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Some help for picking a sports lens please

dinneenp
Posted 04/07/2011 - 20:05 Link
Hi,
I'd like to get a sports lens, the 70-200/2.8 jumps out as the obvious choice. I'd also use it for general use and macro (if it has it). Ideally I'm looking for a 'cheap' option if possible.
1. I'm wondering if anyone can tell me what are the different lenses available and what rough price each would be 2nd hand? (I've googled a fair bit but not sure what I've missed.
2. do any of them have macro/close to macro. That'd be a good added bonus.
3. which would you recommend and why?
4. although I hear people rave, crave about 70-200 f2.8 lenses I guess it could be a bit short for sports? If you use it with an extension tube would you still get strong blurred background?
5. anything else to note?
Cheers,
Pa.
Cheers,
Pa
http://www.photoblog.ie where every post have a musical reference as it's title.
Frogfish
Posted 04/07/2011 - 20:14 Link
Which sports is THE question ?

A 70-200/2.8 is generally considered THE sports lense but a 50-135/2.8 or Sigma 50-150/2.8 are both good for sports that don't entail shooting 100 yds away.
http://frogfish.smugmug.com/ Pentax. Pentax DA*300/4, Cosina 55/1.2, Lens Baby Composer Pro & Edge 80, AFA x1.7, Metz 50 af1.
Nikon. D800. D600. Sigma 500/4.5, Nikon 300/2.8 VRII, Sigma 120-300/2.8, Zeiss Distagon ZF2 21/2.8, Zeiss Distagon ZF2 35/2.0, Sigma 50/1.4, Nikkor 85/1.8, Nikon TC20EIII, Nikon TC14EII, Kenko x1.4, Sigma 2.0
dinneenp
Posted 04/07/2011 - 20:53 Link
football and rugby would be the main ones. some greyhound racing too. Basically a good lens to try out for sports really.

Cheers.
Cheers,
Pa
http://www.photoblog.ie where every post have a musical reference as it's title.
giofi
Posted 04/07/2011 - 21:05 Link
I have been looking into that myself, I have the pentax DA 50-135, but it is a bit slow in focusing. So I am very interested in the opinions of other Forum members.

Currently SRS have a very good deal on the Sigma 70-200, not the latest version, but still a very good deal at 599 gbp....

If you are looking for a longer lens, they have a very good price also on the Sigma 150-500 (599 as well), but it is not as fast (aperture wise) and I do not know how it rates as a sports lens.... But it sounds as a fun lens to have

Keen to hear opinions.
dinneenp
Posted 04/07/2011 - 21:09 Link
Are there big differences between the Sigma and Tamron? Price and quality wise?
Re the Sigma 150-500 would you still get good/strong background blur?

Cheers,
Pa.
Cheers,
Pa
http://www.photoblog.ie where every post have a musical reference as it's title.
Blythman
Posted 04/07/2011 - 21:09 Link
I'd be looking at reviews on the 70-200 f2.8 offerings from Tamron and Sigma.

EDIT: Beat me to it Pa
Alan


PPG
Flickr
Edited by Blythman: 04/07/2011 - 21:10
snappychappy
Posted 04/07/2011 - 21:21 Link
Sigma seems to have denied us Pentax users the ideal sports lens, the 100-300mm F4, now as rare as rocking horse ..............
snappychappy
Posted 04/07/2011 - 21:22 Link
What about the Sigma 120-400mm
dinneenp
Posted 04/07/2011 - 21:33 Link
snappychappy wrote:
What about the Sigma 120-400mm

Cheers but I see that it's f/4.5-5.6 would it give blurred background shots? The focal length is great but there's a world of difference between f2.8 and f5.6....
Cheers,
Pa
http://www.photoblog.ie where every post have a musical reference as it's title.
Blythman
Posted 04/07/2011 - 21:38 Link
What you really want is 2 lenses. Perhaps a 70-200 and then something longer. A 400mm prime would be ideal, but it ain't gonna happen in Pentax anytime soon. Maybe a 300mm f4 would do. I have a 150-500mm but it does hunt in low light, and at 150mm the short end is too long.

Buy a 70-200 first, get a 300mm if you feel you need it later.
Alan


PPG
Flickr
CoDa
Posted 04/07/2011 - 21:38 Link
The Sigma 70-200mm is supposed to be better for sports action shots than the Tamron version. (read this in a comparison somewhere)

I have the Sigma 120-400 and that is slow to AF sometimes, but I have just used it at a Kayak slalom event and the only problems were operator error.
Colin

“Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.”
Edmund Burke (1729 – 1797)


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dinneenp
Posted 07/07/2011 - 11:31 Link
How do these compare to each other, which is better & why? I googled them but it's nice to get opinions

Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG APOMacro HSM II
Sigma APO MKI 70-200mm f2.8

Thanks,
Pa.
Cheers,
Pa
http://www.photoblog.ie where every post have a musical reference as it's title.

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