Would this be a good lens for zooming on-field action photos?
441826
I love this lens for cross country, track as well as basketball games. It is more of a midrange lens but it takes fabulous photos. If you are thinking football, soccer or any other similar range photos the answer is a definite yes. On occasion I do use a 75-300 at times because I want to catch more expression and less full body shots.
441827
Yes, I've been using it for birds in flight, nature photography, hunting action, without needing tripod, just hand held, good action lens
1270621
This is enough zoom if you are on the bleachers watching your child play. Not enough zoom if you are on the stands at a big stadium. This lens is higher quality than either 18-55 or 55-200.
1548023
Check out photography-on-the-net forum - some discussion there. I have used the 10x zoom to check focus, but with the incredible depth of field for this lens, it is seldom an issue.
606472
Hi--Im not a professional but I've used the lens when hiking to get close ups of geological markers, flowers, etc., and it's fine. The images are sharp. I think you'll be OK with this lens.
1813089
This isn't a professional lens by any means but if you're taking photos in a well lit space or outside it should be more than adequate. The more you zoom in with this lens the more it limits light reception, so not the best lens for poor lighting conditions. Until you're willing to spend in the $1000's there aren't many other options. Disclaimer; I'm not a professional photographer...just a hobbyist.
1939069
I've used them at a baseball game and they worked very well. They are a fixed focal length so you cannot zoom so if you are sitting too close they might be too powerful.
623352
i wouldn't recommend it for any sport photography,because it's wide angle and because it's manual focus. i would rather get a telephotolens
1629775
I love mine. I have caught birds in flight (Grand Canyon, Warwick Castle, England). I do not know how it would work at sporting events. I have taken evening shots w/o flash, indoors and outdoors. I had two lenses before and it was a pain. Now I can go from wide angle to zoom and I love it.
2279390
The short answer is that this lens is no "powerhouse." I have used it quite effectively for artists' portraits at lawn concerts and for fairly-close nature images (no farther than 20 meters -- 60-65 feet) but beyond that it is of little practical value.Within that range, however, it produces an exceptional image.Hope that helped ...
1476727
I would not recommend this lens to be used for any type of racing action. The ISO has to set to such a high level to allow enough light to enter though the lens it would make very difficult to capture a moving object like a race car. Plus you have to use a manual focus it will not work with a the automatic focus. I have found that it very good of taking photos of nature on a very sunny day with the use of a monopod, that is what I bought for and I am very pleased with it. I hope this helps.
623353
Not really, if you're in a stadium it will shoot a panoramic shot of the entire field, but everything will appear smaller. You may want to try reading this article, as it all depends on what sport your shooting...it will give you an idea of what to look for. http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2012/07/23/the-best-lenses-for-sports-photography-and-ideal-focal-lengths-to-use/
2256203
I don't use it for that but I see professional photographers using it when I watch events on TV. As the other commenter, waverider, stated, the lens struggles as light diminishes. That's why the majority of sports photographers use fix focal length lenses because they have fewer glass elements allowing for more light. The lens you are considering, 100-400, is my go-to lens. That was an unexpected surprise. My brilliant 70-200 stays in the bag. The 100-400 even takes fantastic flower shots from a near distance. They pop!
230493
I use them to watch football games and they're fantastic for this purpose. The wide field of view allows you to see the action MUCH for effectively than my higher power / smaller field Zeiss field binocs. The only real negative is that they do fog up, particularly if you don't adjust the eyepieces properly. Bring a soft cloth along if you live in a high humidity climate. Good luck!
623350
It all depends on what shots you are wanting to get. If you want clear wide-angle shots of sports then this lens is for you. However, the drawback is you can't get in very close (hence 16mm). If you are wanting more close-up isolated shots of your subject, a telephoto zoom with a large aperture would be preferable. With this lens, you would only have the option of wide-angle shots at 16mm.
873524
Hey, a hockey fan! You will love this lens. My husband and I each have one and it is all he ever shoots. He does a lot of close up flower and wildlife pictures. If it is your only lens you may not be happy with landscapes but otherwise you will love it.
2064344
Thanks for your reply. I need a good lens to photograph swim meets and football, both for children. Maybe I should consider the 70-300. I want sharp pictures.
1681728
This is an outstanding, fast lens used by photojournalists, sports photographers, and enthusiasts the world over. It is one of three zooms carried by nearly every Nikon-shooting professional. it would depend on several factors: your camera body, is it APS or Full Frame, what is it's resolution (if you want to crop), and how well does it control digital noise at high ISO. Also, the actual distance you are from your subject. This lens should meet most of your expectations. If it doesn't, you might need a much more expensive, longer lens, say a 300mm.