Sports Lens Help - Can't afford 70-200!!

[JJandBoyz]

I am just getting started shooting my sons outdoor football and soccer. I have a Rebel XT and need to get a beginner lens. As much as I would love a 70-200 f2.8, I cannot afford it.
Would anyone be able to recommend something in the $300 range that would at least get me started? I need to be able to at least get decent pictures with itt or my frustrations will get the better of me!
Should I consider the Sigma 70-300 F4-5.6??
Thanks for any help you can offer!!

Julie

[howzitboy]

sigma lenses are good as at tamrons. i use them all the time, doubt you'll see a difference unless u blow it up huge.

[ryant35]

I have a Canon 75-300 F4-5.6 USM. I paid around $350 last year.

The range is great but, it's not as fast as the 70-200 f/2.8 and it doesn't look at cools the white L glass. But I like it, since I can't rent L glass all the time.

[tim1960]

Have you considered renting one for a game or two? I don't believe that your 75-300 F4-5.6 will do very well in low light conditions.

[SilverOnemi]

sigma owns canon 75 300, you can either wait for the new 55 250 which has image stabilyzer or get sigma 75 300 macro.

i know a guy who does weddings with it and it's really a cool lens.

[ryant35]

The 75-300 Canon blows for low light, but this guy didn't mention low light.

I did use a 70-22 f/2.8 this weekend at night, you can't beat it for low light it's awesome!.

[Brodog2525]

the canon 70-200 f/4 is about $550.....just an idea
and the canon 75-300 is horrible in low light...speaking from experience

[Mike R]

I am just getting started shooting my sons outdoor football and soccer. I have a Rebel XT and need to get a beginner lens. As much as I would love a 70-200 f2.8, I cannot afford it.
Would anyone be able to recommend something in the $300 range that would at least get me started? I need to be able to at least get decent pictures with itt or my frustrations will get the better of me!
Should I consider the Sigma 70-300 F4-5.6??
Thanks for any help you can offer!!

Julie

I shoot school sports and use a Canon 70-200 f/2.8. During day games, I attach a 1.4x TC. (which makes the widest aperture available f/4.0) But this then becomes too long when shooting in the end zone. The ideal situation is to have 2 bodies with 2 lens, but I cannot go to that expense for HS sports, maybe when I upgrade my body. The trouble with the lens you mention is that, while the 300mm focal length is OK, the aperture of f/5.6 at the 300mm length is too slow for low light. don't forget that you need to be able to freeze the motion which requires a shutter speed of 1/250 or higher. also keep in mind that IS will not really help with action shots. It is designed so that you can hand hold at lower shutter speeds and is best for stationary objects.
This addiction can get very expensive So the next step is to make some money from your sports shots. If you want Ideas how to approach the schools about this, just PM me.

[Moppie]

I've tried shooting soccer with my Sigma 70-300, and it really did show up its limitations.

If I ever shoot sport again I will borrow a 70-200 2.8m.

If its all you can afford, then the Sigma is better than nothing, but you will have to work an awful lot harder to get decent images.
Quite simply when shooting such a fast moving game its ablity to find, and hold focus fast enough is sorly tested.
If you can get around that (prefocus etc) then its can be usable.

Remember of course that people used to shoot sports with Manual Focus lenses.

Instead of the Canon 70-200 2.8, you should also consider the Sigma 70-200 and 50-150 which are both a lot cheaper.
Also look out for a second hand Canon 80-200 2.8. Its the predessor to the 70-200, and is still quite capable.

[Souwalker]

I use the Canon 70-300 IS USM for soccer and netball and good prety good results.
Rgds
Pat

[Mike]

I use the Sigma 70-300 APO for cricket and rugby and have had really good results from it. Some of the days shooting rugby are pretty overcast too. Check out my rugby (http://www.mikegreenphotography.co.uk/Rugby/rugby.html) gallery for some examples from this lens.

[JJandBoyz]

I really appreciate all of the responses. For right now, they are only days games as he is only 8 years old.
I guess I am really in a hard spot since I can't afford a faster lens. Well, I guess I will just keep pondering this one.
I don't really have a good place to rent a lens as the closest rental shop to me is up in Seattle.
Thanks again for the input!

Julie

[JJandBoyz]

Well, I went ahead and ordered the Sigma 70-300. I checked out a few others but with my budget right now, it really was the only one I could afford that would give me some reach. Hopefully, the fact that the games will be in the daytime will help me. Also, I will try to get "before the action" shots and maybe that will help also.
Any help anyone wants to give me on camera settings would be GREATLY appreciated!

Thank you,
Julie

[butcha27]

I'd go the Canon 70-200 f/4 L, you don't need an IS, the non IS is quite affordable. I've owned both that and the 70-300 and the quality difference is amazing, it's easily the best lens I've owned and that includes a sigma 70-200 f/2.8

[chauncey]

JJ-This advice is from someone that has 9 kids. Use these games as a learning experience with whatever glass that you use. Do the best you can with different lenses you have and then cull through them and see which one works the best for you. Don't upgrade until you can use the ones you have.

[Croasdail]

Well, I went ahead and ordered the Sigma 70-300. I checked out a few others but with my budget right now, it really was the only one I could afford that would give me some reach. Hopefully, the fact that the games will be in the daytime will help me. Also, I will try to get "before the action" shots and maybe that will help also.
Any help anyone wants to give me on camera settings would be GREATLY appreciated!

Thank you,
Julie

Julie, try to shoot in AV mood, wide open, AI-Servo mode if you have it, and center focus point selected if possible. This will give you the highest shutter speeds for the available light and best subject isolation possible through minimizing depth of field. Read up Gmen's sports shooting tutorial as well... gobs of great advice in the post there.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=116971

[JJandBoyz]

Thank you all so much for your replies. I cannot tell you how valuable your insight is to me! I hope to have the lens in about a week or so and then the fun begins! I just hope my frustrations do not get the better of me!

Julie