Quick question about lens for sport shots.

I am going to an NFL game in a few weeks and want to get some good shots of the game but the stadium limits lenses to 12" in length or under. I was just wondering what would be a fast enough lens to use that meets the 12" or under thing. I was looking at renting the 70-200mm. Anyone know what its total length is?

Is it a day or night game? 70-200 is about 7 and a half inches. 100-400 is about the same. Sigma 120-300 is just under the bar at 11 and a half.

Canon 70-200 f/2.8 is going to be about 8"......but unless you are on the sidelines it is going to be to short! You will need prob the 100-400, about the same size, but still would have to be close.....

How close are we talking? And at f/4.5 with the 100-400mm, will that be fast enough? It is a night game.

The 100-400 will give you 600mm on a 7D but it will depend on where you are sitting and what the light will be like. To give you an idea, this was shot at the Superdome with 200mm zoom and the second was where my seat was, so I was a long way.

Not bad for being in such a huge stadium. I will be in a much smaller stadium, at the 50 yard line 24 rows up.

MrJack787 wrote in post #13511150
Not bad for being in such a huge stadium. I will be in a much smaller stadium, at the 50 yard line 24 rows up.

If the light is good enough, I would go with the 100-400. It's reasonably compact and is going to give you more reach.

Well being a pro sport stadium I can't imagine not having enough light haha. Is there a good guide to sport action shots?

MrJack787 wrote in post #13511186
Well being a pro sport stadium I can't imagine not having enough light haha. Is there a good guide to sport action shots?

You'd be surprised. Especially when you're not on the sidelines, light actually gets dimmer the further you are from the field.

Stadiums can get away with lower light indoors and at night. But it shouldn't be too bad compared to a smaller venue, I get what you mean.

olo567 wrote in post #13514799
You'd be surprised. Especially when you're not on the sidelines, light actually gets dimmer the further you are from the field.

Stadiums can get away with lower light indoors and at night. But it shouldn't be too bad compared to a smaller venue, I get what you mean.

I've been to a game there before at night and if I remember correctly it was like daytime. But I know lights can act funny through the lens. At this point I'm thinking of going with the 100-400mm due to it's reach and where I'll be in the stands. I'm just concerned that at f/4.5 it wont be fast enough to capture really sharp images. Do you have any experience with that lens?

olo567 wrote in post #13514799
You'd be surprised. Especially when you're not on the sidelines, light actually gets dimmer the further you are from the field.

This is a joke right? I'll consider the winky face to imply that it's a joke. If not, let me know...

Here you go, these threads may or may not help:
https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1117011
https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1104308
It has been talked about to death on here, just do a search.

I'd say take a mid range zoom and shoot the environment. There is a lot of great material (fans, signs, etc) to shoot at a game beside the game itself. Have a good time and watch the game. You won't get any good acton shots from 24 rows up with any lens that they will allow you to carry in. You might run into trouble at the gate if you have a lens that "looks" big. They can turn you away and you have no recourse. Then it's usually a long walk back to the car. Hope it turns out well.

whuband wrote in post #13516348
I'd say take a mid range zoom and shoot the environment. There is a lot of great material (fans, signs, etc) to shoot at a game beside the game itself. Have a good time and watch the game. You won't get any good acton shots from 24 rows up with any lens that they will allow you to carry in. You might run into trouble at the gate if you have a lens that "looks" big. They can turn you away and you have no recourse. Then it's usually a long walk back to the car. Hope it turns out well.

Yeah, I understand I won't get shots like I would if I were on the sidelines but if elrey got as good of a shot as he got in the superdome with a 200mm I feel I'd have to get pretty decent shots in the stadium I am going to with the lens I want to rent. I mean this stadium could probably fit in the superdome. Also it's a 3ish hour game, it's not like I'll be shooting the entire time.

I'd be most concerned with getting the lens past the gate. In their minds, white lenses mean professional gear.