Motorsport Lenses

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minimadgriff

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Ben
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Afternoon All,

Just wondered what lenses you all mainly use for motorsport? Specs etc?

Im only using a 18-200 at the moment but looking at getting something else. Also are Tamron and Sigma going to be as good quality as a genuine Sony lens?

I'm guessing lenses with a built in motor are better to get to?

Thanks in advance,

Ben

p.s if this is in the wrong section please feel free to move. :thumbs:
 
Yep Tamron, Sigma will work as for length it can depend on what circuit your at.

Oulton you can get close to the track so anything from 180-400mm will work nicely.
However if you go to Silverstone where I believe yu are further away frm the track then maybe the 400mm is more use (don't know 100%)

But something up to 300mm should work 99% of the time.
 
I normally use a Sigma 100-300 f/4 EX which I've found mostly satisfactory in terms of length for circuit racing. I can crop heavily with a 7D so prefer to crop rather than use a teleconverter.

Silverstone and Donington require the longer lenses, assuming you want a full frame shot of the car.
 
At Castle Combe (the closest proper circuit), I find I'm using under 200mm most of the time. However, I usually use my 70-300VR since it's lighter than the 200 f/2.8 and the extra speed of the lens isn't necessary since I can get fast enough shutter speeds using the slower lens. I've also shot at Silvestone and would have liked to have had longer than the 300mm. Something faster would have been nice too - not so much for the speed of the lens but for the more limited DoF to throw the fences further out of focus.
 
Sony 70-200 f/2.8 SSM G. Superb lens, although a bit short for somewhere big like Silverstone.

I've also got a Minolta 300mm f/4, but haven't been to an event where I need the length since I bought it at the end of last year. For our small venue events the 70-200 is fine and of the big ones this year, I was course controller when we ran at Castle Combe in March (because no-one else is fool enough to do it with the format we run :lol: ) and wasn't able to get to Colerne, but fingers crossed my duties as Club Steward will leave enough time for some photography at Llandow this Monday and I'll be able to comment on its motorsporting credentials.
 
I use a 50-500 Sigma. Assuming the light's ok it works fine, and I don't always use all of the length. It's nice to have if you feel the need to do close ups and stuff though.
 
I find that I need VR or OS because motorsport shots are generally under shutter speed of 1/focal length.
Your sony has this in the body?
Lenses I use for Nikon
Sigma 150-500OS for reach above 300, IQ OK but keep above F8 (numerically that is)
Nikon 70-300VR better IQ than the Sigma above, great for inside bends where you can get a bit closer and for close ups of riders / drivers.
50mm F1.8 for paddock stuff
Also use 18-105VR around paddock if going in pits area where 50mm can be too long!!

Faster glass would be better but is generally out of my price range so I tend to compensate by using higher isos

Whatever you use you can get some nice shots
Sorry cant advise on Sony specific lenses

BUT enjoy the motor racing.....
 
it depends what is classed as motorsport, Circuit racing, moto-x and rallying are 3 massively different sports from a photographers point of view. for rallying i'd suggest a 17-50 ish range, along with 70-200. probably same with moto-x, then for racing something along the lines of a 120-400, 70-300 etc.
 
Thanks everyone for your replies, it is much appreciated.

I was thinking of getting this lens at some point in the near future?

http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/74819/show.html

Any opinions on that lens? Or would there be something better and more suited around that zoom and price range?

But why are these so very cheap??

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy...macro-super-dg-lens-sony-minolta-fit/p1011618

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy...-6-di-ld-macro-lens-sony-minolta-fit/p1013819

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-sony-75-300mm-f4-5-5-6-dt-lens/p1013656

Bit baffled as my Sony 18-200 was nearly £500? Im guessing those cheap lenses wouldn't be as good quality as mine?

buckas said:
Hey Ben mate :wave:

drew
Click to expand...

Hello Drew :wave:
 
andyred said:
Hi

I went through the extact same thing with my father in law end of last year, he went for the 70-300 G and is very very pleased with it and doesn't regret buying it, Yes the 2.8 would have been nice, but this was out of his price range.
Click to expand...

Does he use it for motorsport at all? If so, how does he find it? I can't justify paying out the price of the 2.8 as photography is just a hobby I do for fun and I have way too many expensive hobbies :lol:
 
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