Is this lense good for close action (sports) photos? I use a Canon 70-200 f 2.8 for zoom. Is your lense going to produce equivalent pictures close?
1547551
This lens is not a sports lens. You'll be too far from any action to even when cropped. The 70-200 f2.8 is one of the best sport lenses for up close. If you want even closer I'd recommend buying the 300mm or 400mm but its might be easier to buy a tube extender that will increase the range of your lens. This lens is great for landscape, portraits, and Weddings.
1547552
Sure, it should be very similar. 2.8 is 2.8 no matter which lens. The larger the aperture the faster your shutter speed will be. Obviously you need to be close enough, it seems like some of the other comments haven't read what you asked. I have used this to catch my son running around the house or outside. I also have the 70-200 f4 IS for telephoto zoom.
1547553
I don't take a lot of sports photos but I find that on my 40D it focuses quickly and produces sharp images. With the wide aperture, you should be able to use a faster shutter speed, which would help stop the action. So I would think this would be a good lens for sports if you were close. If not, then your 70-200 mm would be better.
1547554
It's possible there is some question what you mean by "close action (sports) photos". If you mean you are personally very close to the action, then yes, this may be a good lens. If however, you are not close to the action, and wish to "bring the action closer" with the lens, you need as Mazda3 said below, a longer telephoto lens, 300mm or 400mm.The 17-55mm lens is a good primary lens. It zooms from a "wide angle" (for landscapes, architecture, etc) to moderate telephoto (somewhat magnified approx 1.8x normal).
1547555
I haven't used it for sports, I use it more for traveling wide angel stuff, but this is extremely good glass, and is sharp and fast. I am certain it will produce equivalent pictures up close.
692356
I find it useful for when you need to be close up to someone. Its a fairly fast lens. Interviews would work well, but if you're doing anything landscape I recommend getting a 50 if since you have a cropped camera. Having both the 50 and the 24 is also convenient. (I just finished a documentary) Have fun and good luck :)
878159
Sorry, it should be no. 800mm is too much zoom and the f/8.0 aperture is not fast enough. Also this is a MANUAL focus lens. For fast action/sports you would want an Auto Focus lens, probably 70-200mm and something wider than f/8.0.
682869
I use it for sports, it is a great buy for one who both knows his/her camera an loves there work. It is a full metal body so it can take a good beating...Just know it won't work in P mode with a Canon 200Ex Speedlight
970589
I take flower and action scene shots. It stops action very well and with 18-55 mm and 55-300 mm lenses, both nikon works great. It's a general pack not specifically for just sports. It does it all.
1566532
The lens is quite sharp at f2.8, I have no hesitation to use it wide open. If it will work for your purposes will depend more on your lighting conditions and the maximum ISO you feel comfortable using on your camera gear. If the light level is really low, you might be better off with the Olympus 75mm f1.8, but the cost of that lens is much higher. The other question that only you can answer: Is this focal length long enough, at 120mm equivalent for 35mm, long enough for your sports needs? The Sigma is a terrific value for this focal length, very happy with mine.
1759798
I dont know about "ideal" for sports in any sense. Sure, it's a great lens but for sports you'd be better off with the flexibility of the 70-200 IS Mk II. If your game is landscape... This is also not your lens, as 135mm is just far too long a focal length for probably 90% of lanscape applications. You want the 16-35 F4 L for that. Now.... If you want the best lens ever made for portraiture.... Trade money for this lens immediately. I own all the lenses Ive mentioned. Perhaps tell me more about what you're really looking to do with this lens and I'll be happy to offer suggestions. To be clear this is a jaw dropping amazing piece of glass.... im just concerned it may not be what you need based on the question you asked
1579247
If you really want sports action, then even the lowest grade SLR beats any point and shoot camera. I use a Canon T3 to successfully take sports action although it rates poor when compared to top line SLR's. Point and shoots have slow buffer speeds when taking fast action particularly if you also want a RAW copy. (low burst response; the Nikon 7000 cannot be used for sports) You can buy the T3 with a basic lens for $499.00 and get superior shots to anything produced by such cameras as the G-12. I love the G-12 and use it for my walk around camera. The T-3 does all my heavy lifting for semi-pro shooting and enlargements.If you are a really serious sports photographer and want pro results then by all means buy at least a D60 Canon! The Sx 40 is a good camera but that lens never produces real sharp prints and the lens speed is slow for fast action.
1150477
Is there a zoom lens in approximately the 17-80mm range that has good result shooting hoops? I have tried several, the last being Tamron's 17-50mm F2.8, and the results were not that impressive. Had good results using Canon's 85mm F1.8 and 50mm F1.8, but would like to find a wider angle zoom that can deliver.
98305
I do not know about sports, but have taken wildlife moving and it has done well. Best reviews and info can be found here: http://www.dpreview.com/products/pentax/lenses/pentax_smc_da_55-300_4-5p8/user-reviews
2064345
Sam, I did comparisons with both the DO and the zoom 70-300mm. To me the DO lens was less sharp than the conventional zoom lens another factor while holding the shorter DO lens it was harder to keep the camera still little area to hold and steady the lens with your left hand the longer zoom lens was easier to stabilize and felt better in hand. However it would really depend upon the distance of your players and how close do you want to photo them. For great close up shots you may have to go to at least a 400mm or greater to get magazine like shots.
2176752
POTN is the best Canon-centric (sortof!) site on the internet! Great post, Norman!Oh, and I took a ton of shots with the 70-200mm f/4L (non-IS) lens and my 40D at a friend's kid's football game. You can see one of them here: http://kalla.net/POTN/_MG_0938-Edit.jpgIt was my first attempt at a sporting event, so my composition left something to be desired, but you can't fault the quality of the lens!
98308
This lens is not great for sports, although it would be OK if you push your iso up. It just doesn't focus terribly fast and is a "slow" lens. That is to say that at the long end, the aperture only opens to f5.6 and your shutter speed will tend to be slower as a result. Out doors, in good light it would be OK. I am not sure about the second part of your question. You can use it at any distance, but obviously the farther you stand from your subject, the smaller they will be.
2173993
That's pretty much the point of this lens - sports. Fast focus and f/2.8 should allow a fast enough shutter speed to capture action in most situations.
368611
I tested both the Tamron and Sigma 70 to 200 f 2/8.`and this is my review. Every one is hot for fast AF, well the Sigma had fast AF, but the pictures it took sucked. The Tamron with its AF system took Great photos, but had slower AF. I don't know what you want, but I want great pictures. As far as sporting events go, set lens to inf., and shoot away, no problem. Thats the way it was done before all this AF. Hands down Tamron wins. I could have got the Nikon version of this lens, but even if you can afford it, what wrong with bang for the buck?
1263758
Yss. This lense for the Canon T3i works very well. Great range for close and zoom.
313059
I just have to mention that IS is for stabilizing the lens ( NOT the subject). For action, IS does nothing for you. It's for keeping your shaky hands still...not the subject. Pretty much all pro sports photogs turn OFF IS when shooting sports as the engagement of IS motor can actually cause sharpness issues until it fully engages. IS is awesome for handheld still subject matter, but don't be confused about it helping with moving subjects. I shoot pro sports multiple times a week and can verify that we all turn IS off.