Zooming for action sports
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01-01-2017 06:16 PM
I just bought a Rebel T6s with 18-135 lens and was wondering if I should buy a lens with a better zoom for taking pictures of my boys playing hockey. I am a newbie when it comes to higher end cameras so please excuse my questions.
Thanks in advance
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01-01-2017 06:22 PM
You could get a 55-250 zoom, whcih would almost be twice the magnifcation. It would be a good starter lens. You want the STM version of the lens.
Conway, NH
1D X Mark III, M200, Many lenses, Pixma PRO-100, Pixma TR8620a, Lr Classic
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01-01-2017 06:26 PM
Thanks John.
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01-01-2017 07:20 PM
Do they play indoors or outdoors? Could make a difference on recommended lenses. Also be sure to set the camera to use AI Servo for the auto focus & pick a shutter speed that freezes the action. In Tv mode 1/500 or faster should get the job done or you can try the "Sport" mode but either way slow shutter speeds need to be avoided.
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01-01-2017 07:31 PM
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01-01-2017 07:40 PM
If this is indoor hockey and not outdoor daylight pond hockey, I would be most worried about having a larger aperture lens to let more light into the camera, to deal with the need for a fast shutter to capture fast action in low light. You may not be happy with the result if you are in fact indoors and you get another, longer, variable small aperture lens.
To render a properly exposed image the camera needs light.
Shutter speed. You could get more light into the camera by using a slower shutter speed, but not if your subjects are moving quickly. For something quick like hockey you actually have to use a short shutter speed, like the 1/500th minimum Ernie proscribes, or maybe even faster. So that further intensifies your lack of light problem.
ISO. The camera can compensate by electronically boosting the gain, raising the ISO setting to make the sensor create images in less light, but that hurts image quality beyond a certain point. That point where you notice grainy static and a loss of detail may be ISO 400 or 640 or for sure 800 on a crop sensor Rebel camera.
Aperture. The inexpensive kit lenses cannot open up to let in as much light as a larger aperture lens can.
There are some affordable large aperture lenses. There is an 85mm f/1.8. Also a 200mm f/2.8. And a 100mm f/1.8 or 2.0, I'd have to look it up. If you get a lens that lets in 2x or 4x or even 8x the amount of light into the camera, you can avoid the high ISO image quality damage.
Canon 5d mk 4, Canon 6D, EF 70-200mm L f/2.8 IS mk2; EF 16-35 f/2.8 L mk. III; Sigma 35mm f/1.4 "Art" EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro; EF 85mm f/1.8; EF 1.4x extender mk. 3; EF 24-105 f/4 L; EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS; 3x Phottix Mitros+ speedlites
Why do so many people say "FER-tographer"? Do they take "fertographs"?
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01-01-2017 08:00 PM
Thanks
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01-01-2017 08:10 PM
This little article from Canon will help with some of the terms we use. It's a quick read.
http://www.canonoutsideofauto.ca/
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01-01-2017 08:54 PM
The new 70-300 will work fine, too, and give you a little more reach.
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01-02-2017 10:48 AM
"... I should buy a lens with a better zoom for taking pictures of my boys playing hockey."
The short answer is, yes. The lens you want is a 70-200mm f2.8. There are several reasons this is the lens of choice. One is it is a f2.8 and two is, it is a constant f2.8. The 70-200mil is a far better lens IQ wise than any of the lenses mentioned above.
A hockey arena is a lousy place to shoot from. Lights are bad and there is a glass barrier between you and the players.
Which brings us to the most important thing. What is that? It is where you shoot from. Position, position, position! Are you locked into a certain fixed seat?
In the 70-200 zoom market you have three choices. One from SIgma and Tamron each. They both are very good lenses and have a more friendly price tag. And of course the best in class Canon 70-200mm f2.8L. It comes at a premium price but rest assured, there is no better.
Last thought is you don't want any prime lens. That is any lens that doesn't zoom. They would be nearly impossible to use.
Wait a minute, one more last thought! You need to get a good post editor. Post editing your shots will make a the biggest difference than almost anything else you can do. Photoshop Elements is a good one for instance.
EOS 1D, EOS 1D MK IIn, EOS 1D MK III, EOS 1Ds MK III, EOS 1D MK IV and EOS 1DX and many lenses.
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