D60 lens suggestion for team photos

[mitchell]

This is my first post to this forum but I've been reading thru the forum this wekend. I have a D60 and shoot youth sports using a 70-200 2.8L USM and a 300 2.8L USM with a 1.4x when needed. These are my only EOS lenses, but recently I was asked to shoot tennis team photos for the upcoming HS fall season, both individual athletes and team shots. I'm looking for suggestions on a short lens for this type of shooting. I really don't anticipate shooting a group of more than 20 people, (two rows of 10). Quality is my only priority, so I'll gladly sacrifice the versitility of a zoom for a fixed lens if it will yield better overall quality..... Almost forgot, I have been asked to shoot portraits at a junior beauty pageant in a September. I got this camera & glass as an expensive hobby and to record my child's sports thru high school & college, but more and more parents are inquiring about my services. Obviously I'm not a full time photog, but with everyone asking me to take pictures, I think I've created a monster. Oh well, if it keeps me too busy, I can always say no. Thanks for the feedback, Mitchell www.sportsshooter.com/mitchell

[JR92]

I am a Sports Editor for a small newspaper and do all of my own photography with my own equipment. I use several different lens, but the one I found the best for team photos is my Sigma 15mm F2.8 Fisheye lens. It opens up to let in a lot of light and gives the photo a sort of panoramic feel. Though it is expensive if you want quality it is well worth the extra buck. Good Luck.

[mitchell]

JR, Thank you for the reply. I've never seen images taken with a D60 and a 15mm lens, so, in your opinion, does this "fisheye effect" produce such an exterme rounded look that it would detract from an individual portrait, or is this a controllable type of thing. I would imagine that this effect would be less noticeable on the D30/60 because of the 1.6 multiplier. Sorry for the detailed question but I woulld prefer a very small amount of this fisheye effect, or choose the next size up that would retain the wide angle but lessen any extreme fisheye. Thanks again, Mitchell

[JR92]

The round about look will only occur is you are shooting a ways off from your target. Then again, I see other good qualitys in my photos which others may not.. I am around many irritating parents day in and day out and some my not see the uniqueness I see in my photos. But the never fuss when their kid is in the paper either. If you are close enough, which you can be with that lens, you can elimate the fish-eye look. But most any lens will work. Personally when I have done team and individual shots I have used an 75-300mm Canon IS lens. The reason is, is that you can zoom in on their faces and make the back ground small. Parents wnat to see their kids muggs, not what is behind them.
You can probably get away with most anything, just watch out for shadows under hats and chins. It is a good idea to use a flash at all times. Eliminate shooting with them directly in the sun. It makes them squint and brings out the shadows on their faces. And most of all be patient and wait for them to make the adjustment in the rows or the posture in an individual. I will make for a musch better shot.

[brunzie]

I shoot team photos with film but may switch over this year. I would use a 20-35 Canon USM...this is not an L lens but is very sharp and has a reasonable price. You can get the group at 20 mm and incividuals at 35. Photodo(Swedish site that rates lenses)gives this lens about the same rating as the L lens that Canon used to make(3.1 rating I think) This is a pretty high rating. I shoot my pictures with a White Lightning Monolight (Ultra 1200) on a sturdy 10 foot light stand and get no background shadows. I will do the same with my D6O.

[gorham]

JR92, thanks for an idea I might not have gotten to. I shoot team photos along with action shots. I've been playing with my Sigma 15mm fisheye and have found that indeed, it's only the edges of long shots that "fish" with the D60. The images I get with that lens are crisp, sharp and beautifully reproduce. It'll make an *excellent* team shot lens.

Now I'm looking forward to team photos. Thanks!

[gorham]

brunzie wrote:
Photodo gives this lens about the same rating as the L lens that Canon used to make(3.1 rating I think) This is a pretty high rating.

They gave it a 3.4 actually. :)

I wish they'd update the site though. It's a great service but they haven't updated since June of 2000 so newer models' ratings aren't listed.

G.