Local Swim Meet

[tuggnet]

Here are a couple shots from a swim meet last weekend.

I shot these with my 17-85mm IS lens @ 85mm. Is that why the images are a bit soft? If I were to get let's say a 70-200 F2.8L should I expect crisper images?

I was shooting in AI-Servo. The auto focus point is right on the swimmer's nose.

Both shots are a pretty tight crop.

Comments and suggestions on how to make the shots better are very welcome!

1) 85mm f7 1/640
http://www.stingrays.etbits.com/6-11-2005-web/images/Meet_06112005_09a.jpg

2) 85mm f7 1/640
http://www.stingrays.etbits.com/6-11-2005-web/images/Meet_06112005_07a.jpg

-et

[PhotosGuy]

Both shots are a pretty tight crop. You may have answered your question there? If, "The auto focus point is right on the swimmer's nose.", & it really DID focus there, then you may have to spend the $s on a longer lens. ;-)
OTOH, you might wait 'till they got closer.

[Exit]

The shots just need some USM in photoshop. For the first shot I ran 150, 1, 0 though the USM and thats it. My 17-85 seems very soft compared to my 70-200L so if you do have the money a sigma or canon 70-200 f/2.8 would do you wonders :)

Results
http://img252.echo.cx/img252/9007/meet0611200509a6gi.jpg
If you want me to remove the img just say the word.

[tuggnet]

No need to remove the image. Thanks for your input! I really want to get the 70-200 2.8L. I'm not too sure how it would go over with my wife ;)

Anyway, we had another swim meet today and a lady from the other team had... you guessed it, the 70-200mm 2.8L

cheers,

-et

[grego]

You could go for the Sigma 70-200 F/2.8. It might go easier with your wife for the time being.