300mm or 400mm on a 1.6 crop for a football game

I got fortunate enough to obtain a credential for the BCS National Championship game. I am going to rent either a 300 or 400 2.8 to go along with my 70-200 2.8. I want to know if the 400 would be too tight for a 1.6 crop. For those of you who have used both, could you chime in and let me know the pros and cons of using both on a 1.6 crop?

I've not shot anything at that level, but plenty of youth football. I'll suggest that it depends where you are positioned. If you are behind the end zone, or on the sideline up to about the 20 yard line, the 400 will be great on the 1.6 crop as the play approaches. When it gets close, you can switch to the 70-220. 300 will work, but I would actually prefer the 400. Less cropping when the play is far away, greater details as it approaches.

If by some miracle you can wander freely (I can do that at some youth games, I doubt you will have the same freedom at that level) then the 70-200 alone is probably all you need. If you can stay within 20 yards of the line of scrimmage, that's a great focal length.

Enjoy that!

For me, I'd rather shoot looser and have to crop in post, than have a lens combo that is too tight and possibly results in me chopping off heads and legs when the play gets too close. Now I use a 1D Mk IV which allows me to crop in post pretty aggressively, but the 7D should also provide sufficient pixels in this regard.

You have an effective focal length of 480 with the 300 and 640 with the 400, so judge accordingly.

I use my 300 on my 1.3 crop MkIV pretty much all the time and it has done well for me in all my football shots (see http://christianjstewa​rt.zenfolio.com/footba​ll) so I would go for the 300, save some rental dollars and then crop in post if needed.

Do you also have a second body? Like mentioned above you can switch as play draw near to 70-200, but you don't want to have to swap lenses, just grab the second camera.

Griffew wrote in post #16536762
I got fortunate enough to obtain a credential for the BCS National Championship game. I am going to rent either a 300 or 400 2.8 to go along with my 70-200 2.8. I want to know if the 400 would be too tight for a 1.6 crop. For those of you who have used both, could you chime in and let me know the pros and cons of using both on a 1.6 crop?

400mm on a crop body won't be easy, especially if you haven't shot something that long (an effective 640mm like cstewart mentioned) before. It takes a little getting used to. The 300mm won't be too bad though and will give you a little more freedom. I've shot football on a 300, 400, 500, and 600mm on a full frame, and I found 500mm to be the sweet spot for me, but that's just personal preference. The 400 will allow you to just camp around the end zone, which may not be a bad idea with space being such a premium since the sidelines will likely be crammed with media and whomever else.

I'd definitely try and borrow or rent a second body, if you can. You don't want to be caught changing lenses when the action moves close and something major happens.

I carry a 300 on a 1.6 crop and a 70-200 on a 1.3 crop. I've found that this combo works best for me. If I was going to shoot just the game with one body and lens, I'd probably use the 300 on the 1.3 crop.

I'll vote 300mm if you can move around

400mm with a 70-200 as the action gets close. Two bodies will be needed. If I had only one body then go with the 300mm.

I can attest to the comments on the difference in use of the 300mm compared to the 70-200, and at the speed of those NCAA D1 guys, and in the BCS champ game they will really fast, it will take you a half to get the timing right. I tried right off to use my 300 and the 1.4x on my 7D, the results were not very pretty.

UTgws wrote in post #16542586
I can attest to the comments on the difference in use of the 300mm compared to the 70-200, and at the speed of those NCAA D1 guys, and in the BCS champ game they will really fast, it will take you a half to get the timing right. I tried right off to use my 300 and the 1.4x on my 7D, the results were not very pretty.

I have shot the Auburn vs. UGA, alabama, and Missouri (SEC Championship game) games so I am used to the speed of the players. However, I know what you mean though. The action is so fast that the more reach you have, the harder it is to keep them in the frame. I went ahead and reserved a 300 for the game. We'll see how it works out!

Griffew wrote in post #16542704
I have shot the Auburn vs. UGA, alabama, and Missouri (SEC Championship game) games so I am used to the speed of the players. However, I know what you mean though. The action is so fast that the more reach you have, the harder it is to keep them in the frame. I went ahead and reserved a 300 for the game. We'll see how it works out!

you'll get good shots but it seems most of the football pros shoot with a 400mm 2.8 (and a bunch of other gear strapped to them)

watt100 wrote in post #16547030
you'll get good shots but it seems most of the football pros shoot with a 400mm 2.8 (and a bunch of other gear strapped to them)

They usually shoot either FF or 1.3x though. With APS-C, I would take the 300 over the 400.

Shooting from the endzone, I'd rather have a 600 or a 400 + a 1.4tc

i shoot endzone sideline with 400 2.8 and any close work 70-200