Question - Shooting high school night football with 100-400 and flash

I'm thinking about selling my Sigma 120-300 f/2.8 and buying a Canon 300 f/2.8. To do that, I must sell the Sigma first. That would leave me with a week or two with no lens.

So...

Have any of you shot night football with the 100-400L and flash?
It appears that the f/stop is 4.5 out too about 250mm, then it changes to f/5.6. Since I shoot the flash in ETTL and the 1D MK III on manual, the flash should take care of business.

But I was wondering if the lens will focus fast enough to catch the running back coming around the corner at me or a receiver streaking down the sideline?

I do have an alternative. I could use the 70-200 f/2.8 with or without the 1.4x TC.

Notes: The 580EX II is mounted on the monopod and powered by a 8 cell battery pack and I have been using ISO 800 - 1250.

Your thoughts appreciated.
Mike

I would like to know how you come out with that combo. I have never used your camera but I am sure it handles high iso better than my 40D.
I have found that my 100-400L on a 40D is a loosing combination for night time football. Are we talking about high school ball? In my area the lighting is weak and very uneven. I am sure some of the problem is operator as I have shot sports for only a little over a year. At best my results are fair with that lens.

I think it will do fine. I would use that over the 70-200 while you are waiting for the 300.

Thanks.
I think I will use it for the first half, then switch back to the Sigma for the second half.
I'll post an update early next week.
Mike

I would suggest using the couple of weeks without the long lens to shoot non-game stuff going on like the fans, band, parents, cheerleaders, etc. You could do that with a variety of lenses and get a nice stock of those sorts of images that are sometimes hard to get when trying to cover the game.

You and Scott in this gear liquidation and acquisition mode is making me want something new.

ha ha, thanks Kevin. Scott got me really pumped and I was scrambling trying to figure out how I could afford his lens but I had to pass. It's a bad fever. Don't catch it 'cause the remedy could be expensive.

I'm usually at a different game every week and shoot the game, cheerleaders (if they come my way) and sometimes the band at halftime (if I'm not at the concession stand!).

I think I will hold off until after football season, then send it in for a check up and a check. I have 26 months factory warranty left and three year Mack warranty.

MT Stringer wrote in post #8782093
ha ha, thanks Kevin. Scott got me really pumped and I was scrambling trying to figure out how I could afford his lens but I had to pass. It's a bad fever. Don't catch it 'cause the remedy could be expensive.

Check out my gear list, I seem to catch it so often I think I need professional help. My latest lust item is a 200 f/2 or a 600 f/4.

I did the same thing wanting to pick up his lens but couldn't come up with the extra cash right now. Blew too much money recently picking several external hard drives and more gadgets for my video camera.

Most of high school and lower venues, football, baseball and basketball facilities are dark and dank pits.
The lighting early in the game will probably permit you to shoot decent photos without getting so much noise that if you use noise reduction software you loose the clarity and detail. The second half of most games you may have to shoot using a flash in the manual mode to achieve the best focus. The same is true of most baseball venues until day light savings time takes effect. In most instances here the baseball diamonds configuration or drapes on the backstops prevent great photos. The lighting in most high school venues is tedious. I have shot in gyms where the light balance at one end of the gym is entirely 180 different than that of the other end of the gym. The 70-200 should be your best lens for your sports photo shoots.