Motorsport shooting setup

[Monkeymicra]

im going ot be getting a 400D, ive seen a package for around £700 that includes camera, 15-55 lens, 75-200 lens, flash, 1GB Cf card and an extra battery (but no grip)

anyway these lenses do not have IS its not a problem on the 15-55 but will it need it for the 75-200 at full zoom panning motorsport handheld.

i'll be doing motorsport mainly so my kit will be setup for that (but i will take other things) do i not go for this package but buy the 400D with the 15-55 and the pay the extra and get the 75-200 IS canon lens (not a L lens though)

im getting so confused, all these lens codes, different F stops, different zooms, with IS, USM, etc

or i should have asked what is the ultimate setup for motorsport for the 400D that is not L glass as i cant afford that, ive got about £1000 for everything including camera, grip,(i dont need a trip pod or bag already have those)

[forno]

Hi there,

I am a bit confused as to what lenses you are reffering to. I assume you are talking about the EF-S 18-55 kit lens and the 75-300 f/4-5.6 that comes as a :400D Twin lens kit"

The EF 70-200 series of lenses are awesome lense but they will be atouch short on the long end for motorsport.

I have used the 75-300 f/4-5.6 for motorsport and you can get some respectable shots, you just need a ton of light to do it

the EF 70-300 f/4-5.6 is an awesome lens for the money and very close in IQ to the 70-200 series, I doubt it will fit into you 1k budget though

Dug up some shots from the EF 73-300 f/4-5.6

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/3623/img8255as7.jpg

http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/2884/img8288tg5.jpg

http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/526/img8266yk3.jpg

http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/4126/img8255ia5.jpg

http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/5953/img8333ga3.jpg

http://img474.imageshack.us/img474/2213/800fi5.jpg

http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/4268/img8353gt8.jpg

[350Dave]

i started with a similar kit to what you have, use it and get used to it and then use it some more then once youre practiced, upgrade the lens.

BTW
none of my lenses have IS, my 100-300 f/4 sigma is very easy to pan, and usually gets excellent results (even hand held), even when i was using the kit zoom lens i still got great results, just start around 1/250sec and get used to that and then start going lower (i.e 1/125 sec etc), use shutter priority (TV on the dial)

[Monkeymicra]

this is the kit i was looking at (i was getting confused with all the numbers etc)

its a 18-55 and a 55-200

http://www.digital-cameras.com/digital_cameras/slr/__2000000406.html

[Monkeymicra]

and this lens

http://www.digital-cameras.com/lenses_and_lens_adaptors/slr/canon_eos_lens_75_300mm_iii_usm_f_4_0_5_6.html

for sunsets and places where you cannot use a tripod

is that rubbish?

[Wazza]

Yes, the 55-200 is rubbish.
Consider the Sigma 70-300 Super Macro II (or whatever the current model is). Not too expensive, but had better results than the Canon 75-300 and 90-300.

[Mortgage101]

I've used the 75-300 slower focus good image quality clunky sounding but in good light it did fine for me. I however am NOT a pro.

[Monkeymicra]

Yes, the 55-200 is rubbish.
Consider the Sigma 70-300 Super Macro II (or whatever the current model is). Not too expensive, but had better results than the Canon 75-300 and 90-300.

what do you mean by better results? and (pardon my ignorant question) how can a third party lens be better than a canon lense?

and would you recomend i bought a IS lens, as i'll be doing alot of panning or do i just practice. id rather buy 1 very good lens than 3 ok lenses,

Canon do a ?-300IS USM for about £400, i could afford that with the body+kit lens and grip

Forno was thos shot with IS, how do you pan and keep a shap picture?

[grimreaper]

Another option to think about would be 400D + canon 70-200mm F4 L+ a 1.4 TC or 400D + 200mm F2.8 L + a 1.4 TC both should be had for a grand, but im also no pro.

[Kickstart]

Hi

99% of the time I shoot bikes on track. I started with a D30 using a cheap 75-300 lense. With this it is possible to get good shots, but the lense is far from Canons best and seems mainly designed to be cheap. Many say the Sigma equivalent is better.

I would not pay extra for IS. Basically not useful on track I find. I have a 100-400 IS lense but I virtually never use it, and the odd times I do I normally land up turning the IS off. Seems to take a while to decide that you are actually panning (with the lense IS in panning mode it still needs to know in which direction you are panning) and thus to not try to stabilise the image horizontally, and before it decides that you get useless images. Have had a few nice results where I have been a reasonable distance away and can pan smoothly for a second or 2 before the bike gets to a position to shoot, but such situations are not that common.

The 18-55 will be pretty much useless for motorsport use. However as a cheap basic lense it is worth having, especially considering the minimal savings for buying the camera without it.

200mm is a bit short in most places for the spectator side of the fence. However if you can use it (suspect most outdoor kart tracks would be fine, for example), then consider stumping up the extra for a Sigma 70-200 f2.8 lense. These can be picked up as imports on Ebay for a touch over £400.

By the way, warehouse Express have the kit you mentioned for £25 less. And looking on http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/ you could buy the 400D with 18-55 lense for £475 (-£50 cashback) and the 55-200 lense on its own for £120, putting the total cost to £545, a pretty hefty saving.

All the best

Keith

[Monkeymicra]

this is it 70-300 IS USM

http://www.digital-cameras.com/lenses_and_lens_adaptors/slr/canon_eos_lens_ef_70_300mm_f_4_5_6_is_usm.html#pro duct_description


Another option to think about would be 400D + canon 70-200mm F4 L+ a 1.4 TC or 400D + 200mm F2.8 L + a 1.4 TC both should be had for a grand, but im also no pro.

didnt think of the TC