Two questions from a newbie

[jmiller66]

1. Since most sports and performance photography is
in venues that frown on flash photography, and since, most
other situations don't require high shutter speeds; is there a
real reason to worry about flash sync speeds?

2. It seems that Canon only makes fast lenses to about
400mm. How are these sports photographers getting enough
light at football/baseball games etc. without excessive noise
from high ISOs?

[liza]

#2. Most pros on the sidelines use 300 to 400 f/2.8 lenses which are plenty fast to capture action, given the strength of the lighting at professional sporting venues. They also use professional level cameras (e.g. 1 series) that handle noise well at high ISO's.

[jmiller66]

Thanks. I have a 70-200 4.0L. I knew I should've held out for the 2.8. I'm having issues with focusing (I'm using AI Servo) but I guess that'll improve with experience.

[cdifoto]

1.) Fill flash in broad daylight when you still want to use a wide aperture for subject isolation.
2.) What Liza said.