Next Three Things...

[BaseballPhotographer]

I have been offered by a local high school to shoot their football games. I know my setup isn't good enough now, so I am going to buy a few things. This is what I am thinking about...

1. 70-200mm 2.8
2. Carbon Monopod
3. BG-E3 battery grip.

Does that sound OK to you guys, or am I way off? I cant afford a new body right now. But you can see my current gear in my signature, let me know what you guys would get besides a new body. Any input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Stephen

[carlyh91]

am only very new to camera's but could it not be cheaper to buy flash gun's have them aranged and have a radio trigger to set them off then you could use your canon 75 - 300mm

instead of having a low F-stop

[BaseballPhotographer]

Will a flash reach far enough when the players are somewhat far away?

[Dennis_Hammer]

I use a camera mounted flash, having them remotely around a football is just asking for someone to throw a ball into, run into throw a person into And won't be effective not focused on the action. Camera mounted is good when you have permission to be up close and personal. I would just add a 580 with a good battery pack. I have also had pretty good luck with a 85 1.2.

[bobbyz]

Why carbon monpod in #2? Just get cheap bogen monopod for $50. I have one (679B I guess) and it handles my 500mm f4 IS along with 1dmk2 without any problems.

Even with 70-200mm f2.8 you will need flash for some high school fields for night time football games.

[eddarr]

I think you are going in a good direction. The 70-200 is light years ahead of the 75-300 as far as IQ, focus speed and aperture.

I would not go for the grip. I don't think you really need it. It does help the balance but I get about 1000 pictures out of my xti on a single battery.

I don't see the point in spending a tremendous amount of money on a monopod. I'm sure some will disagree with me and that's ok. But I'm not dumping a bunch of money on a stick.

Personally I would go for a cheaper monopod and spend the money on a fast wide zoom like 17-55/2.8.

[carpenter]

I think you are going in a good direction. The 70-200 is light years ahead of the 75-300 as far as IQ, focus speed and aperture.

I would not go for the grip. I don't think you really need it. It does help the balance but I get about 1000 pictures out of my xti on a single battery.

I don't see the point in spending a tremendous amount of money on a monopod. I'm sure some will disagree with me and that's ok. But I'm not dumping a bunch of money on a stick.

Personally I would go for a cheaper monopod and spend the money on a fast wide zoom like 17-55/2.8.

I think the grip is a nice thing to get. I shoot vertical sports shots more than not.

[Mike R]

I use the 70-200 2.8 for night football attached to a 40D. My old camera was the original Digital Rebel. Your body should be OK. The lighting at HS night football games is terrible and varies widely from the 50 to the end zones so you should get a good flash. I use the 580ex with great results. The 70-200 may seem heavy but it's light enough to hand hold and I prefer to work without a monopod so that I can quickly drop down low to get a different angle. I do recommend a neck strap.
Have fun at the games.

[leverington@mncable.net]

The Canon 100-400 4.5-5.6 is a great lens if you have enough light. Gives you a little more reach than the 70-200.

[BaseballPhotographer]

Thank you all so much for all your help.

[jcpoulin]

My view is
1) cheaper monopod_ basic bogen is fine
2) I like the grip for shooting vert.
3) consider a 1.4 converter for day game increase in length, well lit fields at night
4) consider a 85 1.8, its more expensive brother is slower to focus

[wyofizz]

You won't need a monopod for the 70-200mm 2.8.

Dave

[BaseballPhotographer]

Does the IS really make that big of a difference with sports photograpy?

[CatchingUp]

agree with the comment about not needing a monopod for the 70-700.

I shoot a lot of clicks during a game and like having the grip on my 30D for added power supply and it balances the weight of the lens set up.

I crank my ISO up to 3200 and can shoot anywhere inbetween 400th and 800th per/sec depending on the color of uniforms and where I am on the field. Never have been happy with use of flash at the games.

The lens is ideal for football though. Go get it now. :-)

[eigga]

Get the 70-200 2.8 (non IS if $ is an issue)
- decent monopod (carbon fiber is not necessary)
- 580 EX II
- flash bracket

Read this http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=375847&highlight=night+football+flash

[Mike R]

Does the IS really make that big of a difference with sports photograpy?

No. IS is so that you can hand hold the camera at SLOWER shutter speeds. You need fast shutter speeds to freeze motion when shooting sports. I shoot football at 1/400sec

However, if you can afford the IS version, you should get it so that if you expand to do other types of photography you will have it. I don't know the weight difference between the IS and Non IS versions

[SportsOnFilm]

My 2 cents on the carbon fiber mono-pod.....

If you hope to purchase larger glass down the road, i.e. a 300/2.8 and/or a 400/2.8 you will find that the carbon fiber monopod is MUCH lighter than a regular model, and when you are lugging a 400 around a football field, or a golf course, the weight adds up.

Secondly, I normally would agree with not needing a monopod for a 70-200, but for night football I would think it would be useful if for nothing else as a place to mount the flash off camera, so as to get rid of the red eye you see from direct flash.

[CatchingUp]

My 2 cents on the carbon fiber mono-pod.....


Secondly, I normally would agree with not needing a monopod for a 70-200, but for night football I would think it would be useful if for nothing else as a place to mount the flash off camera, so as to get rid of the red eye you see from direct flash.

How do you use a monopod to mount a flash off camera and make it work/stand for you?

[Zivnuska]

How do you use a monopod to mount a flash off camera and make it work/stand for you?
http://www.davehoffmannphoto.com/imageEngineer/2008/07/night-football-with-flash/

[CatchingUp]

http://www.davehoffmannphoto.com/imageEngineer/2008/07/night-football-with-flash/

Wow. That's interesting...never would have thought of that.

[Harleypugs]

I use the same set up...the flash that is...and it works well.

However....you need to check with the school first. A lot of HS's do not allow you to use flash while shooting football so check first before you invest.

As far as IS vrs non IS....I use the non-IS on a mono pod and it works well. I am one of the few that does not believe IS is needed for sports shooting.

Jon

[cstewart]

Does the IS really make that big of a difference with sports photograpy?

If you are only going to be shooting things where you need a high shutter speed to freeze action, then the IS will NOT help. It will help in low light, low shutter speed situations, but these are typically NOT sporting events. I have the 70-200f2.8L IS and when shooting sports I keep the IS off as it is not needed and only uses more battery life. If you will need your lens for other things where low light may be a factor, then get IS, but if only using for sports, save yourself a few bucks.

As to the monopod, yes you can shoot the 70-200 without one, but over the course of a 2-3 hour football game, you will be VERY HAPPY that you put your rig on one as the 70-200 plus the camera, plus a possible battery pack, plus a possible flash will get very heavy after awhile and you will be happy to have your monopod to support that weight. Plus if you get the right releases on it, you can adjust height very quickly if you want to get lower or higher. I use a Manfrotto 679B for my 40D/70-200 and it was ~$70 and is just fine.

As to battery pack, go for it. It adds a nice feel to the camera, makes you and your camera look more professional and has the advantage of a second shutter and * button for focus when shooting vertical. Also, if you are shooting multiple games, it will seem like forever before you need to recharge the two batteries.

Cheers!

Chris

[bobbyz]

My 2 cents on the carbon fiber mono-pod.....

If you hope to purchase larger glass down the road, i.e. a 300/2.8 and/or a 400/2.8 you will find that the carbon fiber monopod is MUCH lighter than a regular model, and when you are lugging a 400 around a football field, or a golf course, the weight adds up.

Secondly, I normally would agree with not needing a monopod for a 70-200, but for night football I would think it would be useful if for nothing else as a place to mount the flash off camera, so as to get rid of the red eye you see from direct flash.

Entry level bogen like 679B is only 1.3lb and costs less than $50. I use it with my 500mm f4 IS and 1dmk2, no problems at all. Carbon Fiber Gitzo models won't save any weight but would cost couple of hundred dollars more.

I do agree with having a monopod for even something like 70-200mm f2.8. You can mount the flash, battery pack etc and it will take the load off.

[BaseballPhotographer]

Wow, never got this much advice before. Thank you all so much. I think I am going to get the 70-200mm 2.8 NON IS, a cheap monopod, and the BG-E3.

[nebula_42]

I'd get a 1.4x TC if I were you. Skip the grip and buy another battery if you need to save some $$. Have enough cards to take 200 shots per game.

[herbe_nelson]

From my experience shooting rugby, do not get a flash for it. Flash will make the shots look flat. Also, would you like to be running down the sideline with the ball and have a flash blasted into your face?

Sometimes you just have to live with noise. I agree with the comment above that placing flashes around the field is just asking for someone to run into them. Outdoor sport and flash really doesn't mix.

I also agree with the comment about a monopod. There is no need to get a carbon fibre one. I would only get a cf one if I was hiking with it for a while or had to move around A LOT. Just get a manfrotto metal one.

My preference for items would be, considering you don't want to get a new body:

1) 70-200 2.8 non-IS. IS is useless for sport.
2) manfrotto monopod (metal one, i think 681B?)
3) cf cards!!
4) practice!

Personally I would spend the money on a good used 30D and then try to get the 70-200 2.8. A 40D would be good but may be out of reach.

You could go without the monopod if you want, because you should be shooting at higher than 1/320.

Hope this helps.

Nelson

[jack008]

Hai,
I hope these are helps
1) 70-200 2.8 non-IS. IS is useless for sport.
2) manfrotto monopod (metal one, i think 681B?)
3) cf cards!!
4) practice!

Personally I would spend the money on a good used 30D and then try to get the 70-200 2.8. A 40D would be good but may be out of reach.

You could go without the monopod if you want, because you should be shooting at higher than 1/320.

======================================
jack008

www.worldinfo.com (http://www.worldinfo.com)

[MT Stringer]

The lighting on most of the football fields I have shot on require ISO 3200, f/2.8 and if you are lucky, the shutter speed might be as high as 1/500th sec.

If you decide to use flash, an option might be to add a 1.4x TC on the 70-200 and set your ISO at 800 or 1000. I also use a Bogen 679B monopod. It has worked great for me.

Here are a couple of examples. Note: Exif indicates the ISO was set at 1600 on both pics. 1/250, f/4 flash used.
Hope this helps.
Mike

[herbe_nelson]

Hai,
I hope these are helps
1) 70-200 2.8 non-IS. IS is useless for sport.
2) manfrotto monopod (metal one, i think 681B?)
3) cf cards!!
4) practice!

Personally I would spend the money on a good used 30D and then try to get the 70-200 2.8. A 40D would be good but may be out of reach.

You could go without the monopod if you want, because you should be shooting at higher than 1/320.

======================================
jack008

www.worldinfo.com (http://www.worldinfo.com)

Jack why did u just copy paste mine?

[sportsphotos]

if your gonna get a IS lens you can't have the IS on when its mounted to a mono or tripod. It will throw off the image stab. I like the 70-200mmIS 2.8. it's great for sports. If you get it you should also get a 1.4 TC converter it will give you a little more reach