Help... Mk II or Long Lens

[009randy]

Judging from the posts, I'm almost afrait to ask! I have about 5K or so to spend. I have a D60 (mint-for sale) and a 10D. I am using a 70-200L IS along with a 2x (poor results) and 1.4x and and recently got started in sports photography. Question. For mainly sports photography... should I buy a MK II and a $1500 lens...
Choices:
Telephoto EF 300mm f/4.0L IS IS USM Autofocus Lens $1,150
Zoom Telephoto EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Autofocus Lens $1,400

Or, should I buy
Telephoto EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM Autofocus Lens @ $3,900
or maybe even save up for a 400mm f/2.8L IS at about $6,500 dollars.
I'm all ears.

[Tapeman]

Go for the glass.

Then the MKII

[gsmx2]

Damn good question. I look forward to knowledgable answers.

gsm x2

[nucki]

Judging from the posts, I'm almost afrait to ask! I have about 5K or so to spend. I have a D60 (mint-for sale) and a 10D. I am using a 70-200L IS along with a 2x (poor results) and 1.4x and and recently got started in sports photography. Question. For mainly sports photography... should I buy a MK II and a $1500 lens...
Choices:
Telephoto EF 300mm f/4.0L IS IS USM Autofocus Lens $1,150
Zoom Telephoto EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Autofocus Lens $1,400

Or, should I buy
Telephoto EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM Autofocus Lens @ $3,900
or maybe even save up for a 400mm f/2.8L IS at about $6,500 dollars.
I'm all ears.

well, an interesting question. I think these are all very well built lenses. As I'm not a proffesional, I would buy the cheaper lenses and save the rest of the money for a trip to somewhere. There is not much sense, if you have the best equipment, when you dont have enough money left, to went to some fine places around the world.

I dont care about if it is a 300 F4 or 300 F2.8 (but if the price differs not that much I would get the F2.8 for sure ;-)
I'm currently waiting on a 100-400 and looking forward to try it...

about lenses or camera?
you got a 10D and a D60 right now? why upgrade to the MKII now? Are you not happy with your 10D? I am!
Just keep in your mind, its not the camera wich make a good photo, its the photographer!

I think its simple. If you can afford the high priced lenses, then go for it! if you get in trouble to spend such an amount of money, then go for the cheaper ones...

best regards
Peter

[IanD]

Hmmm...interesting question. What type of sports? The answer can reflect in the decision.

[Pekka]

Ask yourself:

"have I missed photos because"

A)

- autofocus was too slow
- autofocus was too inaccurate
- you had too few AF points
- you had too slow shutter response
- burst mode was too slow
- burst mode ended before the right moment came
- camera was saving and did not let you take more photos
- card failed
- card was full in the heat of action
- battery drained too soon
- flash metering messed up the exposure
- you could not shoot in rain or dust
- high iso noise was unacceptable when pushing exposure
- the camera did not boot fast enough

B)

- because I've got too short a lens.

If you answer yes in most questions in category A, then Mark II is what you need. If B is the dominant problem then longer lens is what you need.

Feel free to build you own "quiz" - these things are also very personal and you may have your own important question list.

[009randy]

Pekka, wise questions and approach, thank you!. I find that my biggest problem with shooting (To answer IanD's question) college track and field, and golf, thus far, have been two-fold: 1) can't get off a quick and long enough burst. and 2) fast enough autofocus in certain events... that could be me!

Shooting track & field and golf, the 2.8 70-200 (sometimes with an extender) seems to be barely adequate. However, this fall I hope to get into college football and for that I will need more lens. On the other hand, football will be what I will shoot the least. My experience with the 2x and the 70-200 lens has been poor, far to many soft shots. My gut tells me to buy buy the Mk II and a less expensive (i.e. Non 2.8) longer lens of some sort.

[GenEOS]

I will simplify..

If you shoot sports, unless it is snail races, you need the AF speed and frame rate.

Buy the Mark II, if they ever ship and sell the D60.