Which Lens Next ?

I have been invited to back up on 3 more Pro shoots (another Ball, an International Fencing event and an amateur golf event) weekend after next and then do one on my own (well, with his assistant helping me out) in June (fly up to some city in the North of China).

The main lenses I have are listed in my signature below. I have two bodies K7 & K5.

I think I'm OK for both the golf & the ball, however it's the fencing I'm worried about. Typically poorly lit indoor arena though as invited photographers we'll have piste side positions and, I guess, be quite close. Flash is out of course.

We get two days (day 1 is for national events and day 2 is the international) but Day 1 is the money day (selling shots on the spot to family, friends & parents of the competitors) with Day 2 being for the organisers, AP etc.

I was thinking about using 3 lenses I own : 43 Ltd, Tamron 17-50/2.8 and Sigma 50-150/2.8. Though now I'm also tempted by the price of the Sigma 30/1.4 (about $450 here which means my kitty stays about half way to the 150-500 too ! ) as I've heard a fast semi-WA could be valuable too if we are close to the piste. Do I need a great portrait lense ? A 70 / 77 or Sigma 85/1.4 ? I do have the Tamron 90/2.8 - good enough in that light ?

I'm was going to get a 70-200/2.8 (Sigma for the HSM) but since I have the 50-150 and think it may be long enough (backed up by the *300), I'm going off the idea now.

What do you think ? Is there a gap or something I'm really missing ? I'll be buying another SD card and another spare battery too.

Kitty currently stands at about US$1,000 - 1,200 but I'd really rather not use it all unless I have to ! And I was beginning to think about a 150-500 to match my DA*300 for birding too *sighs*

Thanks for your advice !

Really surprised at the lack of response to this question on this forum from over 100 views ! I guess not many people have shot at a fencing event and are reticent in hazarding a guess or offering an opinion ! Or I may have poorly titled this thread

I guess I should update my signature too as I have in fact sold that FA50/1.4 (actually it was an F 50/1.4 so another mistake in my sig) ! I do have a lovely Takumar 50/1.4 but unless I pre-focus and pray, I don't see it being the ideal lense. I tried to buy a Sigma 30/1.4 from my preferred retailer yesterday but there is no stock due to the factory closedowns after the earthquake in Japan.

I was lucky enough to find a great site on the web though and maybe if someone has a similar event to shoot (I noticed a new thread somewhere on shooting martial arts) then this may be relevant : http://www.fencingphotos.com/shootingfencing.htm

Probably for the angle I expect / hope to be shooting at (30 - 45 degrees) the 30 might have worked - but unless I get lucky this week it looks like I won't have it in time (I'm a little reticent in buying on-line as I like to try out multiple copies when buying new).

TAv is my standard mode so I'm very comfortable using it (I have set the max ISO to 6,400) and it is what I will be using as the lighting will be very variable but I need to keep the shutter speed up to capture the action, and I currently have AF mapped to the AF button - it's a bit faster than half depressing the shutter button.

For Day 1 I've decided to take the 43 Ltd, Tamron 17-50/2.8, Sigma 50-150/2.8, Takumar 50/1.4 (on the K7 set to 800 ISO - unless I can get the Sigma 30/1.4 before then) and maybe also the DA*300/4 (I was thinking of trying shots from further back for low DoF and high background OOF bokeh as it seems that usually the backgrounds for these events are distracting). For Day 2 I only take 2 or 3 lenses depending on how Day 1 goes !

Anyway - posted this here for anyone in the future, and their possible searches, looking for information on shooting Fencing events.

I think your options are obvious. For golf you need wide angle, say, the Sigma 10-20, as you'll always be close to the action. It is an Amateur event after all, and everyone knows those guys can't hit the ball out of the rough.
For the Ball, let's see...., the Tak 50/1.4. Old Time lens for an Old Time dance.
The fencing is a little harder to pin down....That's It. You'll need the DA*300 as it's probably the SHARPEST of the bunch. Mwahahaha.
Sorry to be of absolutely no help whatsoever,

Kindest regards

Thanks for commenting SJ. I'm not sure the 10-20 is the right lense for a golf event (maybe group shots at the dinner) - unless I want a club stuck in my head ! I think I'm going to go with the 50-150 for full body shots and the 300 for low DoF close-ups.

For the Ball - well I've done one of these before so from the kit I've got it will be the 43 Ltd & the 17-50.

Hmmm no comment on your sense of humour

The 17-50 and 50-150 should be first choice for the golf. You should never be too close and never in the golfers line of sight. The 55-300 is too slow. For longer shots your 300 f/4 is worth putting in the bag.
The 17-50 is ideal for wide bunker shots and at 50mm is great for put shots.
A 70-200 f/2.8 should be the standard weapon of choice for golf. I’ve used the 50-500 Bigma once or twice but it’s too slow and also needs a monopod. The 70-200 should have a Pod (beanbag) on the tripod mount, acting as a damper and being more comfortable in use.

Best regards

last time I did a golf thing, it was a charity thing with Gordie Howe....
I brought a couple film bodies including an mz5n and super program... and a 28-70 f4 and the 28-200.
so I's suspect you'd do ok with anything 18 to 135 range.....

same with fencing, assuming you can get right up to the arena floor, the 50-135 would be perfect....

as for the ball, the 10-17 fisheye and 16-50 would do nicely...

all of the above you might consider using flash, if it is permitted, in some ways... I would not pop a flash off in a golfers face when he is playing, but a multiburst flash would be acceptable if you ask them to let you use it for a warmup shot to demo thier swing.. there are lots of ops to get good shots without being a pest...

same with fencing, I've not shot fencing, but boxing and martial arts, use flash for the practices, and video for the matches, if not video then go with high iso and fast shutter speeds.... ask before using flash.... often frowned upon as a distraction during sports matches but usually ok before the match or during warm ups..

Thanks K10D - yep to the golf I'm going to take the 43, 17-50, 50-150 & possibly the *300. That's settled !

Cheers Don. The fencing is Nationals on Day 1 and International on Day 2 - no flash allowed so it's definitely fast lenses. The warm-ups is something I hadn't considered ... I'll take the Metz 50 and ask !

One other self rule, I shoot "ping-click". If I'm within hearing distance of a golfer, I never fire until he's hit the ball. For T shot's it's a must to let the swing of the club "travel".







Best regards

Since when has that been a reason not to buy a lens

Gareth, I agree with Dave ! I was sure someone would say you really need this lense or that lense

K10D - that's an excellent tip (Ping-Click) and a superb portrait - looks like one of those excellent Thai golfers ?

It is Saleh Ali Misbah.

Taken at Awali Golf Club, Bahrain.

Also

link

He also won the 2009 event.

Best regards