300 f/4 IS for sports

[burntbizzkit]

Has anyone used this lens for sports? I have the 70-200 f/4 and I'm familiar with the amount of light this lens needs, but I'm not familiar with the focusing speed.

Also, I am going to have a 1.4x for when I need more reach, will that totally kill any chance of tracking players?

I'm also considering the 400 f/5.6, but I highly doubt I will get it because of the f/5.6.

Thanks.

[transcend]

It works just fine...

The 1.4 will slow it down a fair bit, but it's still plenty quick on my mk2. It tends to hunt a bit more however.

10d, 300 f4
http://www.fraserbritton.com/gallery/albums/manson_cup_05/CRW_7872.sized.jpg

[burntbizzkit]

Thanks for your concise input. I also appreciate the image.

[unabacia]

You don't say what sport or how far away you will be. I had and sold the 70-200 F4 because it was just too slow for me.

I bought the 70-200 2.8 non-IS and it is outstanding. I also have the 300 F4 IS but prefer zoom capability for sports and I put the 1.4 TC on the zoom.

[pcasciola]

I have the 300/4L IS and 70-200/2.8L IS, and I use the 300/4L IS 90% of the time for most field sports. In most cases with football and baseball I find 200mm to be way too short, except for small 46/60 little league fields, and even then I find myself using the 300 more often. I've only tried the 300 with the 1.4x a couple of times and I wasn't real happy with how it performed. The only time I really use the 70-200 for sports is for night games when the lighting is not so good, and on some overcast days.

Here are some random shots of various sports I've shot with the 300/4L IS, and only the one lacrosse shot was with the 70-200/2.8L IS.

300/4L sports shots (http://www.casciola.com/ss2)

[burntbizzkit]

You don't say what sport or how far away you will be. I had and sold the 70-200 F4 because it was just too slow for me.

Sorry, I forgot to mention that I was going to be using primarily for field sports. I agree that the 70-200 is too slow at times and I sure wish I could afford the f/2.8!

I bought the 70-200 2.8 non-IS and it is outstanding. I also have the 300 F4 IS but prefer zoom capability for sports and I put the 1.4 TC on the zoom.

Ah, yes. This what makes me want the 120-300 f/2.8...ZOOM. Thanks for your input on the 300 f/4.

[burntbizzkit]

I've only tried the 300 with the 1.4x a couple of times and I wasn't real happy with how it performed.

Was it the focusing speed or the IQ that bothered you?

Here are some random shots of various sports I've shot with the 300/4L IS

Wonderful shots! These types of sports, especially football, is my purpose for this lens.

[Pell]

I used this lens for sports a lot and it did a fantastic job. Only time you might see an issue is with nighttime games, but even the very best lenses have trouble at night.

Here is a shot from the 300 F4 is + 1.4x

http://www.pellid.com/images/gallery/photography/sports/fullsize/sports_01.jpg

[burntbizzkit]

Wow. That is a wonderful shot. Thank you. the 300 + 1.4x is a killer combo.

[gaza]

Day 3 of NZ SLS competition, the 300 f4 was all I used that day, a whole lot of pics at this link.
http://www.pbase.com/naki_gaza/march_19

Gary

[convergent]

Has anyone used this lens for sports? I have the 70-200 f/4 and I'm familiar with the amount of light this lens needs, but I'm not familiar with the focusing speed.

Also, I am going to have a 1.4x for when I need more reach, will that totally kill any chance of tracking players?

I'm also considering the 400 f/5.6, but I highly doubt I will get it because of the f/5.6.

Thanks.

I don't have the lens, but I know a lot of people use it for field sports. It is one stop slower than the top of the line 300 2.8, so unless you are shooting at night or late in the day, it should be great. I shot softball yesterday with a 200 1.8 + TC1.4 (capable of f/2.5), and I shot most of the game at f/4. It was very cloudy and as the day got late, I eventually dropped back to f/2.8. However, I still could have bumped up the ISO to 1600 if needed... was shooting ISO400 most of it and went to ISO800 as it got later. So, if you can give up late in the day and night games, then you are find.

[yonni]

I was in Scottsdale for some Spring Training games and shot with the 300 f4is on an XT. Don't worry about the focusing speed. It's fast. Here I shot from the stands and the pic is cropped from a portrait orientation, but you may get an idea of how the lens will work for you. Iso 400 f4 1/4000.

[burntbizzkit]

Day 3 of NZ SLS competition, the 300 f4 was all I used that day, a whole lot of pics at this link.

All great shots. Thanks for sharing. The 300 looks nice and sharp.

I don't have the lens, but I know a lot of people use it for field sports. It is one stop slower than the top of the line 300 2.8, so unless you are shooting at night or late in the day, it should be great. I shot softball yesterday with a 200 1.8 + TC1.4 (capable of f/2.5), and I shot most of the game at f/4. It was very cloudy and as the day got late, I eventually dropped back to f/2.8. However, I still could have bumped up the ISO to 1600 if needed... was shooting ISO400 most of it and went to ISO800 as it got later. So, if you can give up late in the day and night games, then you are find.

Thanks! There are not that many night games that I have to worry about, but I'm not afraid of going ISO 1600 when needed. I'm expecting high ISOs with something this slow, but I'm glad to hear that others have been using it for sports!

I was in Scottsdale for some Spring Training games and shot with the 300 f4is on an XT. Don't worry about the focusing speed. It's fast.

Nice shot, thanks. It's nice to hear people having success with this lens. I don't hear that many people talking about it usually on the sports forum, so I'm a little surprised to see so many people using it.

[cosworth]

I don't have an 800px size image, so the link will do:

http://jasonhollister.com/images/_brookswood5a.jpg

Shot near the end of dusk on a noisy (some say) 1Ds. The F4 speed didn't hamper me much. The P&P is weak but I've not had time to really make the image shine. This was also shot on a day when I was experimenting with flashes etc. The lens never lets me down.

I learned long ago you sometimes can't get close enough. But you can often "back up". You'll like this lens.

[burntbizzkit]

I learned long ago you sometimes can't get close enough. But you can often "back up". You'll like this lens.

Awesome shot, you must have really backed up for that one. I think I'm convinced that this lens will suite my purposes well.

[cosworth]

I was about 90 feet away.