What lens to use for night games

[dman64]

what is a good lens for night games, softball football
I use a 40D

[rdompor]

Depending on how well lit your fields are, a 2.8 lens may or may not suffice. For field sports, you generally need 200mm or longer. Now, depending on your budget, you have a few options. If you need something cheap ($500-$1500) the 200mm 2.8 or 70-200 2.8's will be what you are looking for. If you need a bit more reach, Sigma's 120-300 2.8 runs for around $3000 iirc. Canon's 300 2.8 will run you $4g's and the 400 will be around $6-7g's.

Canon also makes a 200mm f/2, but I wouldn't justify a $5000 200mm lens for field sports while it only shoots 2/3 of a stop faster than it's $500 counterpart, even if it does do it with style...

So, yeah....What did you say your budget was?

[dman64]

My buget is about 2gs. I have 200mm 2.8l with 1x4 it puts me at f4 just a little short for field sport. The 1x4 is not the new version is there any differance.

[dman64]

Check out my web site let me what you think.
www.dman.zenfolio.com (http://www.dman.zenfolio.com)

[rdompor]

It looks like you're doing alright with the lighting at f/4. You could get a 300 f/4 but I don't really see the point since that is more or less what you are shooting with the 200 and 1.4. Another option would be to go with a used/older sigma 120-300 2.8. I have seen them sold for about 2000.

[Patrick]

As football season stretched on and the sun set earlier and earlier, f2.8 at ISO 3200 on the 40D just wasn't enough. That's when I bought the 50D. At ISO 6400 It took the SS back up to 500-640. I bought a 50mm f1.4 for sideline shots and stuck it on the 40D.

[bobbyz]

For american high school football you can always go the flash route.

[Patrick]

For american high school football you can always go the flash route.

Always check first to make sure flash is allowed.

I was the only person who actually asked if flash was allowed and the only person with the equipment to not need a flash.:)