Lens to buy

[toby_ta]

I'm going into sport photography, I only have a thousand dolllars to spare on a lens, what Lens can i buy? I use a Canon 7D

[amfoto1]

 "Actually the effective focal length from a 1.4 converter on a 7D and a 200mm lens would be nearly 450mm."

True, but the 1.6X conversion factor two-step shuffle often just confuses things unnecessarily.

If the original poster has never used a 35mm film or full frame sensor camera, they likely have no preconceptions about lens focal lengths. Theyre using an 18-135mm lens now, and asking for something longer... 'The 280mm achievable with a 1.4X teleconverter on a 70-200mm lens offers about double what's possible with the lens they already have.

Or - for about the same money or less - there are some lenses that reach 400mm or more without needing any teleconverter. That's 3X to nearly 4X what they have now. And it's actual 400mm or more, not some conversion factor.   

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Alan Myers

San Jose, Calif., USA
"Walk softly and carry a big lens."
GEAR: 5DII, 7D(x2), 50D(x3), some other cameras, various lenses & accessories
FLICKR & PRINTROOM 

[ebiggs1]

Alan, you and I had to learn that. It is time he did also.

Explaining that a 200mm lens is going has the same requirements in technical use as a 450mm lens will make sense to most people. If not maybe they should consider golf as a hobby.

[ScottyP]

Aaaarrrrg. You had to say basketball, didn't you. (Ha)

Now that you are talking about indoor short distance sports, I agree with Amphoto about getting a fixed length (prime) lens with a wide aperture to let in a lot of light. I think an 85mm f/1.8 would work well, since our 1.6x crop camera would make it work like about 135mm. It is only about $350.00, so you could get it PLUS the 70-200 f/4 (which gives you 320mm on your crop body), and you'd have soccer and basketball fairly well covered, and basically within your budget.