topic Re: Lens question in EF & RF Lenses

EOS Rebel T100 Lens recommendations for sports from a distance

Celeste2 — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 14:35:35 GMT

Hello I am an aspiring photographer, I started my journey purchasing the Rebel T100 however I quickly figured out my lens kit was not the best for sports photos with distance. I want to know what the best inexpensive lenses for distance sports pictures are? I would like the photos to be clear and look up close!

Re: Lens question

shadowsports — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 17:14:32 GMT

Greetings,

Can you please supply your budget. $$$ This way we can make meaningful suggestions.

Re: Lens question

Tronhard — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 17:36:20 GMT

As my respected colleague commented, we need a $value within which to make affordable suggestions for you.

What sports do you photograph, and under what conditions?
There is a difference between shooting relatively close indoor sports, where the focal ranges may be less but the lighting conditions are much more challenging than field sports where the action may be far away, but the lighting should be much brighter.

Be warned that the greater the focal length and the faster the lens, the more the cost goes up.

Re: Lens question

Celeste2 — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 17:39:31 GMT

I do day time softball and baseball games as well as night stadium lit soccer and football games, my budget is under $200

Re: Lens question

Celeste2 — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 17:40:38 GMT

I do day time softball and baseball games as well as night stadium lit soccer and football games, my budget is under $200.

Re: Lens question

Waddizzle — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 18:42:22 GMT

You will need telephoto focal length lenses (100-300mm) and super telephoto focal length lenses (>300mm) for most outdoor sports photography.

The purpose of these lenses is to enlarge the size of your subject in the viewfinder, not allow you to capture images from a great distance.

Your $200 budget is just a little short for buying telephoto lenses. This image and link are from the Canon USA Online Store.

https://www.usa.canon.com/shop/p/ef-s-55-250mm-f-4-5-6-is-stm?color=Black&type=New

This lens would be almost ideal as a starting lens for sports photography. You will get the best results on sunny days, not overcast or at night.

You can find it used for around $200, depending on condition, of course.

Re: Lens question

Tronhard — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 19:56:19 GMT

Hi Celeste:
To be perfectly honest, you will not get much reach and light performance for that budget. I would suggest you consider saving and upping your budget to see if you can double it, at which point you will get significantly more choices. The hard truth is that telephoto lenses, especially anything decent, cost. A lot of people shooting field sports would go for something like a Tamron or Sigma 150-600 zoom. Such a lens at KEH has a price range several times your current budget.
Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM C (Contemporary) Lens for Canon EF-Mount {95} with TS-71 Tripod Collar/Foot at KEH Camera

If you have to stick to your current budget, and you don't already have one, you can pick up a used EF-S 55-250 STM lens: a good source is KEH.com. These come with a warranty. Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Autofocus APS-C Lens, Black {58} at KEH Camera. While its range is limited, it is a reasonably good optic for the price.

As my colleague Waddizzle noted, Canon offer the same units, with a Canon warranty, but at a slightly higher cost.

Re: EOS Rebel T100 Lens recommendations for sports from a distance

ebiggs1 — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 15:15:02 GMT

All the bloviating aside the best lens in this situation is the Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2. With the budget you stated you are going to be looking for used but these type lenses are good candidates to buy used since they are big and heavy. Most folks think they want to get into this type photography until they discover the gear appropriate for it is, well, big and heavy. Result, they get little use.

Note: the Tamron must be the G2 version if you can't find a G2 then I would go with the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM C Lens suggested by Trevor above. However it is a lesser lens compared to the Tamron G2 but it will demand a lower used price. IQ nearly as good to as good.

Re: EOS Rebel T100 Lens recommendations for sports from a distance

Tronhard — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 22:34:31 GMT

The Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DI VC USD G2 Lens for Canon EF-Mount {95} A022 at KEH Camera is going to also be several times your budget. So, my advice still applies.

Re: EOS Rebel T100 Lens recommendations for sports from a distance

ebiggs1 — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 15:16:26 GMT

"Note: the Tamron must be the G2 version if you can't find a G2 then I would go with the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM C Lens ..."

Why do you feel you need to defend all your comments. You didn't use to be that way.

Re: EOS Rebel T100 Lens recommendations for sports from a distance

shadowsports — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 15:43:33 GMT

Greetings Celeste2,

From a budgetary standpoint, these lens recommendations are the best you can do. We also want to be sure you understand that any night time photography with these lenses will be challenging. The "longer" lenses perform best in daylight. Even under lights, its important that you go into this with correct expectations. The lenses are fantastic and are favorites amongst wildlife photographers, but night time is not where these lenses shine or perform extraordinarily well.

Re: EOS Rebel T100 Lens recommendations for sports from a distance

wq9nsc — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 16:53:22 GMT

Pay close attention to Rick's words on this matter. The 150-600 "super zoom" lenses can do some good stuff and I own a Sigma 150-600 I use for a versatile hiking lens.

But I wouldn't consider using it for night sports even on my 1DX III body which does a great job with low light situations. The T-100 won't react well with greatly slowed focus acquisition and significant high ISO noise from its APS-C sensor. Daylight sports will be OK with the caveat that focus acquisition still is slower than a great sports lens like their 70-200 f2.8 and the great white primes. You can deal with that by anticipating but it won't save you when you misjudge what is about to happen on the field like a great white prime can do.

So realize the limitations going in and don't expect too much from a lens that has a long telephoto length at a very reasonable price.

Rodger

Re: EOS Rebel T100 Lens recommendations for sports from a distance

ebiggs1 — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 16:39:47 GMT

"So realize the limitations going in ..."

That is one of my most favorite points of all time and one often missed or ignored by lots of folks. All photography gear has and will reach its limit to what it can do. But again that "limit" has varying degrees since all of us have differing levels of satisfaction. I know so-called "soccer mom's" that are totally satisfied with a Rebel and kit lenses and that is fine. And I know guys doing NCAA sports that nothing satisfies them not eve thousands of dollars worth of gear. So there you are and as always the gear you have is always better than the gear you wish you had.