Recommended Photo Gear for Sports Magazine?

[mojazz]

Hi guys,
doing some consulting for a company looking at starting a sports magazine (mainly soccer), and need some recommendations for photo gear(cameras lenses, etc)..
any help would be appreciated.

[Rhys]

Hi guys,
doing some consulting for a company looking at starting a sports magazine (mainly soccer), and need some recommendations for photo gear(cameras lenses, etc)..
any help would be appreciated.

Tamron 200-500mm lens
Tamron 28-135 lens and a 30D for each lens?

[mojazz]

Apart from field shots,(which i believe the recommendations above are for>thanks<), we'd be doing some "staged" shots for the magazine cover which might be done in a studio or on field, requiring lights, reflectors, etc.

all suggestions welcome:)

[Rhys]

The 28-135 will cover that quite nicely. Add a metz off-camera flash and you're all set.

[cwphoto]

The 28-135 will cover that quite nicely. Add a metz off-camera flash and you're all set.

That's a very low budget way of doing things, are you interested in the pro's way mojazz?

[mojazz]

sure.. would like to weigh all options.. sky's the limit.

[Rhys]

sure.. would like to weigh all options.. sky's the limit.

Ok. A pair of 1DsMkIIs,
EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM or EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

You might want to turn off the IS for sport.

[pagnamenta]

The ultimate in sports photography would be a Canon 1 D MK. II N which has 8 fps. However, it costs about 4 grand, depending where you buy. Some excellent glass for soccer would be either Canon 100-400mm IS USM telephoto lens or a 70-200mm f2.8 IS USM with a 1.4x teleconverter.

On the wide end, for studio portrait photography, you could go with a 24-105 f4 IS USM. Also, the 17-40mm f4 is a great lens. If you want you can throw in a Canon 580EX Speedlite. I'm no lighting expert but I'm sure others will pitch in.

That set up would cost you around $7000. I would recommend going the cheaper route as a start, but get your client good lenses because they will last longer than the camera body.

[mojazz]

sky is seeming a lot higher now... I'm sure if i took a $7000 budget to my client now, he'd throw multiple fits:p considering investments he's already put in.. but its logical that we start slow and build up as and when the need arises..
I'm with you on the point of buying good glass tho'. Considering 30d bodies and getting some lenses..

[Rhys]

You need two cameras and two lenses.

You need two because it's quicker to change cameras than change lenses when the action gets close.

The Tamron 200-500 and Tamron 28-135 are inexpensive lenses (relatively speaking) but will do your job well.

The Canon 30D (or even 5D) are cheaper cameras but very capable.

I quoted two setups. Both sets of lenses are equally good. Tamrons might be slower focussing but not by much. The fastest lenses will be USM. Both sets of bodies are good. One setup is much more expensive but you did say the sky was the limit!

[pagnamenta]

As Rhys has suggest, suggest a 100-400mm IS to your clients. This is the perfect focal length of soccer shots. It's about $600 cheaper than the 70-200 f2.8 IS. If your client doesn't find the 24-105 IS wide enough, mention the 17-40. I would get 2 30D bodies. I shoot football and soccer all the time with a 30D and find the 5 fps fine. with the above set up, you should spend anywhere from $4000 to $4700. The sky should seem lower now.

If you need the sky lower, take Rhys Tamron advice. I do think the sharpness will be better with Canon's IS lenses.

[cwphoto]

Ok. A pair of 1DsMkIIs,
EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM or EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

You might want to turn off the IS for sport.

That kit is too slow Rhys.

The ultimate field sports kit:
2x EOS-1D Mark II N
1x EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM
1x EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM
1x EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L USM or EF 17-40mm f/4 L USM
1x Speedlite 580EX

For studio work:
1x EOS-1Ds Mark II or EOS 5D
whatever lenses you need
Studio flash, minimum three heads
Maybe some backgrounds, reflectors, light shapers
Hand-held Flash Meter

Don't forget the flash memory, batteries, and laptop.

Edit: Oops - didn't see that this is over the budget, forget all of the above.:o

[timmciglobal]

If it was me (and keeping in mind the 1 D mk2 will be huge boost if you can swing it) I'd get

2 30D's
70-200 F2.8 IS
24-70 F2.8L
Canon 1.4 TC.
Canon 85 1.8

Might consider replacing a 30D with a 1d used for the 45 point AF or going up to a 1dmk2 which runs 2400 or so used.

Really isn't too many sports situations I'd think of where you need wide angel I think so 24 would probably do it once you factor in crop.

Tim

[cwphoto]

If it was me (and keeping in mind the 1 D mk2 will be huge boost if you can swing it) I'd get

2 30D's
70-200 F2.8 IS
24-70 F2.8L
Canon 1.4 TC.
Canon 85 1.8

Might consider replacing a 30D with a 1d used for the 45 point AF or going up to a 1dmk2 which runs 2400 or so used.

Really isn't too many sports situations I'd think of where you need wide angel I think so 24 would probably do it once you factor in crop.

Tim

The 24-70 is a good tool, but most of the PJs prefer to go wider for the post-match celebrations etc - with the 24 another PJ is usually in your shot!

Good wedding/event lens though.:)

[forno]

I rekon a fisheye would afford some fantastic shots in a stadium with the net and goal keepr in the foreground. But in the scheme of things in getting going not so important as fast and long glass

[timmciglobal]

Another PJ is in your shot at 24? Wouldn't it be more of an issue wider you go?

I don't know though! I'm not a PJ :)

Tim

[pagnamenta]

Don't forget that this client is shooting soccer and has a some what limitted budget (it apears to be $6000.) While we can dream of what to have, the client can't afford it. So maybe we should acutally recommend something practical.

[cwphoto]

Another PJ is in your shot at 24? Wouldn't it be more of an issue wider you go?

I don't know though! I'm not a PJ :)

Tim

Nah, with a 17mm you can get in front of all the other PJs with 24s for the same subject mag.

It's just the way it works.;)

[cwphoto]

Don't forget that this client is shooting soccer and has a some what limitted budget (it apears to be $6000.) While we can dream of what to have, the client can't afford it. So maybe we should acutally recommend something practical.

Hence my edit.;)

[pagnamenta]

Hence my edit.;)

Good call ;)

[RichNY]

Their best bet would be to forget equipment and just hire pro-am photographer(s) with their own equipment. The 'reality' is that gear is expensive and labor with equipment looking to build their published portfolios-inexpensive.

[cwphoto]

Their best bet would be to forget equipment and just hire pro-am photographer(s) with their own equipment. The 'reality' is that gear is expensive and labor with equipment looking to build their published portfolios-inexpensive.

Now THAT makes more sense.

You can't buy skill.

[mojazz]

thanks for all the input guys..
Hiring pro sport photographers here in this part of the world (West Africa) wouldn't be much of an option .. apparently there are none that i know of. plus i wouldn't call stuff i see from some of these guys here worth hiring, so had to choose the more expensive route..

[pagnamenta]

I'm sure there are a few people on this forum that would gladly come out to West Africa to shoot for you with your equipment. Good luck.

[forno]

thanks for all the input guys..
Hiring pro sport photographers here in this part of the world (West Africa) wouldn't be much of an option .. apparently there are none that i know of. plus i wouldn't call stuff i see from some of these guys here worth hiring, so had to choose the more expensive route..

Where abouts? I am from Jo'burg originaly

[cwphoto]

I'm sure there are a few people on this forum that would gladly come out to West Africa to shoot for you with your equipment. Good luck.

I could swing a West Africa trip - and you wouldn't even need to buy the gear...

[aparmley]

Hi guys,
doing some consulting for a company looking at starting a sports magazine (mainly soccer), and need some recommendations for photo gear(cameras lenses, etc)..
any help would be appreciated.

I haven't read everyones suggestions yet but I saw the first few and had a chuckle -

at least:

2 1d Mk II(N)s Could use 30Ds in place of these though. . . +
400 2.8 IS L
300 2.8 IS L
70-200 2.8 IS
24-70 2.8 L
16-35 2.8 L

That should be a good start!

[Christian]

How about,

20Dx2 at $819 B&H used
Sigma 300mm 2.8 $2,599
Canon 28-300mmL IS $1,849 Adorama re-furb.

Only $86 over budget.