Which Lens for Motorsport shots?

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Dommy

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Hi, first post, so go easy! My wife has just purchased a Canon 400D, I'm toying with the idea of buying her another lens.

I know virtually nothing about photography, so I'm after some advice as to what lens to get here so she can take some good shots when we go to various trackdays of the cars out on track.

If you guys could point me in the right direction that would be great, just after something reasonable, nothing too pricey.

Also would a tripod be beneficial too?

Thanks in advance.

Dom
 
I use a sigma 70-300mm and have got motorsport some shots that i am quite pleased with. There are the obvious 70-200 and 100-400mm but they are a little pricey so I didn't suggest them

I ahve never used a tripod for motorsport shots, however I have heard people say a monopod is useful, but I can't offer any advice on that

In my signature is a link to a flickr site, that has my motor racing pics if you are interested in seeing what it can do.
 
What sort of a budget do you have?

I found the sigma too slow on the AF.

Canon 70-200L F4 or Canon 70-300IS USM

Andy
 
Not too sure how much they are, so what sort of prices do they range from? Sorry, complete newbie!
 
The 70-200L f4 is about £350 new. I bought this lens but haven't had a chance to try it out for motorsport yet - but that's what I bought it for mainly, after some helpful advice from the fellow TPers :)
 
70-200 F4 is a great lens. Nice and light, really sharp and you can add the 1.4x converter if you need a little longer.

Needless to say I have one :)
 
My vote would go with the 70-200 f4L, its a fantastic lens really sharp and has a very quick AF.

kris_circuit.jpg
 
for circuit racing, 200mm is too short for a lot of circuits. 300mm is better.

I started with a Sigma 70-300, but have since upgraded to a Sigma 100-300 f4 EX. Can be used handheld or monopod.

Will also accept a 1.4TC. Remember a TC will loose 1 or 2 stops of light, will slow autofocus slightly and degrade image quality a bit.


Tripods - too cumbersome for circuit work. Monopod or hand-held.
 
I'd recommend the 70-200 F4 as well. I recently bought the IS version and can't believe how good the pictures are. I'd always done well with my other lenses but this one just upped the "keeper" rate and sharpness a whole level!

The IOM TT shots on my site are done with the 28-135 & 100-300 whereas the Renault World series one are he 70-200.
 
I'm in the same position, I have borrowed a 90-300 USM and 90-300 standard lens for my last two outings to the track.

Whilst the 70-200 f4.0L looks extremely tempting, I'm not sure how I'd get on losing the extra 100mm off the top end.

I'm also slightly confused as some people have stated that IS is little to no use for shooting moving images, whilst others have said it is useful.
 
IS - long focal lengths can only be improved by IS. However, some IS systems get confused by panning and attempt to correct this - there is often an option to switch off IS in one direction so left to right movement is not corrected, whereas vertical motion is.

The rule of thumb of minimum shutter speed being 1/focal length th of a second is often broken in motorsport photography where you may be using a 400mm lens + but with a shutter speed of 1/60th second.

I follow a particular racing series around the country and have found that I couldn't do without the 200-300mm range, and in many cases have an additional 1.4 TC just in case. At Mallory Park, and Brands Hatch there are areas where you can easily manage with a 200mm or less lens, but there are others where the extra distance is required.
 
I have the 70-200 F4 L and the 100-400 plus a 1.4 convertor which covers me for most occaisons.

You'd be surprised how close you can get at times, especially if it's not a major event so get to use the 70-200. A couple of weeks ago I was allowed inside the fencing at Druids (brand hatch) just behind the tyre wall. Great shots of the cars coming up the hill.
 
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