Lenses for motorsports

smcclelland wrote in post #3841189
I would have assumed the AF would be fine as well seeing as I've used a few HSM lenses and have been very impressed with the results. The nice fact of the 100-300 is I can get a brand new one here in Canada for half the price of the 100-400 leaving me room for some other items. I'll have to see if one of the local camera shops has a 100-300 available to test and see how the AI Servo does tracking fast moving objects.

Cheers,

Shawn

Well, I know alot of people with this lens, I can't say i've ever seen one where it's missed focus, even on a crop body..

I've been using the 70-200 f/2.8IS and EF 1.4x teleconverter combination, and it's served me well, but unless you have a media pass, it probably won't get you close enough to the action in most instances.

I've been wanting to get the 100-400IS, but I am also one that doesn't like the push-pull design, and I believe the IS is first generation (the lens is after all a 10 year old design). I'd also heard rumors that Canon will shortly be replacing this lens, so I'll continue to hold my breath, but it will be my next motorsport lens.

As between Canon and non-Canon, beyond differences (if any) in IQ and autofocus speed, I'm a firm believer in image stabilization for any telephoto lens, and will never buy another telephoto without it. Canon's mode 2 (horizontal stabilization only) is particularly useful for panning shots.

I used my 70-200 for motorsports (first time) today. Somewhat cropped

The car is a replica Audi S1 Pikes Peak.

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And a couple more...

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The 70-200 does come a bit short but with the 1.4x TC it's just enough for a few tracks that I frequent.

If Canon does update the 100-400 I'd be interested in what it entails, right now I find the 100-300 with a 1.4x TC packs a bit more punch than the L equivalent.

I'm not sure how useful IS would be for me as I like to shoot my pans at 1/60 and I've heard some bad stories about IS resetting itself mid pan. I can certainly see its use in the Paddock areas for still shots and portraits but on the days where I am up at 6am to get to the track early IS might come in handy after a few coffees and a Redbull!

smcclelland wrote in post #3841537
The 70-200 does come a bit short but with the 1.4x TC it's just enough for a few tracks that I frequent.

If Canon does update the 100-400 I'd be interested in what it entails, right now I find the 100-300 with a 1.4x TC packs a bit more punch than the L equivalent.

I'm not sure how useful IS would be for me as I like to shoot my pans at 1/60 and I've heard some bad stories about IS resetting itself mid pan. I can certainly see its use in the Paddock areas for still shots and portraits but on the days where I am up at 6am to get to the track early IS might come in handy after a few coffees and a Redbull!

Monopod !

Haha, I carry a monopod with me to all events but I prefer to hand-hold during pans. For freezing cars I like to use my Manfrotto monopod for sure to give me that extra bit of stability or to combat that caffeine overdose

smcclelland wrote in post #3841537
I'm not sure how useful IS would be for me as I like to shoot my pans at 1/60 and I've heard some bad stories about IS resetting itself mid pan.

1/60th? Wow! The slowest I can usually manage while panning is 1/80. Anything slower, and the vehicle details start to blur.

I've been using mode 2 with my 70-200 2.8 for the last several years, and it has performed flawlessly. Below are images from a drift event last Fall (suffice to say, I had a media pass on this occasion):

1/125', f/7.1, 200mm:

That 350z shot is superb! Has just the right blur and the composition really sells it. I also like 1/80th for the detail but also like to mix it up with some 1/60th shots when I want to be creative (it certainly loses some detail but the effects can be really cool in crowd settings). Some samples I shot with a borrowed 75-300 USM lens can be found here https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=369163 (most pans were 1/80th, weather was really poor that weekend unfortunately).

I've always wanted to shoot some drift events but they're still catching on here in the eastern provinces. I missed a really good one here in Quebec as the feature film I was working on was due the Monday after the weekend.

Thanks for the samples! I just bought a 70-200 f4 off a member here in Canada which I feel is going to be a huge step up from the borrowed 75-300 I was using for the Mosport weekend. Thanks again for the advice, definitely a very solid group of automotive photographers on these boards.

Got some more experience using my 70-200 for motorsports.. and it's great so far!

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i personally use a sigma 70-200 2.8 and sometimes a 2x TC at my local track
i have seen people using 100-400s and one of the pro photographers at the track uses a 50-500
most people seem to use the 70-200, either naked or with a 1.4 or 2x Teleconverter

I'd say get the Bigma as you get the most flexibility with it and it produces some stunning results. All the shots in these 2 links were shot with mine.

http://www.flickr.com/​gp/59824456@N00/X2984Q
http://www.flickr.com/​gp/59824456@N00/h2oUH1

Another option would be the Sigma 70-300 f4-5.6 APO DG Macro, and take a 2x along when you want a bit further reach. It also produces nice sharp result and is fairly compact.

Graham

I use my trusty 28-300 IS USM. I primarily shoot drag racing and this lens has been great for me.

Have no concerns over the AF speed of the Sigma 100-300mm EX HSM. I own the 100-400L, have borrowed at least 3 different copies of the Sigma and I'd rather use the 100-300mm Sigma for motorsport any day. I also know four good motorsport 'togs who use Sigma 100-300mms and every time they've tried my Canon 100-400L they've handed it back to me swearing never again will they touch the thing.

Cadwell, thanks for the post. I tested a copy of the 100-300 EX HSM this morning at my local camera shop and found nothing really wrong with the lens to be honest. AF was spot on and even in AI Servo there was no noticeable lag. The IQ was stellar and sharpness was spot on as well. I assume the other motorsport photographers didn't like the push-pull zoom or was it based on other things as well? Either way, I've got nothing against Sigma and I believe the 100-300 f4 w/ 1.4x TC will provide me with the reach I need for the Formula One next season.