need lens advice....

[Nickcanada]

Hey, so I'm going to be shooting some auto racing at a local track. It's just some modified street cars but my brother inlaw is going so I wanted to tag along and take some pictures. The only problem is that I don't have a lens to do it.

I'll rent something but what do you guys think would be best? I don't know if I'll need F2.8 or not? I'm thinking 300mm with a 1.4x teleconverter would be enough reach?

I'm thinking I'm just going to rent the Canon 300mm 2.8 IS with a 1.4x converter but is there another lens I should consider?

[forno]

When I went to the Australian MotoGP with CW he lent me the 70-200 2.8 and 300 2.8 both IS and the 1.4x and that gave pretty good coverage and I would say you should be able to get just as close at a club event, plus cars are bigger than bikes so all should be good

[Nickcanada]

Thanks forno! I'll only be renting one of the two.... hmmmm, I'll need to think about it some.

I'm leaning towards the extra reach right now but it would be nice to try out a nice zoom lens.

[cdifoto]

Depends how close you can get.

[Nickcanada]

I've never been to the track before. So I don't really know how close I will be able to get etc. but this isn't a full blown race or anything, The Ottawa car club just rented the track for the day so I'm thinking I should be able to go where I like.... I think?!?

[GaryS]

I was out a couple times to our local stock car track last year (I'll go again soon if we ever get a Saturday without rain), and I found the 70-300 was fine. I wasn't very close for a local track as I had the kids with me, but it was still ok.

I would be hesitant to bring only a prime if its your first trip... kind of restricting if the setup isn't the way you would like. If you want to rent some good glass, I would suggest the 100-400L.

Or if you can, get out to the track one day soon and just scout it out. Find some good spots and get a feel for what focal lengths work, then rent away!

I have two sets here on Flickr if you want to check out the focal lengths.
Set 1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/gsimmonsonca/sets/72157600274399771/)
Set 2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/gsimmonsonca/sets/72157600351517239/)

[24Peter]

I did go karts and drag races with the 75-300 IS back in the day and it was fine.
http://imageevent.com/24peter/adayatthegokartraces
http://imageevent.com/24peter/adayatthedragraces
'Course you're a little more advanced than I was back then. 300 F2.8 w/ 1.4 TC is great, but like forno mentioned you'll definitely want a zoom - 70-200 F4 IS would look great in your signature anyway and would be a great lens for this shoot.

[Nickcanada]

Gary and Pete thanks for those examples. That 70-300 lens sure looks nice, especially for the price.

I agree the 70-200mm 4 IS would look nice in my sig :) I'm not convinced I would use that range much though... but I should have something in that range.

Has anyone used the 1.4x with the 70-200mm 4 IS? is it possible?

Hmmm this is tough. I just did my taxes and I've got a 1200 dollar refund.... hmmmmm, tempting.

[GaryS]

Where can you rent in Ottawa? Does Henry's rent there? Or are you thinking of an online place?

[Nickcanada]

There is a place called "Headshots" they are now affiliated with Henery's their store is actually in the back of a henrys on Bank st.

I just got off the phone. I reserved the 300mm 2.8 IS and 1.4x converter for 85 bucks. I can pick it up on Friday at 3 and I get it until Tuesday. I thought that wasn't too bad.

[michaelb]

Man, I bet your going to love that thing Nick - its supposed to be one of Canon's sharpest lenses.

Make sure to show us the results!

Check this out....it gets a perfect 10 on FM out of 79 reviews....

http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=38&sort=7&cat=2&page=2



Taken from one of the reviews....

"An equipment measurbator's wet dream. If you take a bad picture with this lens it's your fault, not the lens' or the cameras. Haven't done many portraits with it but I don't doubt the wonderous bokeh, sharpness and color rendition this lens can provide. I need not worry about a bad copy, because there is no bad copy of this optical gem.

Optically, this lens is in line with the finest APO telescopes offered to the astronomy community too. Flat field corner to corner and mega-sharpness with zero CA's. Sure you might find a few optical warts at 500% zoom (thanks Jerry Lodigruss) but the same could be said for the Keck telescope. Excellent for astro wide open--- which is a claim that only a handful of lenses worldwide can make.

Note: this lens is not discrete. Crowds will part to let you up to the front. People will notice and make audible comments. Yeah, it's a status symbol like a Ferrari, so be prepared for the lovers gushing over it and the haters who want to steal it."

[GaryS]

$85 isn't bad at all... What will suck is the $5K it will cost you when you refuse to return it! :)

[michaelb]

$85 isn't bad at all....
I agree; I was shocked at how cheap your getting to rent such an incredible lens for Nick - are you sure its not like a model of the lens? :D

[Nickcanada]

To be honest I'm a little intimidated by the thought of using that monster.... I'm excited but the thing is like 10 freaking pounds!:eek:

The price is for "one day" but they don't count days that they aren't open so If I rent it on Friday I get the weekend with it and have to return it on Monday but this weekend is a long weekend so I have it until Tuesday! I'm going to leave work a little early on Friday so I can pick it up. Maybe do a little birding :o

The whole point of this is so I can take pictures of my brother in law racing on the track. I take pictures for everyone in the family for weddings or babies ect. but I've never really gotten a chance to take pictures of something he's into so I'm hoping I can get some good images to print and frame for him.

I need some other things to do with this lens though.... I'm thinking the zoo or a bird sanctuary.... I'm excited!

I'm going to need some more memory! :D

[michaelb]

To be honest I'm a little intimidated by the thought of using that monster.... I'm excited but the thing is like 10 freaking pounds!:eek:

Nick; you've got to take a picture of that monster mounted on the XT! ;)


I need some other things to do with this lens though.... I'm thinking the zoo or a bird sanctuary.... I'm excited!

How about some band shots? - you can do some head shots from the back of the club. ;)

[Rooz]

nick, not sure if you're thinking of buying a tele or not. if you;re not really interested in tele's then by all means go for the best. but if you are actually thinking of buying one soon, then my advice would be to rent a tele you;re most likely to buy. that way you can get a good feel if its the right one for you not just for a one-off auto race but also as a good fit for your kit. renting a 300/2.8 is a nice weekend idea, but i doubt its gonna be on your purchase list anytime soon.

[Nickcanada]

The clubs I shooting in are too dark and too small for that monster, but it would be killer for some of the larger venues and the outdoor festivals.

Rooz, naw I'm not really in the market for a tele, that's sorta the point as to why I decided to rent. I could have rented a 70-200mm 2.8 or 4.0 but I'm curious about what all the hype is about with the 300mm and I don't really have the money for new lens so buying a lens that is sorta in my grasps would just be torture. There is no way I'm getting the 300mm so it's safe to play with it. Maybe it's not as intellegent as test driving a potential lens but I think I have good enough idea as to how the 70-200s stack up against each other.

I think if I get a lens in that range it would be the 135mm 2.0 with a 1.4x tele converter. F 4 is just too restricting for concert photography and the F2.8 IS is just too expensive.

[cwphoto]

300/2.8 IS plus a 1.4x II makes sense to me. Be prepared to not want to give it back though.

My favourite of all the supers. Sharpness is out of this world.

Enjoy.

[Nickcanada]

Thanks,

so here is the track.... I was thinking I would walk as much of the track as I could but where do you guys think would be the best place to spend most of my time? I was thinking around turns 17-18-19. There might be a few cars going off track at turn 2 and 5, could be interesting. ;)

[anco85]

Nick, I know you've already decided on which lens, but I've found the 100-200mm more than enough (dare I say, too much)

Have a look at my flickr page under the motor sport set, 90% of those have been taken with the 18-55 which I found was perfect if you're allowed to walk around the track

[Nickcanada]

Nick, I know you've already decided on which lens, but I've found the 100-200mm more than enough (dare I say, too much)

Have a look at my flickr page under the motor sport set, 90% of those have been taken with the 18-55 which I found was perfect if you're allowed to walk around the track

Those are some pretty sweet jeep pics! It looks like you were able to get closer then I will. I haven't been to the track before but I'm assuming it's going to be comparable to these conditions....

http://dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37842

Now if only CW will lend me his skill I'd be all set!!!:)