Need advice on lenses for sports

[asuodog8]

I will buy a canon 40D next week and i was wondering what 2 lenses i should buy? I'm a coach for every sport and i want to produce pictures for the team. I want to be able to take individual pics, team pic, and action photo's. Sports include baseball, basketball, soccer, and football. I am a rookie in SLR and i want to spend no more then $1500 for the 2 lenses. Please help me

[xarqi]

Hmmm.
Tamron 17-50/2.8 + Canon 70-200/4L IS at $1470; or
Canon EF-S 18-55 IS + Canon 70-200/2.8L IS - nope - that'll be $1875.

... and welcome to POTN.

[MaDProFF]

If it is always outdoors day time, and good bright weather, get the 100-400L, if it is indoors as well, get a bigger budget :(

[Pete-eos]

70-200 F4L Non-IS will cover you for certain areas of the pitch during out door sports assuming your on the touch line. Does me well enough for outdoor lacrosse, you just need to know the limitations.

85 f/1.8 for individual portrait shots and indoor sports like basketball etc.

18-55 IS or non IS since you'll want a wide lens for general shooting and team shots..

If you really only want two, look at a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 and 200mm f/2.8 prime but you may struggle with indoor shots..

[packpe89]

For indoors, I would definitely add the 85/1.8 ($300) to your other two lenses you get. What size fields? If full size, 200mm can be a little short, so either consider a 1.4 TC to a 70-200 (Canon F4 or used Sigma 2.8 can both be found in the $500 range) or get an older 300F4, which can be found in the $600-700 range, plus something like the tamron.

BTW good luck coaching, I coach all those you mention as well, having 3 boys I am always at the ball field. I have gotten into doing alot of posters to help pay for my photography habit.

Joe

[whuband]

Simple:

Canon70-200 f4, 85 f1.8 or 100 f2.0, and a Tamron or Sigma f2.8 wide zoom. You can buy used and stay within your budget, but you will probably need a 430EX or a 580EX flash also.

[Brikwall]

70-200/f2.8 and 85/f1.8

f/4 won't cut it, even outdoors, if you play any games in the evening or under lights.

[n1as]

I will buy a canon 40D next week and i was wondering what 2 lenses i should buy? I'm a coach for every sport and i want to produce pictures for the team. I want to be able to take individual pics, team pic, and action photo's. Sports include baseball, basketball, soccer, and football. I am a rookie in SLR and i want to spend no more then $1500 for the 2 lenses. Please help me

You're dreaming. If you're coaching, you're coaching and can't take pics. If you're shooting the game, then your not going to be available to coach. Try to do both and you'll get neither one right. The two jobs require that you be in different places both physically and mentally.

Now, as to lenses. Outdoors, the 70-200 f/4 is a pretty good lens for a good price. Basketball indoors is where the 85 f/1.8 really shines. For team shots, a general purpose zoom is a great choice but again, with indoor basketball, lack of light will be an issue. The Tamron 17-50 is a good choice, or if you're cheap, the Canon kit lens with IS (18-55?) for about $175.


So recognizing that you wont' be able to do the action shots, then I'd say you want lenses for group shots and individual shots. In that case, I'd say:

- 17-55 f/2.8 IS - Really nice for group shots.
- 70-200 f/4 - Great for individual shots (in good lighting)

Total price will be about $1600. Buy used if you need to cut costs.

[Pete-eos]

17-55 IS would be overkill IMO, I think he'd be happy and save a chunk of money with the 18-55 IS...

[eugeneyou]

sorry for taking advantage on this thread....

i just ordered the 70-200mm f4 IS...should it add the 16-35mm f2.8 MKII?

[bobbyz]

You don't need no IS for sports. And f2.8 glass is so much better than f4 even when in very good light outdoors. For indoors 85mm f1.8 is already recommended.
For outdoors, I would look at Canon 70-200mm f2.8 non IS. It is more expansive than Sigma but I think you will happy in the end. If can't afford it, than get the Sigma 70-200mm f2.8. If you need more reach, used canon 300mm f4 non IS can be had for $650.

For individual shots you can use 85mm f1.8. For groups, any cheap zoom like tamron 28-75 f2.8 should be more than enough. No need to spring $900 for 17-55 IS. Fast aperture is not important when doing group shots so even slower zoooms should be OK. You will be shooting at f8-f11.

[oaktree]

You don't need no IS for sports. And f2.8 glass is so much better than f4 even when in very good light outdoors. For indoors 85mm f1.8 is already recommended.
For outdoors, I would look at Canon 70-200mm f2.8 non IS. It is more expansive than Sigma but I think you will happy in the end. If can't afford it, than get the Sigma 70-200mm f2.8. If you need more reach, used canon 300mm f4 non IS can be had for $650.

For individual shots you can use 85mm f1.8. For groups, any cheap zoom like tamron 28-75 f2.8 should be more than enough. No need to spring $900 for 17-55 IS. Fast aperture is not important when doing group shots so even slower zoooms should be OK. You will be shooting at f8-f11.

A 1960's: Right On!!

The only thought I would add is a 1.4 TC to get more reach from the 7-200/2.8 non IS.

[Tony-S]

I will buy a canon 40D next week and i was wondering what 2 lenses i should buy? I'm a coach for every sport and i want to produce pictures for the team. I want to be able to take individual pics, team pic, and action photo's. Sports include baseball, basketball, soccer, and football. I am a rookie in SLR and i want to spend no more then $1500 for the 2 lenses. Please help me

I doubt you could do it with two lenses. I've done all of what you want to do and for $1500 here's what you need:

1. EF 70-300 USM IS, $550 with hood (field sports)
2. EF 85mm f/1.8, $350 with hood (hoops, individual shots)
3. Sigma 30mm f/1.4, $400 (hoops, team shots)
4. Sigma EF-530, $180 flash (fill for team and individual shots)

Total - $1480

[namasste]

70-200/f2.8 and 85/f1.8

f/4 won't cut it, even outdoors, if you play any games in the evening or under lights.

bingo! used 70-200(<$1000), 85 ($300), 1.4 TC ($250) and you are fairly well setup for indoors and with about as much reach and as fast as you'll get without getting into some real $.

another option would be to substitute the Sigma 24-70 f2.8 for the 85 at roughly the same price. this give you some zoom flexibility and I have found the Sigma to be very sharp under good light. the give up is that you be using the 70-200 indoors most of the time as the Sigma just doesn't get it done in the gym.