Focal Length for football

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tysing

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Tyrone
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I'm have an opportunity to shoot a reserves game next week at St Andrews. :)
I will probably mainly use my 200mm 2.8L (obviously 70-200mm would be much more useful) apart from that i'm not sure whether i should bother to bring any other lenses (e.g 24-70mm) there is also a possibility of renting a lens for the day, but that is gonna generate cost, and i won't be recieving any money back for the photos i take, i'm not sure whether its worth it.

What do you think, will my 200mm get me sufficient shoots if i position myself well?

Or would you recommend forking out for a rental?
 
It depends where you'll be really. If you can get on the sidelines, and don't mind only shooting the half of the pitch closest to you, then 200mm should do. However, most of the pros use 300mm or 400mm lenses.

If you need to get certain shots (scorers, celebrations etc), then I'd say 200mm is short. If you just want to practice sports photography, it should be fine :thumbs:

Edit: Just seen you have a 5DII, you might need to crop a little, but there should be enough MP to not have to worry!
 
well, i'll be shooting from the sidelines, the shoots i'd like to get are, obviously a goal/ scorer and celebration. (if i'm lucky) and maybe possible a few of the managers reactions etc.

i have some experience shooting some sports, and other fast moving subjects. i'd like to get the most out of it, and if i can get some good shoots, and useable ones, then great.

also positions to sit, might be handy to know!
 
the lens i was thinking of renting the 400m 2.8 IS..... maybe...
 
I used to use my 35-350 L years ago and have just recently got another one.. perfect for the game.
 
tysing said:
well, i'll be shooting from the sidelines, the shoots i'd like to get are, obviously a goal/ scorer and celebration. (if i'm lucky) and maybe possible a few of the managers reactions etc.

i have some experience shooting some sports, and other fast moving subjects. i'd like to get the most out of it, and if i can get some good shoots, and useable ones, then great.

also positions to sit, might be handy to know!
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If you're after specific shots like that, then I'd say a longer lens. I only have very limited sports experience for the uni paper. When I cover it, the only requirement is that I get some shots of the game, so it doesn't matter what's actually happening. For a pro however,there's obviously a big difference in getting a shot of the game being played, and getting a shot of the match winning save/goal, hence my asking.


tysing said:
the lens i was thinking of renting the 400m 2.8 IS..... maybe...
Click to expand...

That's a very bold and dangerous decision..... I can say with reasonable certainty that if you rent it, you'll soon be valuing everything around you (car, relatives, kidneys etc) to see if you can afford one ;) :D
 
chris321 said:
If you're after specific shots like that, then I'd say a longer lens. I only have very limited sports experience for the uni paper. When I cover it, the only requirement is that I get some shots of the game, so it doesn't matter what's actually happening. For a pro however,there's obviously a big difference in getting a shot of the game being played, and getting a shot of the match winning save/goal, hence my asking.




That's a very bold and dangerous decision..... I can say with reasonable certainty that if you rent it, you'll soon be valuing everything around you (car, relatives, kidneys etc) to see if you can afford one ;) :D
Click to expand...


Ha ha!!!:lol: very good point. i know already that i would love to "obtain" that lens, but my current photography income can't justify buying it......yet!

i am not being commissioned for the match, so in theory, it doesnt matter what shots i get. but obviously i'm gonna try for the game changing images, ie. goals, penalties etc. as anyone photographer would want, i assume.
 
I use a 200 F2.8L for Rugby (as well as a 120-300 F2.8), and generally find I use it more with a 1.4TC than on it's own.

As you mentioned, it's not as flexible as a zoom, but on the bright side, it's probably sharper than a zoom, and locks into focus quicker.
 
out of interest, how do you find the 120-300 siggy compared to the 200mm canon. in terms of sharpness, quality, and focusing?
 
tysing said:
out of interest, how do you find the 120-300 siggy compared to the 200mm canon. in terms of sharpness, quality, and focusing?
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The siggy is excellent (IMO), and very sharp, not as quick at focussing as the 200mm, but capable of producing excellent images.

Biggest problem is the weight, it's a beast of a lens, I normally use it on a monopod at Sports events.
 
I shot my first game last week with my 300 f4, and have to say the focal length was fine for a full size amateur football pitch.

I could have done with a shorter zoom on a second body though as I missed any action that got too close.

I think the main thing is where to position yourself, this is important if you want to get the best out of the lens you have. I found myself standing 20-30 yards from the corner flag along the touchline.

Phil
 
thanks philip, thats really helpful. i am going along with another photographer, so will probably spend most of the time sitting near him, and discussing techniques. but i'll try to sit somewhere between the corner flag and the goal, to anticipate most of the action. maybe move along the side line to get a few of the coaching staff as they look on the game. it is birmingham chelsea reserves, so i'm not really sure what the expected result will be!

i think i'm gonna bring along my 24-70mm mounted on my back-up, 30d, body, just incase there is some close action.
are there any restriction as to how the photos can be used afterwards?, i know that dataco restrict the use of photos for the first team games. jut wondering whether there might be a chance of local newspaper coverage etc.
 
I have been shooting a few SPL and SFL games recently. I currently have a 70-200mm f2.8 on a 5DmkII, it is a bit short, but you can crop the images pretty tightly on the 5DmkII, I had a shot of a 1.4x extender yesterday on the lens and it does make a difference (only tried it on the warm up *** as I had to give it back to someone).

This is taken with me sitting behind the opposite goal line from where this celebration occured, very tight crop, not brilliant, but usable. This was just the 70-200mm f2.8 on the 5DmkII, no extender.

4487895196_be77188c2f.jpg


This was the opposite touchline, around the halfway line.

4487909126_b72d389857.jpg


I would love a 300mm or 400mm f2.8, but I'd have to be making decent money before I could justify that cost.


Dave
 
thanx for your replies, i have decided to just go ahead with my 200mm 2.8L and see what i come out with, i may get lucky!

i was wondering where people think the most sensible place to shot from would be with that lens? i was thinking either in between the corner flag and goal, or somewhere nearer the halfway line. what do ya think?

Also, is it worth me taking along my 24-70mm maybe mounted on 30d for a second body option, or will this not really be useful?
 
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