Cambrian rally, North Wales

[DONKEYTROLL]

I am looking to get up to the Cambrian Rally on Saturday and was looking to hire a lens. Any recomendations? I have never shot anything like this, so completely new to it! I will be in a forest setting if that helps?

Cheers in advance

Don

[PhotosGuy]

How close do you plan on standing?
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=594007&highlight=Cambrian+Rally

And this question should probably be in MS Talk, so I'm moving it.

[Cadwell]

Probably your most flexible option is going to be a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM. 70-200mms are popular rally lenses and the f/2.8 helps it cope with the dark and murky conditions.

[DONKEYTROLL]

Im not sure about how close I will be standing, as close as practically possible really.

I was also looking at the 70-200 f2.8, is it better to have IS or not?
thanks again

[Cadwell]

I find IS an annoyance when it comes to motorsport, it gets in the way of my shooting style and I have it switched off. Others have different opinions.

One advantage of the 70-200/2.8 IS which is pertinent for rallying is that it is weather and dust sealed whilst the non-IS equipped 70-200mm Ls aren't. Rallies either tend to be wet and muddy or dry and dusty; those aren't friendly conditions for lenses.

Since you are renting a lens, it would be sensible to get one which did have IS and see if you prefer it. You can always switch IS off on an IS equipped lens.

[DONKEYTROLL]

Thank for that Cadwell. I have also seen the canon 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM. Would this be a suitable lens for the event? I have also already checked out the weather and its gonna be predominately sunny for the event.

Thanks

Don

[Cadwell]

Sunny is fine... the f/4s do a decent job in good light. Question though, is this a forest rally? Lots of nasty shade and shadows in the forests regardless of how sunny it is.

It isn't really about the aperture you'll be shooting at, it is about focus speed and accuracy. Don't forget that all Canon lenses focus at their widest possible aperture only stopping down to the set aperture for the brief period that the shutter is open. An f/2.8 lens lets twice as much light reach the autofocus sensors as an f/4 one does. This gives an f/2.8 a huge improvement in focus speed and accuracy over an f/4.

[DONKEYTROLL]

Thanks again Cadwell, all your advice has been taken onboard.

Is there anyone else other than myself from this forum heading over for the event?

Don