equine photography -- please help!

I have been riding most of my life and have always loved taking pictures. For the past few years, I have used an XTi with the 55-250 mm lens. I am looking into getting a new camera and need suggestions in both body and lens. I know the "best" lenses are going to be extremely pricey and definitely out of my price range. I am looking to spend under $1000 and am trying to decide if I should just get a new body for now and continue with the 55-250 until I can get something like a 70-200. So basically, my question is: What body should I get, and if any, what lens should I get. Suggestions for both close-up and zoom would be great. I know there are a few threads about this already, but I would like to know the best body/lens combo.

I mostly shoot outdoors, but occasionally we show at grounds with indoors. I have major trouble getting anything decent with my current model/lens when shooting indoors. I'm not an expert on the hardware, but I consider myself a decent photographer. I take both action shots (hunter/jumper) and some fun candid shots on the ground. Here are a few I have taken to get an idea:

http://www.flickr.com …/62755316@N08/9​315996313/

http://www.flickr.com …/62755316@N08/9​315996687/

http://www.flickr.com …/62755316@N08/9​318782732/

http://www.flickr.com …/62755316@N08/9​315997357/

Nice pics!

If you are looking for a step up, I can't recommend the 60D or the new 70D highly enough. My 60D with a Tamron 18-270mm lens took some lovely showjumping shots at the Sydney Royal Easter Show earlier this year - much nicer than the ones I took with my 450D (similar model to your current camera) and 55-250mm Canon lens.

T.

I stepped up from the 350d to the 60d and love it. My photos are much improved.

mlbaby wrote in post #16133097
I have been riding most of my life and have always loved taking pictures. For the past few years, I have used an XTi with the 55-250 mm lens. I am looking into getting a new camera and need suggestions in both body and lens. I know the "best" lenses are going to be extremely pricey and definitely out of my price range. I am looking to spend under $1000 and am trying to decide if I should just get a new body for now and continue with the 55-250 until I can get something like a 70-200. So basically, my question is: What body should I get, and if any, what lens should I get. Suggestions for both close-up and zoom would be great. I know there are a few threads about this already, but I would like to know the best body/lens combo.

Indoor horse show images using available light from a Canon 60D and a non-stabilized Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 lens.

Awesmoe

Always a good idea to upgrade glass first body second. Plus Glass holds its value much better if you decide your not happy.

+1 on grabbing glass first. Unless your body is failing to do something that you want it to do always go for better glass.

I borrowed a 70-200 2.8L IS ii and it was a lot better on my T1i than the 55-250 especially AF speed. Not to say that 55-250 cant take a nice pic inside.
You may want to look into 85 1.8 for indoor.

55-250

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/mszuminski/7022​918523/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/mszuminski/8102​791484/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/mszuminski/7046​727097/

I'll second the 70-200mm 2.8 non stabilized, it is a very nice piece of glass, and if you bump the iso and expose properly, you will get very decent shots indoors with a good shutterspeed (at least 1/200 if you are at 200mm, better if you are at 1/400 for jumping) Usually this lens can be found for 800-1000 on ebay.

That said...

If you have a ton of shutter clicks on your current body, then you may want to get a 'new to you' upgraded body - I would recomend the 7D or the 50D

7D may be out of budget if you also get the glass, but you may be able to swing both a 50D and the 70-200 for under $1500.

yes the 50D is from 2008, however you can find very low click count ones on Ebay, and the body has two important features, micro focus adjust (to get the best out of the lens) and all the focus points are cross type. plus the body is rated for 100,000-150,000 clicks.

Someday, I'll go to full frame, but for now, the 50D does very well, and excels when paired with an L quality lens.

If you haven't purchased Lightroom yet, it is your best friend when shooting high ISO images. Highly recommend it for adjusting raw images to correct exposure and doing noise reduction.

I am glad someone else mentioned the 85mm. I have a 3ti and my 85 is a fantastic lens for indoor low light shoots. If you can get in the right spot, the 85 is a great piece of glass.
You may also want to consider the non IS 70-200 as it can be had for around $500 and add a 3ti or stretch your budget a little and go for a 5ti or any of the bodies mentioned earlier in this thread.

Ah, Swan Lake

You can't go wrong wit a 70-200 IS 2.8 and any kind of upgraded body at this point. If I were in your shoes I'd buy a used lens and a 50D.
As a total sidenote, please don't gear up and head to the local horse show to try and sell photos you take--it's totally not appropriate if there is a hired photog there and is sort of an 'unwritten rule' of horse show photography. Most people that want to get into this don't really understand that there are all kinds of weird unwritten rules--most of which you have to learn the hard way unless you have a mentor that doesn't mind sharing info.
You take good shots though! I know a few photogs that would hire you to shoot if you are consistent and get shots like that every ride, every time.

RE: shooting raw at horse shows--if you are shooting for hire it is practically impossible unless you have a card runner, but most pro's I know don't have the time/hard drive space/etc to process thousands of RAW files.

DC Fan wrote in post #16175729
Indoor horse show images using available light from a Canon 60D and a non-stabilized Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 lens.

No difficulty with this equipment when used for this task.

See, I consider those soft and unsellable.

annnnddd...now i feel like a crazy person because this thread is a year old. It was on the first page! How weird. :P

No problem, happens to the best of us, especially late at night.