topic Re: Need help deciding on a lens in EF & RF Lenses

Sports photographer needs help deciding on a lens for EOS R

Lkcphotos31 — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 14:26:04 GMT

I am a sports photographer who currently shoots on a Eos R and an ef to rf adapter that connects to my ef 70-200 f/ 2.8 L IS USM, the first generation of 70-200. My current lens has a foggy not sharp look to it during low light so I am looking for a different lens, I cannot send it in for repair because it is too old and they don't service them anymore. I cannot decide between the rf 70-200 and the ef 70-200. If anyone has any advice let me know! I am also looking at a 24-105 f/4 for the upcoming basketball season so if anyone has strong feelings about this lens please share.

Re: Need help deciding on a lens

wq9nsc — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 20:19:07 GMT

If your images are sharp during better lighting, the lens isn't the issue. The "foggy" look in low light is probably a result of a higher ISO and the noise reduction needed to mask the noise artifacts.

I use an EF 70-200 f2.8 IS III now but I still have the 70-200 f2.8 non-IS I bought with my 1D Mark II back in 2005. I expect I would have to do some serious pixel peeping to see a sharpness difference and I shot plenty of low light sports with the older EF 70-200 before buying my new version.

What are your exposure settings when you get the loss of sharpness?

Rodger

Re: Need help deciding on a lens

deebatman316 — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 21:27:29 GMT

@wq9nsc I do agree with you on this. The EOS R was released in 2018 the image sensor technology has greatly improved in 6 years. The high ISO is likely causing the "foggy" looking images not the lens unless its full of fungus or has optical issues. I could see a very old film era telephoto lens having issues on a new camera. Like my old EF 70-210mm F/4 AFD lens from the beginning of the EOS line.

Re: Need help deciding on a lens

justadude — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 22:25:24 GMT

If you have the EF 70-200mm F/2.8 L that is the first generation, it would not be with IS. I have the first generation - no IS. You might have the second generation, which is when they added IS.

What ISO are you shooting at? I use the old EF lens I just mentioned for hired sports photography on my R6 Mk ll. Low light for what I shoot is normally not lower than 3200, and I've never seen the foggy issue you are describing. Is your ISO much higher than that?

Re: Need help deciding on a lens

deebatman316 — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 23:11:13 GMT

The first EF 70-200mm F/2.8 lens was the EF 70-200mm F/2.8L USM which was released in 1995 and had NO IS. The 1st gen IS model was the EF 70-200mm F/2.8L IS USM lens which was released in 2001. Canon only released 1 non-IS model of the EF 70-200mm F/2.8 lens. All subsequent models would feature IS. The same goes for the F/4 variants too. Canon released 1 non-IS F/4 model and 2 IS models with the constant F/4 aperture.

Re: Need help deciding on a lens

Lkcphotos31 — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 00:14:17 GMT

This photo was taken with my 70-200 f 2.8 at 10000 iso 2.8 aperature and 1/1000 shutter speed.

this photo was taken on a 100-400 mm f 4.5-5.6 12800 f 5.0 and 1/1000 shutter speed. I see a visible difference in quality and sharpness tell me what I am doing wrong.

Re: Need help deciding on a lens

Lkcphotos31 — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 00:14:56 GMT

This photo was taken with my 70-200 f 2.8 at 10000 iso 2.8 aperature and 1/1000 shutter speed.

this photo was taken on a 100-400 mm f 4.5-5.6 12800 f 5.0 and 1/1000 shutter speed. I see a visible difference in quality and sharpness tell me what I am doing wrong.

Re: Need help deciding on a lens

deebatman316 — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 00:26:57 GMT

@Lkcphotos31 Are there any filters attached to the 70-200mm if so remove the filters. Also these pictures have no EXIF (metadata) attached to them. If you have Google Drive or any other file sharing service you can put the pictures there and we can review them in Canon DPP. Make sure to allow access so forum members can view the pictures. To closely review the picture. Also were these taken in JPEG or the RAW format.

Re: Need help deciding on a lens

Lkcphotos31 — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 01:26:22 GMT

Raw format, no filtes attached, I can attach the full raw photo in an album but it wont allow me to do it directly on the forum

Re: Need help deciding on a lens

deebatman316 — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 01:28:01 GMT

If you're using Google Drive then you can add the link in the forum and give access to anyone with the link.

Re: Need help deciding on a lens

Lkcphotos31 — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 01:29:50 GMT

google drive link

Re: Need help deciding on a lens

March411 — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 02:35:34 GMT

Lkcphotos31 the google drive works but I only see a jpg in the drive. Can you drop a couple of the RAW images full size on the drive.

Also, the image that is loaded, it appears that you are shooting from a low angle up and there are stadium lights directly behind the shot. The camera appears to be fairly close to ground level. Is this an accurate assessment? The fogginess that you are talking about could be/appears to be flaring or bleeding from the stadium lights.

Re: Need help deciding on a lens

Lkcphotos31 — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 02:46:55 GMT

https://photos.app.goo.gl/aFDPG3YTmtqwV1nu8

this should work let me know if not. Why does the flaring or bleeding from stadium lights not happen with my other lenses?

Re: Need help deciding on a lens

March411 — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 03:09:42 GMT

Not sure for a fact that is what it is but on that specific shot it looks like it to me. Just an observation that it may not be a equipment challenge and more of composition challenge.When you use the other lens are you shooting from a low position into the stadium lighting? There are variables I can't see with the other lenses you are using but the one example image it seems fairly apparent to me. I could be wrong.

If you look at the second image you posted, I added it below, it appears to be straight on shot with the stands in the background, camera shoulder high and level, no fogging or flare in the image.

Re: Need help deciding on a lens

Lkcphotos31 — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 05:28:18 GMT

https://photos.app.goo.gl/wKQPyuH9LMwhURnL7

Same location lower angle with the 100-400 instead of 70-200

Re: Need help deciding on a lens

Lkcphotos31 — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 05:35:24 GMT

https://photos.app.goo.gl/wKQPyuH9LMwhURnL7

Re: Need help deciding on a lens

Ron888 — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 08:17:39 GMT

I too am thinking your 70-200 may not be faulty.I have the first gen (non IS) version.It flares badly in certain light.

Try looking through the lens towards strong light - if it's fungus or lens separation those should be quite obvious.Fungus looks like tiny branching filaments and can vary greatly in extent.Lens separation looks like transparent bubbles and usually covers the whole lens that's affected.

Re: Sports photographer needs help deciding on a lens for EOS R

March411 — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 14:56:57 GMT

@Lkcphotos31 wrote:

Same location lower angle with the 100-400 instead of 70-200

I am not attempting to challenge your observations and I'm just sharing what I believe see, I could be wrong and hopefully others will join the conversation.

The two images are not from the same location, one is from the 40 yard line and the other appears to be a punt or kickoff with the player in the end zone.

The stadium lighting is significantly different in these two areas. If you take a close look at the picture that is hazy, the haze is the strongest in the upper right and then fades to almost no haze mid-frame. Somewhat in line with the stadium lighting. The image in the end zone is also is fairly noisy which contributes to the haze.

The easiest and best way to resolve this is to head to the field with a friend (used as a model) when the lights are on and do some controlled test shots with the 70-200. For the examples you have posted it's fairly consistent, one image is end zone with heavy/strong stadium lighting, the other is mid-field with subtle lighting. The composition and camera angle are also different in each.

Re: Sports photographer needs help deciding on a lens for EOS R

ebiggs1 — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 15:47:19 GMT

Lkcphotos31 there is a simple way to resolve this instead of going back and forth with guesses. Reset the camera to default. Select P mode. Set the ISO to 200. Set the lens to AF and One Shot not Ai-servo or any other Ai assisted focus modes. Daylight WB. Now go outside on a nice sunny day and do several dozen random shots. If the photos are sharp and clear there is nothing wrong with your gear.

Lkcphotos31 all photography gear has its limit and perhaps you have reached one with your shooting situation. Do the test first, it may save you a good deal of money.

Re: Sports photographer needs help deciding on a lens for EOS R

Lkcphotos31 — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 16:45:35 GMT

Thank you for your input I appreciate it but one is on the flag distance and one is regular football distance they are different. So its hard to see but they are in relatively the same position. I am going to be renting a newer 70-200 this week and run some tests thanks for your help.