Sports photography lens for cannon rebel xs

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Permalink Reply by CameraClicker on April 12, 2012 at 5:13pm

Check the local pawn shops and any camera stores that deal in used equipment.  The larger the city, the more likely you will find something suitable.  Take the end caps off and look through from the front with a strong light at the back to see if there is any dirt or mold in the lens.  Try some test shots with your body, use different apertures to make sure the motor that stops down the lens is working properly.

The only new lens I am aware of in your price range is the 50 mm f/1.8.

Good luck.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Meer on April 12, 2012 at 6:23pm

Yea I'm probably going to get that one. I was just wondering of any other options i had that i couldn't find. Is the 50mm f/1.8 a set zoom or a manual zoom?

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Permalink Reply by CameraClicker on April 12, 2012 at 7:49pm

50 mm f/1.8 is a zoom with your feet zoom...    It is a prime lens, not a zoom lens.

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Permalink Reply by Anthony Hutchinson on April 13, 2012 at 7:28am

What CamerClicker is saying, and being very polite at the same time :) is,
1) You absolutely need a zoom lens for sports photography, preferably a fast (wide aperture) one as you have alluded to,
2) The only way you will find one at that price is to either beg, borrow or ....   But seriously, you may find a lens at the price you mentioned (like a 50mm) but it will not be what you need for sports (and any fixed lens like a 50mm will not work for sports). 

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Meer on April 13, 2012 at 10:33am

alright thanks guys ill continue my search. I'm pretty disappointed that the 50mm is not adjustable zoom but whatever ill find one some time.

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Permalink Reply by Greg Carig on April 13, 2012 at 8:45pm

Remember, the bigger the aperture (f/2.8, 1.8, 1.4, 1.2) that faster lens is and a lot more money. A 50mm 1.8 is your cheapest option at around $100 but that'll only give you a focal length equivalent to what a human eye sees. There's also a 85mm 1.8 but of course that's a bit more expensive. Example, I have 3 Nikon zoom lenses that has a focal length of 14-200mm all together and all at f/2.8. Each of those zoom lenses cost and estimate of $1800-2200 each. There's also prime lenses like the Nikon 85mm 1.4 that costs about $1800 and the Nikon 85mm 1.8 for about $500.

Judging from your profile you could get a good shot with your 70-300mm with decent lighting. I'm not sure about Canon cameras but if yours a model from the past 2-4 years or newer, you could shoot at ISO 1600 with pretty good quality. I'm sure you could make due with your currently gear but I'm not sure on the quality of light that you're shooting in. I shot bands years ago shooting film with a 70-300mm f/3.5-5.6 with decent results at ISO 1600.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Meer on April 14, 2012 at 10:13am

yea the lighting isnt the best in gymnastics gyms where i do these shots maybe some time soon ill post some pics of what ive done but just dont have enough time right now. but i have been doing the ISO at 1600 and the f/4.5-6.5 and got some really nice shots. im just looking for a better lens at an affordable price for me. 

what do you think about attachments being put on the 70-300 to make it have a better zoom??

 

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Permalink Reply by CameraClicker on April 14, 2012 at 2:02pm

A 1.4X or 2X teleconverter?  A 1.4X teleconverter eats one stop of light, a 2X teleconverter eats 2 stops.  Without a top of the line body and lens, adding a teleconverter will cause auto-focus to slow down a lot or fail completely depending upon the specific body and lens combination.  Probably not a good idea when photographing sports.

I still think haunting the pawn shops and used camera stores until you find a lens you like at a price you can afford is your best option.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Meer on April 15, 2012 at 5:25pm

Thanks @CameraClicker i think i found a lens or 2 that work for what i want but thanks a lot for the info cause i did not know the auto focus didn't work with those

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