Motorsport lens

ozyboyross

ozyboyross

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As above really, i go to ALOT of motorsport events throughout the year, at various differnt tracks, for lots of differnt forms of motorsport (bit vague i know)

most comon venues are Santa pod, snetterton, silverstone and rockingham shooting cars bikes anything that moves (love it)

Basicly what is the best lens to use for this kind of thing? I currently have a canon 70-300 IS USM and a Sigma 70-200 F2.8 mk1.

I just wondered If (as thats all i use the above lens's for) I could get better?

Any opinions welcomed :)

Cheers

Ross
 
Better than your 70-300 IS would be... Sigma 100-300 f4, Sigma 120-300 or any of the long Canon primes. Any of those are good for motorsport.

Better than your Sigma 70-200 would be any of the Canon 70-200's. The Canon ones are significantly better than the Sigma for motorsport.

*waits for someone to disagree, usually posting some sort of motorsport shot to back up their argument*
 
Thanks for the reply, I was considering selling the Sigma 70-200 2.8 for a 70-200 F4L non IS as its nearly a straight swap.

I just wondered what my options were, probably going to get gunned down for this but im not a huge fan of the Canon 70-300IS I just like the extra length.

I just wondered what other people use for motorsport and if there were better lens's I could use.

Which primes Canon primes would you recomend (im not massively knowledgable with what available, new to all this lol)
 
The trick is to have something shortish and something a bit longer - even if you only have one camera body.

The ideal combo is a decent 70-200 and a 300 prime and a 1.4x teleconverter.

Canon make both 70-200's and 300's in f4 and f2.8, the f2.8 versions of each are superior for motorsport, but the f4 variants are no slobs.

The other thing you could do to improve your chances would be to upgrade your camera body. It does make a fair difference to motorsport, perhaps more so than anything else. Something like a 40D would do the trick nicely, you don't need to go to a 7D or a 1D MkIV to see a fairly significant increase in decent shots....

The 40D is obviously no longer made, but a cheap(ish) second hand one would be a good move for you if you are serious about motorsport.
 
I've been to Santa Pod a couple of times i'd say 70-200 would be good standside (left)and you'd need something a bit longer on the (right) bankside (300mm min)
 
The question is, how close do you get to the track. Are you a media tog without restrictions of barriers and fences, if so, a long lens may not be required. On the other hand, if you are on the other side of the fence, then you're talking about longer lenses.

I've used the canon 300mm f4 with great success, added a 1.4x TC when conditions allow and still got great shots. Upgraded to the 300mm f2.8 now, but other lenses to consider are the 2 sigma lenses desantnik suggested. Both the 100-300mm f4 and 120-300mm f2.8 for motorsport are good lenses.

It really depends on your budget and how close you can get to the action, but if you like me, contending with safety fences and shooting from the outside of the track, then your talking 400mm + and into the longer primes (lots of $$$) or the budget sigma zoom's like the 120-400mm f4.5-5.6, but conditions will limit their performance.
 
Have a look at the Sigma 120-400mm lens as well, it's an excellent lens for the money, and a real alternative to the Canon 100-400L. Take a look at my Flickr pages to see the sort of motorsport results you can get with it
 
wow thats for all the replies!

lots of advice to follow, budget wise, im not loaded but I can put a few extra pennies on top of the money from the sigma sale as not many events on till march (that I can attend)

Unfortunately I have to stay behind safety fences etc, as its just a hobbie for me that I love doing!!

I was considering a new body, I had a 30D last year, but sold it (due to losing my job) and then thought the 1000D would be better (Starting to wonder if I was right to think this).

Maybe It would be worth me considering selling my Canon 1000D 18-55IS kit and my Canon G9 to fund a 40D body.

Lens wise, I think in budget the 70-200F4L is in budget, and maybe add the 300F4 prime to the bag for the extra length (quite like the idea of a prime for motorsport, only ever used zooms) might make me a little more creative with my shots!!

As for rockingham I only went once last year and it was a last minute thing with a compact (BTCC even in sep) and loved the venue, but because I didnt have my kit with me i didnt get a feel for focal legths, so heading back to watch BTCC end of april, and possibly british GTs later in the year!

As for Santa pod, I love it there, and its only about two hours from where i live so easily day tripable! I found stand side 70mm on my 30D was almost too long for what I was trying to do, but bank side, I think i was shooting around 150-200 (off the top of my head) depending on how far I went down the track.

Snetterton isnt that bad at all for shorter lengths as you can get quite close on the straights and most corners plus EVERYWHERE is accesible as its a basic venue lol!

And as for silverstone I have no idea, as im yet to toventure there as a venue, but hoping to hit the moto GP this year!

Also brands hatch possibly for the DTMs but not sure yet!!

and now im rambling so im going to stop now! thanks for all the replies though, certainly gives me something to think about :)

how would Canon 40D, 70-200F4L and Canon 300F4 serve me do you think?
I do have the luxury that on special occasions (no chance of rain) i can borrow my fathers 70-200F2.8L too, but if i break it i buy it lol so im a little scared of that one!!
 
Oh, your based in Norwich.

Snetterton is much better for photography than Rockingham, and you can get away with a much shorter lens - 70-200 is ideal for some of the best places. I tend to use a 100-300 myself. However, last year they moved the nice shot at Bombhole by moving the crash barriers 100 feet back.

Straights are boring!

Personally my advice would be to seek out a good used copy of the Sigma 100-300 f4 (around £ 450)
 
ozyboyross said:
how would Canon 40D, 70-200F4L and Canon 300F4 serve me do you think?
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Very good to be honest. Add yourself a Kenko Pro 1.4x TC to that pile and you will be ready for most things. Personally I wouldn't stick the TC onto the 70-200, but you could at a pinch. It works lovely with the 300 f4!
 
yeah norwich based, so dont tend to travel too far to things, seems snetterton dont have much on the callendar yet this year though (only BTCC and Superbikes I think)

and as you say snetterton is quite a nice track for getting close to the action, I like getting down on the chicane before the pit straight, and the esses ( i think ) near the bridge, had a great year one year at BTCC when I wont hospitality tickets with team RAC and they had reserved the whole area next to the bridge (entrace road side) very nice :)

Will have to have a good think about what to do kit wise, really considering the 1000D and G9 to fund a 40D, hmmm who knows :)

thanks for all the cool advice though
 
desantnik said:
Very good to be honest. Add yourself a Kenko Pro 1.4x TC to that pile and you will be ready for most things. Personally I wouldn't stick the TC onto the 70-200, but you could at a pinch. It works lovely with the 300 f4!
Click to expand...

This could definately be the aim then, loving the idea of the prime, not had much experience with them other than the nifty fifty, and a Sigma 180 macro.

Will have to research how much I can get for my kit and the upgrade costs, I do have the added bonus of working for a well know camera website so might be able to snap up a few mail order return bargains ....

*off to put on his thinking hat*
 
Well you went the wrong way with the camera body, the 1000D a step down from the 30D you had, especially for motorsport. I've upgraded my body to a 1D MkII, however still got my 20D as backup and it still gets to come out of the bag.

The 40D would definitely serve you well. As for the lenses, it really depends on the circuit. Brands hatch anything from 35mm to 600mm depending on which part of the circuit you are at, but Silverstones a different story, you'll need 400mm + for that circuit, just because of the safety barriers and crowds.

Budget wise, it looks like maybe the sigma 120-400mm f4.5-5.6 may fit the bill as it gives you the flexibility of a zoom, the 400mm reach and affordable budget.
Personally I would go for the sigma 100-300mm f4, its a better lens by far, but your adding an extra £400 to the price new. An alternative is have a look on the 2nd hand market for lenses. Ffordes, Mifsuds, MBP, Camtech, Park Camera's have a good selection of used equipment, at least you can judge prices new v old.
 
ozyboyross said:
yeah norwich based, so dont tend to travel too far to things, seems snetterton dont have much on the callendar yet this year though (only BTCC and Superbikes I think)

and as you say snetterton is quite a nice track for getting close to the action, I like getting down on the chicane before the pit straight, and the esses ( i think ) near the bridge, had a great year one year at BTCC when I wont hospitality tickets with team RAC and they had reserved the whole area next to the bridge (entrace road side) very nice :)

Will have to have a good think about what to do kit wise, really considering the 1000D and G9 to fund a 40D, hmmm who knows :)

thanks for all the cool advice though
Click to expand...

Snetterton will be as busy this year as it was last year. I'm there at least 4 times, just for car events. Esses is good for the morning, and Russells for the afternoon, but Russells can get very samey.

You did wrong from going from 30D 'mid range' to 1000D 'bottom of the range', but I guess you probably had your reasons at the time.
 
Yeah im starting to regret the 1000D I thought it was the better choice being new with a years warranty etc, and not wanting to risk second hand ebay bodies, Maybe Ill go back to a 30D even if I can find one in decent condtion, because i really do like the little G9!

Lens wise im going to have to have a really good long think, silverstone wont be a regular trip so if I couldnt take kit I Wouldnt be too worried, but the other venues I never venture to without something with me!

Thanks to everyone for all the advice though, really helped me shortlist my options, who better to ask than the people that use them hey!
 
andrewc said:
Snetterton will be as busy this year as it was last year. I'm there at least 4 times, just for car events. Esses is good for the morning, and Russells for the afternoon, but Russells can get very samey.

You did wrong from going from 30D 'mid range' to 1000D 'bottom of the range', but I guess you probably had your reasons at the time.
Click to expand...

Like I said I lost my job and it was winter, no events, so the 30D unfortunately had to pay bills :( then when the time came to get something again (i really had the bug to get back into it) the 1000D at the time was less of a risk than a second hand 30D or 40D (I dont have much luck at all, and i could just see me getting a battered faulty body and being out of pocket)

at the time it was a case of the 1000D is new with warranty and I thought would serve most needs, but i get the feeling first outing it gets im coming home disapointed :( but never mind lol like I said I have little luck when it comes to buying things lol
 
Similar situation to the OP here, [don't think this warrants a new thread] Can't decide between the 100-300 f4 or a 70-200L. Ideally the 70-200 would be great with a 300mm but I think upgrading to the 1d mkII is a little more important ATM so a 300 prime is at least off till the autumn.

I like the idea of the 70-200 being better than the 135SF (longest lens) for portraits and indoors too, but the reach of the 100-300mm is tempting.

Any ideas? I suppose the lens budget is £600-£1000 depending on price I can find the 1d mkII.

Thanks,
Josh
 
What have you got at the moment Josh? And is motorsport your main thing?
 
My digital selection is currently prime based 20mm , 35mm , 50mm and 135mm. I shoot portraits, gigs, events, and documentary stuff.

But I have a real love for cars and racing and so I'm looking at geting more serious about following a 'photographic route' rather than covering all these differing areas of photography.

I'm looking at the 1d because the 1.6x crop factor doesn't suit my style as much as having a full frame to work within. So the 1.3x crop sounds ideal as I hope to get enough reach with motorsport but still have a nice enough sensor size for portraiture ect.
 
Hard to give advice unless you are quite serious about it, because most of the kit you'll see us motorsport loons with is quite specialised and quite expensive. To get good results its not something you can just dip your toe into.

Similar to above, I'd definitely say the 70-200 + 300 is the best combo, but failing that and with about a grand on the table, one of the Sigma 100-300 f4 or Sigma 120-300 f2.8 wouldn't be a bad single lens to have for it. I'd certainly sooner take one of those rather than just the 70-200, as thats a bit limiting from the public side of the fence, especially if you want to shoot bikes instead/as well as cars! Obviously either of those Sigmas is not easy to use for portraits, unless you have a bit of space to work with! (someone was telling me about a portrait shoot using a 600 f4 the other day, but it was on an airfield!)

You could also consider the Canon 100-400, but personally, I'd choose not to.

*waits for 100-400 owners to give me flak*
 
desantnik right when it comes to the lenses, most of the pro togs are using primes like the 300/400/500/600mm lenses plus a 70-200mm zoom or the sigma 120-300mm, but budget definitely drives to what you can afford, that's why you also see the likes of the canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 or sigma 120-400mm f4.5-5.6 because there a large jump up (even 2nd hand) to the primes from the £1000 lens.

The sigma 100-300mm f4 a great lens, and would give you the flexibility on a reasonable budget, but your still taking canon 100-400 prices.

My 2nd hand 300mm f2.8 was over £2000 which was nearly the same price new only a couple of years back because prices have rocketed on these lenses.
 
So a Sigma 100-300 or 120-300 is probably looking like the best idea. I guess the auto-focus on these is comparable to the USM system I'm used to. I think secondhand is probably a wise idea too since these lenses seem to sell brand new for twice as much as they are found secondhand.
 
I'd certainly look at that to start with... if you get the bug and do it lots and lots then you can take the plunge into the more serious kit combo as I highlighted to our OP.

You won't find either of those two Sigmas "poor" and they will give you a chance to perfect the skills needed to get some magazine style shots.

The only caveat I'll add is that sometimes Sigma can be an issue quality control wise, so maybe a second hand one advertised with some sample photos to check for sharpness is a good idea, rather than the usual "buy it from a shop and send it back 5 times to get a decent one"
 
I think you have got some cracking advice here.

For what its worth i may know of a certain 100-300 F4 DG EX HSM for sale in the not so distant future..... ;) PM me if it might be of interest.
 
^^^ Thats a good idea from Nick, I know for sure he can show you some stunning stuff he's done with that lens :D
 
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