Lens rec

I have a somewhat unique problem: I need a lens rec for shooting bird dog field trials. I need one lens as I will be shooting from horseback and don't want to risk dropping a lens from that height while changing lens. I have a Canon 35-135 and a Canon 70-300 but I fear that the first might not be long enuf and the second not wide enuf. I will be photographing dogs standing on point and once I get in position, I cannot move much if at all, thus the 70 might not be wide enuf. (There are other riders on HB plus one cannot crowd the judges or interfere with the pointing dog and its handler.) OTOH, I will be photographing dogs running at some distance, sometimes at 600 yards or more thus the 135 might not be quite long enuf. I have been thinking of the 55-250 but ideally, a 28 to 300 might be just the ticket. Any recs, Canon or third party? FYI, I seldom print larger than 8x10 and I do have a website that I may place more pics on. Thanks in advance!! Harry

And I know that there is a Canon L 28-300 but I also need a light lens (remember, I will be on horse back.).

70-200 f/2.8 with 1.4 teleconverter or just the 70-200

It sounds like you need a second camera...

But, shooting dogs from horseback? That's going to be an odd angle, IMO. There's no chance you can be on the ground?

Dave

There is an old, cheap EF 28-200 1:3.5-5.6 lens from over a decade ago. The range is what you want plus it is small and light.

I have to agree with the other posters though....can't imagine shots from on horseback will be very compelling as you will be high above the dogs. If anything and I was stuck with this angle then I would try to use a very long lens and keep my horse as far from the dogs as possible.

Hadn't thot of the angle but I don't think that would bother other field trial participants as that is the angle that most see as only handlers and sometimes judges dismount. In any case it would be from perhaps 8 feet as opposed to 6. My saddle is about 5 feet from the ground plus 3 for my upper body vs my normal 6 feet ( or maybe 5' 9" or 10" from my eye). I'll have to experiment in a training session to see if that 2 feet is disconcerting and if so, how much. In any case I'd probably be at least 50 feet from the dog as judges frown on anyone crowding a dog on point. They'd probably confiscate my camera if I did that. <g> Thanks for the tip, guys!

And thanks Jeffry, I wasn't aware of that 28-200, that sounds like just the ticket! I also field trial English Cocker Spaniels and there of course, I am on the ground as are all others.

Check the used lenses available from KEH or similar and you might find the old 28-200. It's similar in size and weight to the 28-135 IS.

It's not a 2 foot difference, it's about a 7 foot difference. The best angle to shoot a dog from is at his eye level. But of course the further away he is, the less impact, but when I shoot hunt tests I'm laying on the ground. And they are quite far out as well.

Dave

Dude, shooting a dog at 600 yards away is a major task. In comparison I'll shoot 6+foot peeps at 100 yards with a 400 with a 1.4 ET and have issues. LOL

Ok...never shot what you are shooting, and not to get in the middle of the the angle of the shot debate (but I'll say the lower the better)...if I had only one lens I'd go with the 70-200 with a 1.4 ET as already suggested as my first choice, or my second choice would be the canon 100-400 L. But if you can find what Jeffrey suggested, that would prob be the way to go...but personally I'd take the extra reach over a wider lens.