Get to shoot NFL this weekend - thoughts on lenses needed

[mattyv53]

I have the opportunity to shoot an NFL preseason game Saturday night. The game is in the evening, but is indoor and the stadium is relatively well lit. I was going to bring a 300mm f/4 and my 70-200 f/2.8. Do you think the 300mm f/4 will be enough for pro football indoors? I have the ability to rent a 400mm f/2.8, but I have used it to shoot pro soccer in the past and found it a bit too long for me. Has anyone used one for pro football?

Any input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[Adama]

If the game is in the evening you might regret being restricted to F4 on your long lens. Even at 2.8 in bad lighting I'm forced to go to ISO 1600 on my Mark III

[mattyv53]

I have shot a soccer game in the same stadium at night using the 400mm 2.8 and got good results between ISO 400-800. Based on that information, if I bump the ISO up to 1600 do you think the 300mm f4 will work?

[gromeo]

A 300 f4 will most likely be to slow, even in the best lit stadiums Pro and NCAA D1 I find that I often shoot 1250 to 1600 iso, 300 2.8 and 400 2.8 are the standard when shooting football with the 70-200 2.8 on a second body.

[mattyv53]

I went ahead and reserved the 400mm f2.8. Hopefully I will get some good shots.

[canonnoob]

good luck!

[polarbare]

The 400 2.8 would be my #1 choice.

[FlyingPhotog]

Take a quality pair of kneepads. If you want to shoot from the end zones, you have to get down...

Don't block the TV cameras and keep both eyes open so you can try to avoid getting run over.

[dmwierz]

Where is the game?
Have you shot football before, and if so, at what level?
Do you know where to go and what to do?

[mattyv53]

I have shot D1 football before, but never NFL.

Not totally sure where to go, but assume the rules are probably pretty similar to college as far as where I can move on the field during the game. If anyone has shot NFL games before and can give me a quick rundown of the do's and dont's and where I can move on the field that would be much appreciated. I am going to try to do a little research myself on that as well before I get to the stadium.

[shootinsmiles]

Congrats!! That's awesome to get to shoot from the sidelines at an NFL game, even if it is pre-season.

I'm assuming you are speaking of the Cowboy game. I was there last week but was shooting from the seats. (see my website for photos if you want) I used the 70-200 2.8 and shot most all photos at 1250 ISO and 1/1000 at 3.5. In regards to which lens? You will be taxing the f4 and your camera to it's limits with ISO. I would rent the 400/2.8 or at least a 300/2.8.

As you know from shooting the soccer game there, the lighting is good but you got a great chance for some great pictures. You might not get this chance again. Take advantage of it while you can.

BTW, how did you get a photo pass for the game?

John

[dmwierz]

If you've shot D1 before, your questions about what lens to choose sounded a bit basic.

Shooting NFL is similar to D1 except a LOT faster, and the players are larger (but not always). You may find the sidelines to be less crowded than D1, depending on which D1 schools you've shot at. However, be very attentive to the pro's shooting the game - they are there working, and their livelihoods depend on what they can produce.

You normally cannot shoot from behind the benches (which is also usually the case with D1).

One big difference is you may have to deal with a lot more TV folks, from camera dudes, to movable cranes, to sound dish people to cable runners, etc.

What stadium is the game being played at?

[mattyv53]

Thanks for the information.

The game is at the new Cowboy's stadium.

[shootinsmiles]

How did it go last night? I'm anxious to see what you were able to capture. Which lens did you go with?

[mattyv53]

It went well I think. I ended up going with the 400mm 2.8 and I am a little sore from carrying it around for 5 hours, but I am relatively happy with some of the pictures I got. I took so many pictures it is taking me a while to go through them. I am planning on posting some later this evening in the "Sharing" section.

[dmwierz]

Matty - why not post your shots here? You may find the comments and critique to be a bit more pointed.

[mattyv53]

Okay.

Here are a few shots I took at the game on Saturday night. It took me a little while to get comfortable shooting, and I was much happier with the pictures I got in the 2nd half of the game. I have a few more posted in the "Sharing" section of the site and will have lots more available on my website in the next few days after I have had a chance to go through them all in case anyone is interested.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a319/daddyv53/Cowboys%20v%2049ers/IMG_9735a.jpg?t=1251816693

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a319/daddyv53/Cowboys%20v%2049ers/IMG_9750a.jpg?t=1251816768

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a319/daddyv53/Cowboys%20v%2049ers/IMG_8437a.jpg?t=1251816820

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a319/daddyv53/Cowboys%20v%2049ers/IMG_9718.jpg?t=1251816947

[canonnoob]

nice shots matty. the only thing i think I would do is add a smidge of contrast

[mattyv53]

I agree. I haven't been able to edit many of them at all yet and am still working through them (I took a ton), but was very excited and just wanted to post some anyway. I must admit that my post processing skills are severely lacking, but I am signed up to take a photoshop class in the next few weeks at a local college. Hopefully that will help me. I have tried to do some research online, but Photoshop has always intimidated me a little bit, so I end up using basic programs like Picasa to edit my pictures (although I know I would get much better results in Photoshop).