Canon 70-200 f/4L for Sports…

[Focused]

October 1, 2009 at 8:57 pm

Hello folks,

just wondering if anyone here is using the f/4 for sport? I’m interested in shooting rugby, football and hurling. Would the f/4 be fast enough for shooting on an overcast day or
late evening?

Would f/4 compared with f/2.8 be poor at isolating for example a footballer from the background?

Any advice would be appreciated. I’m new to this game.

Thanks,
Noel.

[brownie]

October 1, 2009 at 9:35 pm

Hi Noel, welcome to the site…I use the 70-200 f4 and the 100-400 f5.6 for my
sports shots and although ideally I could do with an f2.8 lens, I find both very
good indeed…the f4 is a great lens…pin sharp and very bright when looking through
the viewfinder…the f5.6 is a little darker and obviously is’nt the greatest lens for
floodlit matches but most of my sports shots on my website are taken with both
of these….I have been in Croke Park for soccer internationals this year and at
all the major hurling games as well and these lenses got me some great shots
and lots of them were printed in the papers locally….as for isolating players from
the background…well as I said, an f2.8 is the ideal lens but compared to the f4, you
wo’nt notice that much difference.

Noel Browne.

[Focused]

October 2, 2009 at 9:26 am

Thanks for that Noel. Just wondering what shutter speed you typically use for hurling etc?

BTW, love your shots on pix.ie!

Regards,
Noel.

[brownie]

October 2, 2009 at 11:01 am

Typically I try to achieve a shutter speed of 1/1000 sec and the way I
do this is either using f4 or if the day is dull, upping the ISO to 400 or
640 or 800….its surprising how sharp images at 800 ISO are and I
have printed pics to A3 at ISO 800 and they are grand.
You do’nt need 1/1000sec all the time…players running towards you and
you can get away with 1/500sec but to freeze the action and the slithor, you
are best trying to achieve the highest shutter speed possible.
Do’nt be afraid to use the ISO button to your advantage. One of the lads
in Waterford Camera Club is really into sports and he shoots typically at ISO
1600 at the Munster Rugby games…we had two of his sports shots in last years
IPF National Shield representing us in the panel of prints and he won the Silver
Medal and these were A3 in size.
Have you got the 70-200f4 IS L lens yet or are you thinking of buying one ?
Might know where you can get one.

Noel.

[Focused]

October 2, 2009 at 3:37 pm

Thanks again for the info Noel, very helpful of you.

Yes, I’m thinking of buying one.