Rolex 24 hr. 2009

Found out this weekend why L lenses are worth the money.
This weekend did not turn out too successful for me but heres a few.....

i was there too, but never saw any of the night action (had to do closing shifts on both friday/saturday). nice pictures. We should have had a POTN meeting (or did you?)

nope no meeting just walking around the 2 horse shoes on the infield for 16 of the 24 hours.

Flyguytki wrote in post #7189787
Found out this weekend why L lenses are worth the money.

-david

Funny, I don't shoot motorsport photographs with Canon L series lenses, but I don't seem to have any issues. In fact, I used to use Canon L series lenses, and found I got better photographs when I upgraded to lenses better suited to the job (I went from a 300 f4 L to a Sigma 120-300 and a Sigma 500).

Care to qualify your statement some more so we can understand better where you're coming from?

PS before anyone thinks I'm bashing Canon L series lenses, I'm not - I do own them for use in other applications.

Well I was shooting with a Non IS 75-300mm. Out of the 1700 shots I took during the week I maybe came out with 50 that I approve of. All I am saying is that the difference between using a friends L lens or even IS lens and the 75-300 I was using is huge.

can others add images to this thread or new thread?

If you were asking me if I care if others add to thread, no not at all I would love to see more...

ok cool, these were from my 18-200mm quanterey lens (only lens i have other than kit lens) from various spots during different times of day/days. I only got 299 racing pics and 270 turned out awesome from those.

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/png'

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/png'

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/png'

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/png'

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/png'

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/png'

Flyguytki wrote in post #7193538
Well I was shooting with a Non IS 75-300mm. Out of the 1700 shots I took during the week I maybe came out with 50 that I approve of. All I am saying is that the difference between using a friends L lens or even IS lens and the 75-300 I was using is huge.

Thanks for putting your comment into more context. There's a lot of people use this forum as a learning resource, and it just kinda annoys me to read posts that imply L series lens are the be all and end all.

It would be silly of me to say that equipment doesn't make a difference with this type of photography - of course it does. However, it is equally silly to say or imply 'to get better shots I need to have L series lenses'.

What you need is the right lens and camera body combination, and to have good technique. The right lens definately does not need to be an L series lens.

The issue of IS will always split opinions. For me personally, when I had my 300 f4 L IS, the IS always remained switched off whenever I was photographing mototrsport, or indeed anything that moved. I always felt that the IS was fighting against me. It also took time for the IS gyros to spool up, achieve focus lock and start tracking. With motorsport photography, that can make all of the difference between getting a shot and missing.

For what it's worth, I currently don't own any IS lenses of any kind. If I was to buy a lens that had IS to shoot motorsport with, then the times that I switched it on would be few and far between. Different matter for static shots, but that's not what we're talking about here.

Anyway, of the shots you originally posted, I think #1 is the strongest image. #2 is too tight in the frame, and #3 is too central in the frame.

Cheers,

Simon.

thanks for the comments I completely understand what you are saying....

I would have loved to have been there

Bad ###. Thanks guys. 'Caught some of the race on SPEED, and enjoyed it. Endurance racing rocks.

Here are a couple of mine.

I've been going to this race since 2002. It's actually the reason I got into photography.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

Had a blast as usual. These guys were raising money for kids. Really nice guys.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.