Motorsports photography : which Canon Lens to begin

Hello,

I hope it is the right place to post. I'm beginning with motorsports photography (bikes and cars).

I was advised to begin with a 70-200 f/2.8 non-IS with a x1.4 TC (200 can be too short, depending the racetrack). But as I read the forum, it seems that the IS could help. I can't afford the 2.8 IS and using the f/4 with a 1.4, it will be a f/5.6.

My budget is 1000 EUR and it will be hard to find a 300mm f/2.8..

What could be the right choice for that kind of shoots with a "good" bokeh and sharpness ?

Thanks a lot,

Matt

Hello Matt,

I do not know what kind of body you use, and what kind of motorsport you shoot.

I personally was shooting Rally, with a 24-105 on a Crop body (40D), but if you are at a racetrack, it might not be enough.

I will assume, you have a crop body (Anything that is not a 6D, 5D, 1D).
On a Crop body, a 70-200 f/4 IS should be a very nice lens, for shooting Motorsport in the daylight, if you can get to about 40-50 meters from the cars (or closer).

For bokeh, if you need to keep a distance, bokeh will be never really nice, does not matter if it is a 2.8 or a f/4 lens.

You might also get a 1.4x Extender, but Autofocus will be a slower.

I woudl NOT recommend the 300mm, or 400mm fixed lens, as these are fixed, its not so versatile as a zoom, and you will want to zoom, as the cars are closing in.

As for IS. It can help in Mode 2, when you want to pan the camrea, it will stabilize in only one direction enabling you to get some really nice panning shots, but do not think, that this works wonders.
You need to learn to use it, then you will be able to really take an advantage.

Now if you have a Fullfreme body (6D, 5D, 1D), then I would advice you to get a 100-400, but that much more then $1000.

Well, thats my opinion, hopefully others will have similat, or totally different opinions.

70-300L

Many thanks ! But prime lens are better no ?

I have a crop sensor. So 70-200 f4 or 70-300l would be sufficient for motorcycle races ?

Hi Matt,
I been to a number of MotoGP and F1 Grand Prix's along with local club motocross events over the years.

In the past I have used the Canon 70-200 F4 and while it was good, I got the opportunity to use a Canon 100-400 "dustpump", and after doing a number of race events, I went and bought one.

The extra focal length is very useful and has made life much easier, especially at circuits where you are away from the action. The IS is very useful and has improved my panning shots, I also use a monopod with it and I feel it the best combination of kit I have ever used.

Can't wait for this year's race season to get going, so I can introduce my new 70D to the 100-400

Totolasticot wrote in post #16726859
Hello,

I hope it is the right place to post. I'm beginning with motorsports photography (bikes and cars).

I was advised to begin with a 70-200 f/2.8 non-IS with a x1.4 TC (200 can be too short, depending the racetrack). But as I read the forum, it seems that the IS could help. I can't afford the 2.8 IS and using the f/4 with a 1.4, it will be a f/5.6.

My budget is 1000 EUR and it will be hard to find a 300mm f/2.8..

What could be the right choice for that kind of shoots with a "good" bokeh and sharpness ?

Thanks a lot,

Matt

A Tamron 70-300mm vibration control lens is a good unit for motorsports. That lens was used to create these racing images.

I may be in the minority here, but I almost never used my 70-200 for motorsport and always used my Sigma 150-500 OS. I have recently upgraded my 70-200 f4 to a 2.8 IS II for several reasons and will begin to change my shooting style at the track to make good use of it. The 70-200 is great for panning shots (I prefer head-on shots of the cars, hence the 150-500). I think the best compromise would be the 70-300L, but this puts you in a dilemma in the future when you would want to get another lens. A 70-200 would almost make it redundant and a 70-200 2.8 would be a much better match to a 150-500 (or 150-600 etc) than a 70-300 due to aperture.

If you go 70-200, just get the Canon 2.8 (or Tamron 70-200 2.8 VC if you can afford it). An UWA lens is also fantastic if you're at a track where you can make good use of it. I love seeing panning shots at low shutter speeds of a car where it only takes up ~1/4 of the width of the frame. Basically, I think you should decide which kind of shots you want. UWA type? Head-on type (super telephoto)? etc. Also consider what tracks you will be shooting at (if that's what you will be doing) and how close you can get to the action. Overall though, a 70-200 2.8 would be the safest choice (as you will definitely keep it in the future).

"What could be the right choice for that kind of shoots with a "good" bokeh and sharpness ?"

A fast lens gives good bokeh but that's not how you get proper background blur when shooting motorsports. A fast lens will force you to use way too high a shutter speed to get the desired effect of motion blur. Motion blur comes from a low shutter speed & the sharp image comes from lots of panning practice & in many cases great IS in the lens.

This is the result of too high a shutter speed. The car looks parked on the track.

Thanks a lot for the answers and advices.

A used 100-400 could be a good compromise, I think even on a crop sensor ?

Sorry for the up. What about the sigma 70-200 compared to Canon ?

Totolasticot wrote in post #16728113
Sorry for the up. What about the sigma 70-200 compared to Canon ?

My personal opinion: Forget the Sigma. The AF and build quality isn't all that close compared to the canon 2.8. If you buy the Sigma, I can assure you will want to upgrade in the near future if you find you use the 70-200 quite a bit. I have used the Sigma 2.8 OS, Canon 2.8 IS II, canon f4 and tamron 70-200 VC and the is II is the best closely followed by the Tamron. Can't really compare the canon f4 to the 2.8 sigma since they are really intended for different uses/users.

Totolasticot wrote in post #16727171
Many thanks ! But prime lens are better no ?

I have a crop sensor. So 70-200 f4 or 70-300l would be sufficient for motorcycle races ?

Primes ARE better, if you have time to controll your distance to the subject.
If you on the other hand, do not have time to switch lenses, a zoom is better.
I prefer zooms for motorport.

Also, if you are at a point of a racetrack, were you can see for example 2 Corners with a short (25-30 meter) distance between them, you can take shot 1 at 200mm (or 300), and shoot 2 at 70mm. You will never have the time, to run back 25meters to get the shot.

The 70-300 L IS suggested above is also a ver-very nice lens, and might be even better then the 70-200 f/4 L IS.

Many people doing this sport use a Signa 100-300/4 on a monnopod.

Damn !! Very hard to make the right choice !! Grrr!

If you are not sure about which one to get, do not forget about renting one for a week and see how it goes.