What are 5 essential lenses for motorsport photography?

As the title says: What are 5 essential lenses for motorsport photography?

5 is a bit much IMO, unless one works for a sports magazine or is a professional making living off sports shots. Canon 100-400L would get my vote.

Okay, lets change this to Top 5 motorsport lenses...

Depends which motorsports you're going to shoot and whether or not you have a trackside pass.

Steve of Cornubia wrote in post #15026955
Depends which motorsports you're going to shoot and whether or not you have a trackside pass.

^^^ +1. It also depends on time of day, lighting conditions and weather forecast.

If I could only choose one, it would be a 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS.

If I plan on shooting hot pit and paddock, I'll also bring a 70-200 f/2.8L IS II.

For indoors after-events, 10-22 f/3.5-4.5, 17-55 f/2.8 IS, 50 f/1.4 on a crop-body.

Tbh I use all mine, the most used by far is 70-200 f2.8 II, then 135mm F2, then, 24-70 and then 10-22 all in that order.

Never go to a race without my Canon 35-350mm L. It might be old - but it still worth its weight!! 70-200mm MKII is also a worthy addition. 24-105mm for those in between opportunities.

I use all three on the lenses listed in my sig for motorsports. If money was no object and it was a job I'd get the 16-35, 50L, 70-200 2.8, 300 2.8, and a 500 for tracks that need reach. A FE would be nice for specialty shots. Really depends on track access and if you're doing it as a job. As a hobby, I get by fine with the lenses I own.

I use 70-200 2.8 L is II and 300 F4 L, with pair of 1D Mk III's trackside at Brand's hatch, though theres not many place's you can get a clear veiw.

CaterhamF1 wrote in post #15026886
As the title says: What are 5 essential lenses for motorsport photography?

If you're using five lenses at a racing event, you're spending too much time switching lenses and missing shots.

It comes down to a long lens and a short lens. Which long lens and short lens depends on preference and the amount of money you can spend. And the exact type of lens doesn't mean much. What really counts is the experience you have and your ability to use the equipment. Instead of being obsessed with equipment, you should be obsessed with the opportunities to travel to races and use that equipment. Without experience and skill, it won't matter if you use an extremely expensive Canon 600mm lens or an inexpensive Tamron 200-500mm unit.

I don't know a whole lot about shooting motorsports, but I guess it goes from indoor dirttracks where you can almost tough the action, to long tracks where you want to pan and isolate individual cars/bikes from a long way.
Assuming 5 lenses, I'd go for two bodies (crop and FF) and get as much versatility and fast switching as possible.
- 100-400 probably most used trackside on the Crop.
- 70-200 2.8 IS II on a FF body.
- 85 1.8 indoor and closer to the action.
- either a 24-70, 16-35 or a middle range prime like a 35L.
- optional: 15mm fish eye, or the 8-15 if you can't find one. Fish eyes can be nice for real up close action and relatively easily get PP-ed into rectilinear wide angle shots.

i carry a wide... and my 70-200 2.8 and a converter if i need it. no need for 5 lenses

I carry a 24-70L and a Sigma 120-300 f/2.8, plus a 1.4x TC.

I usually have a 70-200 on my 20d and 300 on my 50d. Then in the paddock, put 10-20 or 28-200 on the 50d.. Also put a 1.4x or 2.0x on the 70-200 or 300 as required.