Lenses for show jumping

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niv2

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David
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My main interest is taking photos of horses jumping. I currently use the following
Canon 400D
Canon 70-200mm F2.8L
Tokina AT-X Pro 38-70mm F2.6-2.8

Since getting the 70-200mm F2.8L (to replace a Sigma) I have rapidly come to the conclusion that the Tokina is, perhaps, a little soft at larger apertures as the Canon lens is so sharp. A lot of times poor light (especially indoor) means that I have to use large apertures, quite apart form the photos looking better whit a shallow depth of field.

Having just spent best part of £1000 on the Canon 70-200 I cannot yet justify getting a Canon "L" to replace the Tokina. I guess I could use a 50mm prime for the time being and that would be a relatively cheap option and crop photos as necessary.

Are other 3rd party zoom lenses in region of 28-70mm worth considering (Sigma, Tamron etc)or will I just be disappointed?
 
Why not look for the older Canon 28-70 2.8L ?
Very good lens if you don't need to go wide.
Probably find a good copy for around £550.
 
Thought about the older Canon 28-70mm L and could be an option if I can find a good one......I gather that spares are scarce if lens needs repair.....Finances may struggle to justify even this level of expenditure in short term.
 
Well, you might want to look at the Tammy 28-75 2.8. Got a pretty sound reputation and not too expensive.
 
neil_g said:
do you find you need to use such a short lens for jumping?
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Only for work close to fences......most of the time my 70-200mm works fine for me but soemtimes I feel the need for a shorter lens.
 
The Tammy is pretty sharp. You mention the Tok's a bit soft. Personally I would probably stick with what you have. You may find the body being a bit limiting in low light.
 
trevorbray said:
The Tammy is pretty sharp. You mention the Tok's a bit soft. Personally I would probably stick with what you have. You may find the body being a bit limiting in low light.
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1600iso max with current body and then quite a bit of noise.
What body would you suggest without going to silly money......also I quite like the extra reach that the smaller sensor on my 400d gives me with the 70-200mm which is useful as I am not allowed in the jumping arena most times.
 
When I shot Canon I moved from 40D to 7D because most indoor arenas are very poorly lit. Often shooting at f2.8 1/250 th ISO 3200 +
Get saving....
 
Here's a left field shot....sell the 400d and get a 1dMk II or N used.

The 1.3 will get you wider angle and in my experience for showjumping, that and a 70-200mm is all you need!

I would also replace the Tokina with a sharp 28-75mm copy......great bang for buck!
 
trevorbray said:
Well, you might want to look at the Tammy 28-75 2.8. Got a pretty sound reputation and not too expensive.
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Another vote for the Tamron 28-75 f2.8. I upgraded mine to a 24-105 and TBH I am missing the 2.8 in low light situations.

niv2 said:
1600iso max with current body and then quite a bit of noise.
What body would you suggest without going to silly money......also I quite like the extra reach that the smaller sensor on my 400d gives me with the 70-200mm which is useful as I am not allowed in the jumping arena most times.
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Even the 40D isn't great at higher ISO (anything over 400ISO and you end up going black and white!!!). Lots of saving and a 7D it is.
 
Found this comparison of Tamron 28-75 and Canon 24-70 L......

Reading various reports, it seems that the Tamron is as sharp as the Canon in the centre but tails off to the edges....most reviews recommend it for 1.6x sensor cameras, not full frame?

in respect of camera, it would seem that the 550d delivers much the same performance as the 7D see here at a fraction of the price??
 
neil_g said:
their "test" dont seem very comprehensive to me.. but for sports it should be a no-brainer. 7D.
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I am confused...I am an amateur photographer and I just want to get decent photos of horses jumping in low light (indoor) situations....generally I use manual exposure and do not need all the other "add-ons". I think all I really need is good performance at higher ISOs. It appears that the 550d can deliver similar performance in this respect to the 7d at considerably lower price.
Generally, I am happy with the performance of my 400d but acknowledge that this is not the best camera for low light situations. The 7d is a very nice camera but it is very expensive. I probably go to 12 indoor events each winter and will probably take no more than 20 photos each time as I am only interested my horses.
 
the AF on the 7D (especially in lower light) will blow the 550D out of the water.. something that comparison doesnt touch on at all.

in all seriousness would canon really make a £600 camera perform equally to one in their range that costs twice that? nope. as i said that review is totally uncomprehensive.
 
neil_g said:
the AF on the 7D (especially in lower light) will blow the 550D out of the water.. something that comparison doesnt touch on at all.

in all seriousness would canon really make a £600 camera perform equally to one in their range that costs twice that? nope. as i said that review is totally uncomprehensive.
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I understand that, generally, you get what you pay for, but I have no problem focusing with my humble 400d in indoor areas...generally there is a decent amount of light in indoor areas to focus, its just that I need to use a relatively high shutter speed to catch the horse going over a jump.

It seems to me that ISO performance is similar between the 7d and 550d and that is mostly what I am concerned with.....I do not think I need the other features.....
 
Sometimes you just have to get what your budget allows. Those of us that shoot for profit often take a different view. Only you can call it !
 
trevorbray said:
Sometimes you just have to get what your budget allows. Those of us that shoot for profit often take a different view. Only you can call it !
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Fair enough.....appreciate your comments and advice and it has given me food for thought!
 
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