a website. A good resource for secondhand kit is MPB Photographics (whom advertise on this forum) or EOS Classifieds linky - yes, theres a Canon bias, but thats what I know!!

Hope that helps :thumbs:
 
What about the Panasonic FZ18 with its x18 Optical Zoom and 8MP sensor? It's quite a fast lens also has the OIS for reducing shake - I had the FZ7 with x12 zoom and did a pretty good job!

Link: http://www.panasonic.co.uk/high-zoom/dmc-fz18eb-k/index.htm

Retails around the £200 mark so plenty of change ;)
 
Apart from the camera itself, my opinion is that if you want reasonably sharp shots at that focal range, you seriously need to consider a tripod or monopod.

Longer focal lengths make it significantly harder to not have camera shake, with or without some form of camera or lens stabilisation.

There is a lot you can do with a £500 budget if you are prepared to buy the camera as used, you will still be able to get a reasonable focal length (e.g. sigma 28-300 £140 new) on a new lens in good light. If the light is low is where this kind of lens will hamper you, but given you probably will not play cricket in low light anyway, this should not be an issue.

My vote for kit:
used Nikon D70s or Canon 350d around £200
Sigma 28-300 or similar lens £140 + filter £15 = £155
Monopod £40 max, can be a low as £20 new.
Memory card £20
Bag £30

People often forget the things you need over and above just the camera. You could try a digital compact with a long zoom as suggested, not sure what your monopod or 'support' would be for the longer focal lengths in this instance.
Jas
 
Jas said:
There is a lot you can do with a £500 budget if you are prepared to buy the camera as used, you will still be able to get a reasonable focal length (e.g. sigma 28-300 £140 new) on a new lens in good light. If the light is low is where this kind of lens will hamper you, but given you probably will not play cricket in low light anyway, this should not be an issue.
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The beauty of cricket is the light is always (meant to be) good. The advantage of a faster lens is limited to bokeh in this case, but unles the cricket is played at a ground with raised seating this is probably not required either. Good suggestion of kit there Jas :thumbs:
 
Jas might be onto something but I'd recommend the 350D along with a Canon 70-200 f/4L. Afterall it is a fast paced game and I think you'd be disappointed with anything lacking in focal speed.

350D = £200
Lens = £300

That would be a good start.
 
70-200 doesn't have the reach - which is the problem. The action may be fast paced, but concentrated at the wicket and, when viewed from the boundary, the focus can be effectively set.
 
Jas might be onto something but I'd recommend the 350D along with a Canon 70-200 f/4L. Afterall it is a fast paced game and I think you'd be disappointed with anything lacking in focal speed.

350D = £200
Lens = £300

That would be a good start.
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MadFerrit - the issue would remain with that budget of not having support for the camera and lens and therefore a lower likelihood of sharp shots and you still need to buy memory cards and lens filter. Too many people first time out don't think through the idea of a 'kit', only camera and / or lens.
 
Bear in mind guys this is for web use, he's not wanting to print A3 posters.
 
Jas said:
MadFerrit - the issue would remain with that budget of not having support for the camera and lens and therefore a lower likelihood of sharp shots and you still need to buy memory cards and lens filter. Too many people first time out don't think through the idea of a 'kit', only camera and / or lens.
Click to expand...

I agree Jas... you have highlighted some important factors :thumbs:
 
Steep said:
Bear in mind guys this is for web use, he's not wanting to print A3 posters.
Click to expand...

I guess that rules out asking the club to chip in and pay for a 1D MkIII and some L glass :naughty:
 
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