Need your help!

Im trying to decide on lens/es I want to use for motorsports. Now I don't have a very luxurious budget, so for now Im on a tight leash. For the events I will be attending, Im not exactly sure how far I will be from the action. I have set my self a budget of around $1500.

These are the lenses I looked at:

- Sigma 70-200 HSM II + 1.4x TC
- Sigma 50-500 f/4.5-6.3 OS HSM
- Canon 70-200 f/2.8L
- Canon 70-200 f/4L
- Canon 70-200 f/4L IS
- Canon 70-300 f/4-5.6L IS
- Canon 300 f/4L IS

After giving it much thought Im really set on the 70-300 f/4-5.6L. The reason why Im going in this direction is, for my first event I want to have as much flexibility as I can with my shots, meaning using the prime will limit me somewhat. Also, I think that 200mm will be too short. I know this lens has a floating aperture, but I really don't feel that I will be shooting in conditions that would require a faster lens. I think this lens will help me gauge what I want out of my lens, and after my first event I will know better what I want.

Any tips and advice is really welcomed. Ill post a poll just to see what people think

EDIT: Added the Sigma 50-500mm f4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM to the mix

You left out the options of the 100-400/4.5-5.6L and the Sigma 50-500.

philwillmedia wrote in post #12424575
You left out the options of the 100-400/4.5-5.6L and the Sigma 50-500.

The 100-400 is $400 more than my most expensive option at this point (I live in Canada, so lenses are more expensive).

I have not considered the Sigma options. They are pretty attractive.

Tony_Stark wrote in post #12424637
The 100-400 is $400 more than my most expensive option at this point (I live in Canada, so lenses are more expensive).

I have not considered the Sigma options. They are pretty attractive.

And they're even more expensive in Australia - about Au$2200-2500 for a 100-400L
When I bought mine in 2004 it was Au$3000
Seriously think about second hand.
It's the best way to get bang for your buck.
You should be able to pick up a second hand 100-400 that fits within your budget.

Any of those lenses will work, but they won't perform miracles. They won't point themselves in the right direction, they won't place themselves in the best places to capture the action, they won't decide the best technique to use. Only a human can do that.

From a Tamron 18-200mm lens, which costs around US $300.

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Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

I hope I have not given off the impression that Im the kind of person who thinks that my gear will get everything done for me Im simply trying to find the best lens that fits my needs at this point. Im not the guy who buys his camera, shoots in Auto the whole time then comes here to complain that my camera doesn't work properly.

Pick out a lens you think might work for you and then rent it for a weekend. Good research money well spent, I think.

Or get the 70-200 f/2.8. You can always add a 1.4x if needed.

MT Stringer wrote in post #12426576
Pick out a lens you think might work for you and then rent it for a weekend. Good research money well spent, I think.

Or get the 70-200 f/2.8. You can always add a 1.4x if needed.

Im thinking of trying to pickout what I think will be the best option, and if after that race weekend I dont like, just return the lens and get another.

Tony, how close will you be to the action? Check out my drag racing pics. All of the racing pics at last years NHRA Spring Nationals were taken with a 7D and 70-200 f/2.8 from the stands...about 12 rows up, just off the starting line.

http://mtstringer.smug​mug.com …HRA-Spring-Nationals-2010

Hope this helps.
Mike