Long zoom for sports photos

[Jekyll59]

I recently became proud owner of a 7D which has been excellent for all types of photos. One thing I want to be able to do is take sports shots from a bigger distance than my 300mm zoom will go. Mainly for photos of athletes in competition from opposite side of track or stadium. If it helps, think taking photos from stands in olympics of throwing competitions (javelin, hammer etc). I use the high burst rate of the 7D a lot for this - picking up coaching points for my athletes etc.

Question is what lens to go for. I have seen an affordable 150 - 500 mm zoom from Sigma. There's also the 100 - 400 mm from Canon with push focus. Alternatively I could get a shorter bigger aperture zoom up to 200 or 250mm and add a 1.4 or 2X extender. Total budget for the purchase if I really push boat out is around £1,300 may be a bit more if it is worth it.

Has there been a review of these longer zoom options in the mag recently? Anyone got a PDF copy of it? What are your experiences?

[donoreo]

I bet Cathus could give you an answer. He does a fair amount of sports photography.

[OldBoy]

Look at the Sigma 50-500mm F4-6.3 OS which costs about £1,200. Cracking lens for the money but you do need good light.

[2Beers]

Have you considered renting a lens for the olympics

[wavemachine]

Originally Posted by 2Beers

Have you considered renting a lens for the olympics

That was my first thought but then after re-reading his thread he was using olympics as an example.

Although renting is a good idea to work out what works best for him if he still not sure.

I know one of the lenses Cathus uses is the 600mm F4L which is way over budget.

[Jekyll59]

Thanks for all your suggestions. Let me comment as follows:

1. Olympics is just an example, but it is the most demanding one in the sense that I am likely to be furthest from the action at that point. Most of the rest of the time I can get closer to the action - my Canon 70 - 300 F4 - 5.6 USM III lens gives me enough zoom most of the time but not always (and I know it isn't the best lens - may have been guilty of buying too cheap based on what I could afford with my previous Canon).

2. I did think about renting a long lens just for Olympics but haven't found anywhere close to home (east anglia). Any recommendations on where to go to rent?

3. I have come across the Sigma 50 - 500 F4 - 6.3 but I don't really need to go all the way down to 50mm with this one lens. That is why I was also looking at the Sigma 150 - 500. Is the 50 - 500 a much better lens than the 150 - 500?

4. A fixed length lens like the Canon 600mm F4 would be very nice - but is way over budget as you say! Need to win the lottery for that!

Thanks for your help.

[2Beers]

for lenses to rent you could try here

http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/

http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/eng/services/rental.cfm

[wavemachine]

Personally I would go for the Canon 100-400L, it is .5kg lighter than the Sigma 150-500, has better image quality, a quieter auto focus system and people I know that own them love them, it is also one stop faster than the Sigma at maximum zoom. The push pull system if for zoom and not focus BTW. On the downside it is an old lens design that uses an old IS system so the IS won't be as good as the Sigma's.

If you can make do with 300mm then another choice would be the canon 70-300L IS which will be heaps better than the Canon you are currently using, the Tamron 70-300/4-5.6 Di VC USD is also a lot cheaper but would certainly be a step up from the Canon lens you currently use.

My advice would be to make sure you really need to go above 300mm then either go to a shop with both and try them or hire each lens and see which one you prefer.

This image was taken this morning on the Tamron at 300mm at F8 (It has had some PP to darken the background):-

[Markulous]

I've the Sigma 150-500mm OS and rate it as pretty good (and use it over the Canon 100-400) - good (if rather noisy) OS which benefits from reasonable light and no wider than f/8

[wavemachine]

Originally Posted by Markulous

I've the Sigma 150-500mm OS and rate it as pretty good (and use it over the Canon 100-400) - good (if rather noisy) OS which benefits from reasonable light and no wider than f/8

Nice to see someone that owns both lenses add some input to this, I think this is why he needs to look at both and see what he prefers assuming of course he really does need the extra zoom.

I started saving for the Sigma myself and then started to lean more towards the 100-400L, my priorities have since changed as I am getting more into macro so want to upgrade my 100mm EF Macro to the L version although a high quality zoom will be next.

I would be interested and I am sure the OP would like to know why you prefer the Sigma over the Canon lens, people I have spoken to find the weight of the Bigma (as it is known) to be a bit of an issue but then a monopod solves that.