Acquiring the Gear.

Recently decided to set a photography goal, work the sideline of a MLS game. I've started putting together a portfolio/website and volunteered my time with a professional basketball team. Made a connection with a hockey league and their willing to let me tag a long for the ride.
Now the problem, getting the right gear together to shoot at the next level. What sacrifies have you made to buy equipment? I'm about to start donating blood LOL

My gear list wasn't too bad at the time.............I had a 7d and some glass but no L glass...............I went all out for my 5D3, strobes, and some L glass so had to sell my kayak, 48 fish tanks, and all my breeding stock and fry to get 'em. Don't regret it, although I now have no fish to photograph.

I'm currently looking into buying a 1D Mark III. Mark IV is out of my ball game right now.

bidkev wrote in post #16619831
My gear list wasn't too bad at the time.............I had a 7d and some glass but no L glass...............I went all out for my 5D3, strobes, and some L glass so had to sell my kayak, 48 fish tanks, and all my breeding stock and fry to get 'em. Don't regret it, although I now have no fish to photograph.

figo wrote in post #16619795
Recently decided to set a photography goal, work the sideline of a MLS game. I've started putting together a portfolio/website and volunteered my time with a professional basketball team. Made a connection with a hockey league and their willing to let me tag a long for the ride.
Now the problem, getting the right gear together to shoot at the next level. What sacrifies have you made to buy equipment? I'm about to start donating blood LOL

Any field sport will require at least a 300mm to compete with people in the next level up.

300mm f2.8 is on the MUST upgrade list.
Looked at your Getty images and they were really impressive.

xchangx wrote in post #16619921
Any field sport will require at least a 300mm to compete with people in the next level up.

sports photography is the most expensive to get into! Ideally you need 2+ FF bodies, one with a 300mm+ and the other with a 70-200 and maybe keep a wide angle in the bag for arena shots, close up player/coach shots, etc

Why Full Frame?

figo wrote in post #16630948
Why Full Frame?

Handles high iso better?

ya but lots of sports guys use the 7d tracks fast and fps too along side a 300/2.8 or 200/2, should get you started !

The standard setup is pretty much the 400 2.8 (or 300 2.8), 70-200 2.8, and a wide (in my case 17-35 2.8 or 24-70 2.8)

Crop is fine (1d's are 1.3 (1dx is full)).

shanehawley wrote in post #16629465
sports photography is the most expensive to get into! Ideally you need 2+ FF bodies, one with a 300mm+ and the other with a 70-200 and maybe keep a wide angle in the bag for arena shots, close up player/coach shots, etc

Hope you don't get into wildlife photography

I'm currently looking at getting rid of my 40D and replacing it with a 1D mark III or should I get a 7D and 300 f4?

BTW, thanks for the help everyone.

shanehawley wrote in post #16629465
sports photography is the most expensive to get into! Ideally you need 2+ FF bodies, one with a 300mm+ and the other with a 70-200 and maybe keep a wide angle in the bag for arena shots, close up player/coach shots, etc

Most sports photogs have used crop cameras for the past decade, and have only recently gone back to full frame with the 1DX, before that, the 1dmk4, mk3, mk2 and 2n (and even the old 1dmk1) were an APS-H 1.3 crop sensor !

As for lenses, it all depends on the sport you are shooting.
For basketball, I typically have a 24-70 and 70-200, same for netball.
Field sports I typically grab a 400mm for AFL, Rugby and Soccer, with a 70-200 on the other body
Cricket needs a 600mm (on 1.3 crop, longer on FF)
Circuit racing (motorsports) I run a 400 or 500 and 70-200, with a 16-35 kept in the bag
Rallying I take a 16-35, 70-200 and 300 f2.8 - and a 1.4 converter.

I would start with a 7D and 70-200 - then get a 300 or 400 when budget allows (and thinking about your next camera too), then upgrade the camera body when the budget allows.

There is a lot of guys out there producing incredible work with a 7d, 24-70 and 70-200, they just have to think and move more, compared to the guys with 1DX and 400f2.8
Also, knowing the sport helps too, being able to anticipate the action

Tc202 wrote in post #16631229
Hope you don't get into wildlife photography

Or birds in particular. Once you start lusting after the big white primes, it's game over.....