Best Canon EOS lenses for shooting outdoor Pro Tennis?

Best Canon EOS lenses for shooting outdoor Pro Tennis?

 

From sidelines

I am using a Canon 20D

 

Thanks

70-200 f/2.8

A nice 500mm would give you great close-up shots!

 

A 70-200mm (or more) will give you a nice range if you a close enough.

The better the lenses > the better the photos... but because it's outside you will be able to use slower lenses if you don't have a 2.8 L...

My first suggestion is EF 70-200/2.8 (IS) L and another cool would be EF 300/2.8 L. I don't think you need longer than that. The 20D has 1.6 crop factor anyway. Try to get to the lower seats.

The best lens might not be a Canon lens, but a Sigma 120-300 f2.8

Hi

I have just finished two weeks at wimbledon and the lens to use is a 200mm f1.8 but if

you have not got that in your bag then a 70-200 f2.8 will do .

 

Marc<div></div>

A fast 50mm (1.4)is also useful for doubles pics when you need a break from the 70-200 2.8. The example is not a good pic but you can easily get both players in the frame.<div></div>

I believe the pros use 300 or 400 f/2.8. I am not a pro, and therefore have not spent the required $$ for lenses like that, but I did photograph at the Pacific Life Open 2006 using my 20D and predominantly my 300 f/4 IS lens. When I was high in the stands on stadium court I added my 1.4X TC. I started out using my 70-200 f/4 but found that to not have enough reach...I like the players to fill or more than fill the FOV. Even practically on the sidelines on some of the smaller courts I preferred the 300 over the 70-200.

 

The results of my effort are in the following Web address (each shot lists what lens was used):

 

http://www.pbase.com/segan/indian_wells

One thing I forgot to add was that the advantage of the f/2.8 over f/4 is you can use faster shutter speeds. I found it needs to be quite fast to stop a tennis ball! To compensate with an f/4 lens you can set a higher ISO.