Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM and Sports?

[jjdurrant]

Thoughts on how this lens would perform on my 40D with outdoor sports (soccer).

Thanks!

[ChrisRabior]

It's not a bad lens, but you'll pretty much be restricted to day games and you'll probably find 135mm isn't enough for reach. Also depends on your access to the field (ie, shoot from sidelines vs shooting from bleachers) and your subjects (kids on smaller field vs teens on full size field).

[dmwierz]

I had this lens a long time ago, and not only was the aperture range not good enough for any but the brightest days, the AF was pretty slow. Depending on what sport you're looking to shoot, there are better choices for about the same money.

If soccer is your sport, 135mm, even on a 40D, is gonna be pretty short. You'll be confined to action right in front of you. FWIW, I shoot soccer on full-sized pitches with a 400 lens and often add a 1.4X TC for more reach.

I'd think about a used Canon 200 f/2.8, or maybe a used Sigma 70-200 f/2.8.

[jjdurrant]

Super thanks all.. I think a 70-200 is in my future!

[stonyzmom]

I have the 28-135 IS lens and use it only for after game shots when I want to cover a lot of territory, or on the baseball field if I can get access. 99% of the time I use the Canon 70-300 IS lens and love it. I'm a total beginner, but here are a few shots from the sidelines:

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/7728/laneycollege380919.jpg

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/5581/losmedanoscollege312094h.jpg

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/3918/losmedanoscollege312097.jpg

[jjdurrant]

nice shots... I think I am going to go with the 55-250.

[stonyzmom]

I have total lens envy right now.....I'm fighting the urge to buy a bigger lens. It's killing me. I think what I should do is upgrade my camera first. I am using a Rebel XTi and I know there are some really nice cameras out now. I don't know.....I can't decide. Argh. For now, I'm happy with the 70-300. I don't know much about the 55-250. Is it a Canon?

Oh, another question. Will my lenses work with the newer cameras? I have the 28-135 and the 70-300, both IS and both Canon. Are they interchangeable with the 40D and 50D?

[dmwierz]

JJ - Stonzy has a good idea. I actually started WAY back when with a Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO-M consumer zoom and it wasn't too bad, providing there is enough light.

The Canon EF-S 55-250mm F/4.0-5.6 IS is a decent lens, but it also is pretty much a daytime only piece of glass. It's certainly better than the 28-135 but honestly a used Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 will be a little more money and a LOT better lens IMHO.

All reasonably-modern Canon lenses (EF lenses) will work on 1.6X crop bodies (10D-50D) - however, EFS lenses designed for 1.6X bodies will not work on anything other than 1.6X bodies.

[Tigershark]

it is a little slow and will have you wanting more reach quickly. I think its a great walk around lens

[stonyzmom]

it is a little slow and will have you wanting more reach quickly. I think its a great walk around lens

I agree. That's what I bought it for. Nice lens....no two ways about it.....but I consider it an all purpose lens for just everyday photog. I do know that I am loving my 70-300 IS USM Canon lens and would not be able to shoot the games that I do without it.

[jjdurrant]

hmmmm..... decisions :)