Need lens for sports

<p>I bought a T4i Rebel at the end of 2012. Just playing around with it since then. The lens that it came with is an EFS 18-55 IS MACRO ($599). Not bad for general shooting around the yard/house ... did better than I would have thought with continuous for some indoor sports.<br>

I am looking for something to use for softball, baseball, soccer (my kids). The L series is way out of my league. I like continuous shooting most...some video as well. Need good pictures 50-150 feet away.<br>

Any thoughts?</p>

<p>Here is the kinng of Sports lenses if that is what you are looking for...<br>

<a href="http://www.adorama.com/CA300282U.html?gclid=CLGuzu3D_bUCFcqd4AodiAMAaQ">http://www.adorama.com/CA300282U.html?gclid=CLGuzu3D_bUCFcqd4AodiAMAaQ</a></p>

 

<p>LOL, I wish! I'm more of a beginner ...</p>

<p>A good sports lens at a affordable price, that's a tough one. Long fast lenses are among the most expensive of lenses. I would suggest checking KEH Camera. I've gotten a few used lenses for pretty reasonable prices from them.</p>

<p>The matching kit lens is the 55-250mm IS lens which is a good quality lens for a bargain price and it is relatively light for its size similar to the 18-55mm. The other good lens with a little more reach but a little higher price is either the Canon IS version or the Tamron VC version of the 70-300mm. Both have very good image quality for not very high prices but are a little heavier than the 55-250mm lens. All of them are slow (don't let in lot of light for a high shutter speed or use indoors) but when you get into faster long lenses the price goes up and up. Good luck!</p>

<p>duplicate</p>

<p>dup</p>

<p>L series probably (definitely) way more than I need .... upgraded from the Powershot S2 IS to the T4i... the PS did a phenomenal job for many years. <br>

What about the <a href="http://www.adorama.com/CA55250AFS.html">Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II</a> or 18-55 or 55-250 or 28-135 or <br>

EF 70-300 ?<br>

I'm only looking for good shots under 200 feet away .... </p>

<p>If I could buy a new </p>

<h4><a title="Canon EF-S 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 II IS Lens BRAND NEW" href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-EF-S-18-55mm-F-3-5-5-6-II-IS-Lens-BRAND-NEW-/121078313675?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item1c30d472cb">Canon EF-S 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 II IS</a> for $107 is that good?</h4>

<blockquote>

<p>If I could buy a new <a title="Canon EF-S 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 II IS Lens BRAND NEW" href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-EF-S-18-55mm-F-3-5-5-6-II-IS-Lens-BRAND-NEW-/121078313675?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item1c30d472cb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Canon EF-S 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 II IS</a> for $107 is that good?</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Lisa, 18-55mm is <em>way</em> too short for sports. As Gil says, either an EF-S 55-250 IS or 70-300 IS would be fine for sports in good outdoor light, but you'll have to spend more for an f/2.8 zoom if you want to get good results indoors in gyms, pools, etc.</p>

<p>IS is not needed for sports, two of the most affordable L series are great for outdoor sports, the 70-200mm f4 and the 200mm f2.8 II. The 200mm was my first L series lens which I used with my 10D for my daughters softball and soccer. The 70-200 f4L IS was my second L lens more versatile, but the photos at 2.8 really stood out due to the shallow DOF. I'm not saying this as an L glass snob (my favorite lens is my 85mm f1.8 - not L), but if you are shooting sports with a EOS there is no substitute.</p>

You need to tell us your budget

 

At the low end look at EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II or

EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM

 

 

I personally would avoid the S series if you even think you'll move eventually move to a full frame sensor

You need to tell us your budget

 

At the low end look at EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II or

EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM

 

 

I personally would avoid the S series if you even think you'll move eventually move to a full frame sensor

You need to tell us your budget

 

At the low end look at EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II or

EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM

 

 

I personally would avoid the S series if you even think you'll move eventually move to a full frame sensor

<p>OK..my budget is ~$500 ... might be able to edge that up a bit ..... So much helpful information from everyone.<br>

Wondering if I can find a good used or refurb L<br>

the 70-200mm f4 and the 200mm f2.8 II .... </p>

<p>Here are some used prices from Adorama, one of this site sponsors<br>

Canon Ef 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Is Usm is $339<br>

Canon 70-200 f/2.8 $999<br>

You could get by with the 70-300 for OUTDOOR use only.......<br>

save your pennies and go with the 70-200 2.8 if you can, it will make a huge difference and is also a great all around (heavy) portrait lens as well.<br>

Also get yourself a monopod, to stabilize your camera with a long lens</p>

 

<p>May have to hunt around for a refurb but will definitely check this lens out (Canon 70-200 f/2.8 $999) .... I do very little indoor but nice to have the option ....<br>

70-300 isn't getting great reviews but it might be that those reviewing are far ahead of me.<br>

I did get some beautiful close up pix with my old PS S2 IS. Would a 70-300 be comparable to that since it did seem to meet my needs (although my kids are bigger faster now)? BUt I would really like to look for the 70-200f/2.8 to see if I can find a bargain.<br>

<br>

</p>

<p>Another vote for 55-250/4-5.6 IS. It's a surprisingly good performer at a bargain price.</p>

<p>Outside, in daylight, the easy and quick solution is the Canon 55-250 IS. It is inexpensive and light weight. If you find that you need more, or that sports have shifted inside/to night games under poor light, you can easily sell it and buy something with more confidence that it will be the right tool for the job. The key here is to start somewhere and gain experience. </p>

<p>I would look at how often you need a fast longs lens - for $500 you could rent a lens multiple times. Plus you are shooting outside. Remember you need faster shutters for movement perpendicular to than when it is coming toward you. L lens are great but very heavy and expensive. I have to use them for indoor shots without strobes so I rent the right one when I need it from Samy's Camera in Santa Barbara. Dont know where you live but you may have someone near you who rents. There are sites that rent lenses online but shipping cost kills the deal. Samy lets you pick up a lens on Friday to return by 11 am on Monday for a one day rental. </p>

<p>I could check out renting ... but I literally take pix daily April through Thanksgiving ... four sports kids. I've been searching around .... I might be able to figure out the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 ... but need to research over the weekend..</p>

 

<p>I've had pretty good results with the Tamron 70-300 vc for outdoor, daylight, kids sports using an XSi. I miss a lot of shots because of operator error, but not too many because the lens isn't up to it.</p>

<p>After years of doing sports, mostly soccer, with prime lenses, 200, 300 and 400mm I thought I would make good use of a zoom so I tried an 80-200/2.8. I found I always used it at 200mm anyway and have gone back to my primes.</p>

<p>The most effective, and reasonably priced lens is the Canon EF 200mm f2.8 L. When you can afford it you could add an EF 1.4x to get you really good reach on your T4i. I highly recommend buying both used. There are two versions of the 200/2.8 L the earlier one has a much easier to use built in shade. The newer version has a bigger shade but you have to take it on and off of the lens. There are three versions of the EF 1.4x and the first would be just fine, I bought mine for about $150 used.</p>

<p>keh.com currently has a couple of the original 200/2.8 L for under $600. </p>

<p>There are two older bargains that are quite good and very cheap. You have to be careful to find these exact units because Canon made so many that were close. They are the Canon EF 70-210mm f3.5-4.5 USM, and Canon EF 100-300mm f4.5-5.6 USM lenses. I had the first for awhile and it is very light, and had very fast and quiet AF as well. Images were excellent but just not up to the quality of those taken with a faster prime. These two lenses are at least on par with todays much more expensive IS versions, and likely even better.</p>

<p>Can't vouch for the dealer, but I've used a copy of this lens in the past and was superb. You have to up the ISO for indoors or use flash, but I thought it a stellar performer.<br>

http://www.digitalrev.com/product/canon-ef-70-300mm-f/OTE0?googlebase=1&country=US&gclid=CIC-w8mhgLYCFRGqnQodR2EA6A<br>

Above a link to dealer.</p>

<p>Tamron 18 - 270mm<br>

<a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/tamron/Ntt/tamron+18-270/N/0">http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/tamron/Ntt/tamron+18-270/N/0</a></p>