Lense for Shooting Snow Sports??

[EOS20DAUS]

Hello All,

What lense would be good for shooting skiing and snowboarding?

I currently have the Canon 75-300IS and the Sigma 24-70 f/2.8.

I was looking at maybe the canon 70-200 f2.8 or the infamous 100-400IS.

I am using these lenses on a 30D + BG-E2

I have used the 75-300IS for sports before but it is so slow to focus...

What do you recon??

Cheers

[ScottE]

I use both a Canon 70-200/2.8 and a Sigma 50-500 for shooting ski and bike racing.

When light conditions are bright, I use the 50-500 most of the time because the Sigma HSM autofocus works well and the zoom range allows me to zoom as I track the skier, getting shots that I would not be able to with the 70-200, both on the long and the short end of the zoom range.

When light is fairly dim I switch to the 70-200/2.8. The Canon autofocus is more reliable in dim light conditions if you use a lens of f/2.8 or faster. Also, the larger aperture means you can use a faster shutter speed without bumping the ISO so high that noise becomes a concern.

I tried a Canon 100-400, but did not like the push pull zoom mechanism and found that the zoom range was much more limiting than on the 50-500. Image quality was about the same. I did not find that IS was much of a factor because at the shutter speeds I use to shoot sports I have no trouble hand holding, using a monopod or using a tripod, depending on the shooting conditions.

[yonni]

You might want to get in touch with primoz, who has given me great tips on sports photography. Check out his posts, or maybe pm him. As I remember he had some wonderful skiing pics on his site.

[StealthLude]

I dont know about taking a 20D into the snow... I want to do it, but i dont think its a good idea.

Im waitig to get a Mark II 1D + a 70-200 IS L to get weather seals. Condensation inside the camera can cause malfunctions and due inside the lens can cause moss or fungus growth.

[dbiggs]

Don't even think about worring about the snow and your camera I snowmobile in up to 3' of powder with mine in a lowepro AW-200 sling bag with the weather proof cover on it and have had the thing completly covered with snow and just prushed it off no problem. If your like me the problem will be getting good pics in the snow it is a complete nightmare and has constantly haunted me. Man the snowscapes are tough to nail because the camera is constantly graying everthing and if the sun is going in and out of the coluds it is hell good luck hope you get better results than me. My camera has many 110 MPH hours on it in a clouds of snow (in the bag) no problem