Best SLR for sports?

Right now I have a rebel xt with a 70-200 f4 IS telephoto lens and it seems a bit slow and not that great of quality. Which body would be the best upgrade if I want more fps and all around better camera for sports?

heres some examples of what the xt can do

sports cam - EOS 1D mkIII and some L glass such as 70-200 2.8, 300 2.8, 400 2.8

mclaren wrote in post #4148531
sports cam - EOS 1D mkIII and some L glass such as 70-200 2.8, 300 2.8, 400 2.8

let me verify that it has to be below a mark I have a budget under $2000 for a body

btw i shoot alot of paintball too if that helps.

Then a 40D with a 70-200 f/4L IS would work best for you. Unless you would want the 2.8/2.8IS. If you want to save even more money, go with a 30D.

Frizholy wrote in post #4148515
Right now I have a rebel xt with a 70-300 f4 IS telephoto lens and it seems a bit slow and not that great of quality. Which body would be the best upgrade if I want more fps and all around better camera for sports?

Frizholy,

When you ask a question like this, it might help if you let us know what your price range is!

The Rebel line is the entry level line of Canon DSLRs. There are several models/classes that have better performance at significantly higher price points!

If price is no object, follow the suggestion above for the 1D MkIII with at least the 70-200 f/2.8L lense (I would use that lens no matter what body you have for sports). It is the fastest camera out there, which makes it great for sports.

The new 40D is a much more affordable "prosumer" body that features 6.5 frames-per-second, which many in these forums are using for sports, because it's the fastest prosumer camera available. So, if you have a spending limit of less than $5000 USD, the 40D and the 70-200 f/2.8L lens would be a great combination. Your f/4 lens will tend to be too slow to get sharp action shots.

Hope this helps,

Tony
---------------
Several Canon cameras, too many lenses and stuff to list

If you want to see pics from a recent day trip to Mount St. Helens, an active volcano in Washington State, with a 5D, click here

Tony Long Photos on PBase

tonylong wrote in post #4148607
Frizholy,

When you ask a question like this, it might help if you let us know what your price range is!

The Rebel line is the entry level line of Canon DSLRs. There are several models/classes that have better performance at significantly higher price points!

If price is no object, follow the suggestion above for the 1D MkIII with at least the 70-200 f/2.8L lense (I would use that lens no matter what body you have for sports). It is the fastest camera out there, which makes it great for sports.

The new 40D is a much more affordable "prosumer" body that features 6.5 frames-per-second, which many in these forums are using for sports, because it's the fastest prosumer camera available. So, if you have a spending limit of less than $5000 USD, the 40D and the 70-200 f/2.8L lens would be a great combination. Your f/4 lens will tend to be too slow to get sharp action shots.

Hope this helps,

Tony
---------------
Several Canon cameras, too many lenses and stuff to list

If you want to see pics from a recent day trip to Mount St. Helens, an active volcano in Washington State, with a 5D, click here

Tony Long Photos on PBase

that clears it up alot actually. I am going to try to trade or sell my f4 for a 2n8 now

Frizholy wrote in post #4148622
that clears it up alot actually. I am going to try to trade or sell my f4 for a 2n8 now

f4 vs f2.8 for outdoor daytime sports is a null issue. i use my f2.8 lens @f4 most of the time when it's bright and sunny, since it's sharper at f4 than f2.8. only place f2.8 will help a lot is with indoor and nighttime sports.

Another vote for the 40D given your budget - forget the 30D, 40D's AF especially with servo mode seems to be quite improved. No way I'd bother with the older body.

basroil wrote in post #4148759
f4 vs f2.8 for outdoor daytime sports is a null issue. i use my f2.8 lens @f4 most of the time when it's bright and sunny, since it's sharper at f4 than f2.8. only place f2.8 will help a lot is with indoor and nighttime sports.

I agree about stepping an f/2.8 up -- it's pretty characteristic for lenses to be less sharp wide open -- but the same would be true of an f/4 lens. And the 70-300 he has, if it's the one I used initially is pretty soft and if not in great light just doesn't cut it speed-wise. Going to a better and faster lens for what he's doing should be a no-brainer. IMHO!

Tony
---------------
Several Canon cameras, too many lenses and stuff to list

If you want to see pics from a recent day trip to Mount St. Helens, an active volcano in Washington State, with a 5D, click here

Tony Long Photos on PBase

It's a 1D for sports.

The question is budget, and if used is o-kay.

The 1D Mark II (2) used will cost less than half of a new Mark 3
@ 8MP and excelent AF and burst rates it remains one of the best sports camera made.

If megapixels are not of a huge concern, and you don't intend to print larger than 8x11 often, then even a 1D "classic" @ 4.5 MP would be near perfect.
You sacrifice only some features, a shorter battery life (much shorter) more noise in darker situation's with higher ISO settings, and those megapixels and little else.

tonylong wrote in post #4148807
I agree about stepping an f/2.8 up -- it's pretty characteristic for lenses to be less sharp wide open -- but the same would be true of an f/4 lens. And the 70-300 he has, if it's the one I used initially is pretty soft and if not in great light just doesn't cut it speed-wise. Going to a better and faster lens for what he's doing should be a no-brainer. IMHO!

Tony
---------------
Several Canon cameras, too many lenses and stuff to list

If you want to see pics from a recent day trip to Mount St. Helens, an active volcano in Washington State, with a 5D, click here

Tony Long Photos on PBase

I believe he has the f/4 L, not the consumer 70-300 IS version. The F/4 is sharp wide open and on the XT is not a bad combo. The 40D would only make it that much better (and a combo I hope to have in the near future).

Before you spend money on the 40D, which is a great sports camera, you can get better pictures with your rebel XT by changaing your technique. Two problems I see with your photos are that you are shooting from the wrong spot and your white balance is off.

Try standing next to the goal and shoot towards the plays as they run towards you. That way you'll get some faces in the shots. The colors look too blue. I suspect you are shooting with auto white balance. Try setting it to daylight or cloudy or a custom white balance. I personally prefer cloudy (even on sunny days) as it gives the photos more warmth.

What's wrong with the pictures you're getting now? What was the EXIF data on the pictures you've shown us?

If you need a faster shutter speed to stop the action, you need a higher ISO. If the XT won't give you low-noise performance that meets your desires at the ISO settings you'd need, you can fix that with aperture or better body.

If you need better focus performance, you need a better body. See others' posts for choices, tradeoffs, and the like.

If you desire the ability to take a second picture more quickly after a first picture, you either need to upgrade your trigger finger (if in single-exposure drive mode) and/or select a camera with a higher frame rate. 3fps means one picture every 333ms. 4fps is one per 250ms, a savings of 83ms. 5fps saves another 50ms, 6.5 saves another 46ms, 8.5 saves another 37ms, and 10fps saves a not-so-whopping 18ms. Keep in mind that (I think) Canon quotes frame rates with shutter speeds of 1/250th or faster (i.e. no more than 4ms shutter time).

bottom line, mkiii is the best, followed closely by mkii(n), then 40d. reason? battery. not only is the 1d battery bigger (mkiii's lasts for about 4000 shots with a bit of IS and a snudge of chimping), but it also has a bigger draw. that means you can use both servo and IS at the same time (i really hope you where not doing that with an XT...). although the 40d has a great af for it's price, the battery draw is the same as the xt's

dschach wrote in post #4149098
Before you spend money on the 40D, which is a great sports camera, you can get better pictures with your rebel XT by changaing your technique. Two problems I see with your photos are that you are shooting from the wrong spot and your white balance is off.

Try standing next to the goal and shoot towards the plays as they run towards you. That way you'll get some faces in the shots. The colors look too blue. I suspect you are shooting with auto white balance. Try setting it to daylight or cloudy or a custom white balance. I personally prefer cloudy (even on sunny days) as it gives the photos more warmth.

you mean like this?