Indoor Sports Lens Question

[dehoff]

I will finally be taking the plunge into digital photography and purchasing a 300D for myself. I have learned quite a bit from looking through the archives on this forum, but have a more specific question (or two).

This camera will primarily be used for American football pictures in an indoor stadium. I currently am considering the Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO Zoom Macro Super II or the Canon EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM as a second lense. Will either of these lenses produce decent results in an indoor setting? If not, are there any recommedations in the same price range (under $300- maybe $400) that would perform better?

Here's a link to a picture of the stadium-http://www.gobison.com/facilities/fargodome.shtml
Here's a link to some pictures taken by the SID department-http://www.gobison.com/mens/football/gallery/
I will be sitting on the 35 yard line about 15 rows up, if that helps. These pictures would by no means need to be professional quality, I'm just looking for something that will capture the action and allow me to make some decent sized prints (ocassional 8x10).

[/url]

[Ed Rotberg]

This camera will primarily be used for American football pictures in an indoor stadium. I currently am considering the Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO Zoom Macro Super II or the Canon EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM as a second lense. Will either of these lenses produce decent results in an indoor setting? If not, are there any recommedations in the same price range (under $300- maybe $400) that would perform better?
[/url]

I can't help you in that price range, but I can tell you that both of the lenses you are suggesting will be far too slow for indoor sports. Sports requires fast shutter speeds, as does the telephoto lengths you are talking about. You need a fast lens to get the necessary shutter speeds, even at high ISOs. 4 - 5.6 won't cut it. f/2.8 might barely do it. The faster the better.

Unfortunately fast lensees aren't cheap. That's why I have no good suggestion for you beyond this: Try renting some lenses for the first few events you are going to photograph. That will tell you more than I can here. Find a good shop and rent an f/2.8 200mm (or zoom).

Good luck.

= Ed =

[dehoff]

Would the Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM be a better choice? I could manage to afford one of those. The shops around here don't seem too wiling to rent out much of anything.

[Ed Rotberg]

Would the Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM be a better choice? I could manage to afford one of those. The shops around here don't seem too wiling to rent out much of anything.

The answer to that question depends on what kind of photos you are hoping to take. That is a wonderful, wonderful lens by all accounts, and will serve you well long after you've moved onto better cameras.

From that distance (i.e. 15 rows up) you won't be able to get full-frame facial shots. Typically, even when the action is around the 35 yard line, it will still primarily be towards the center of the field. My guess is that this will put you about 40 to 50 yards from most of that action, though that is a guess without knowing the specific venue. You can go to a store and try a 200mm lens (or a zoom at 200mm) on subjects at that distance to give you a good idea of how much magnification you will get with your camera. That's the best thing I can suggest.

Indoors, f2.8 and ISO 800 should get you high enough sutter speeds for sports, but every arena is different. You might have to bump the ISO even higher.

I'm not sure if the 300D has a Manual mode and an AV mode, but if it does, when you do go, I suggest you do the following: When you first get there, take some test shots in AV mode with the Aperture wide open. Use the histogram and the EV compensation to dial in the exposure. Then use those settings in Manual mode the rest of the night. That's the good news about indoor sports - the lighting isn't going to change. You can set the camera up and forget it. Your meter won't ever get fooled by tricky situations. By using your widest aperture, you'll get your highest shutter speed. If that is still too low, bump up the ISO.

I hope this helps.

= Ed =

[DocFrankenstein]

You may look into sigma 70-200 f/2.8 EX HSM

I have it. It's way softer than the canon, but it would work. If you are getting the rebel, you're gonna have problems with focusing on moving subjects. I suggest you get a 10D (I am not sure, but I think it has the focusing modes suitable for moving stuff)

You do need an L lens. 70-200 f/2.8 L is gonna give you what you really want. It has FAST autofocus, it allows you to freeze the motion and it's really sharp. That's why it costs so much.

If you want a step lower, you should get 70-200 f/4 and bump the ISO one stop up. More noise, but cheaper. It is the fastest lens to focus also.

Or get the sigma. Fast lens, costs just a bit more than f/4 L but is not as sharp wide open. (way sharper than the 75-300 though :roll:) The focus is also a pain sometimes, cause it's about 2-3 times as slow as the L glass.

I have no idea about the 200 mm prime, never seen that so I'm not commenting.

[Mthorpe_Davies]

200 f1.8 probably the ultimate indoor sports lense. Thee is a Korean dude who sells them on ebay all the time. Not cheap but probably worth its weight in gold.

[Andy_T]

Not cheap but probably worth its weight in gold.

Hmmm ... now let's check .... that's about 105 ounces ... at just below 400$ each ... where shall I send you the lens :lol: ?

As to the first question .... if you decide to get the 2.8/200 and are afraid that it's too long ... why not get the 1.8/85 in addition? Plus the 1.4 TCon, then you'd have the range nicely covered...

Sure, then it's all about how fast you are at changing lenses :wink:

Best regards,
Andy