Newbie asking for lens recommendation

[Braineack]

...but recommending a 2.8 to a beginner would be like recommending a Ferrari for a trip to the grocery store.

rofl. No.

 

[68camaro]

I very much appreciate all your comments. I have been reading them, thinking them over, and discussing your advice with a couple of camera shops.

I am 95% sure I will bite the bullet and get the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 without IS, money is important but we can splurge on this as an investment and we can swing it. I am in process of renting one I should pick up tomorrow.

I have spent a lot of time considering your suggestions and recommendations and looking at the flicker site. I really think the 70-200mm is the right lens for our needs, we really feel we need a zoom, and I think we can grow into it as well. I seriously looked at the 50mm and 100mm combo as it is affordable, but after spending the money I think we would eventually get the 70-200mm anyway.

Since we do not move around when shooting and will be using this from the stands I think a zoom is important.

I'll let you know how things turn out.

edit: I looked at the Tamaran at 1/2 cost of Canon, but I read a lot of bad reviews on quality and their service as well as one review that said there is a lot more bad shots than a Canon. I need to minimize headaches in my life so I opted to not risk quality issues.

Thanks again.

Chuck

 

[68camaro]

Hey all, just wanted to give quick update. We actually bought two lens, the first is the Canon 50mm fixed ($110) lens, it works great for closeups in the house and around town.

The second lens we bought specifically for taking action shots in high school gyms, after looking at several we settled on the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 USM without IS ($1,400). Even though we are novices we were able to get great upclose pictures of our sons in action shots. The lens in conjunction with our Rebel EOS SL1 takes great pictures, low lighting is no problem.- our learning curve is steep but very fun.

Chuck

 

[robbins.photo]

Hey all, just wanted to give quick update. We actually bought two lens, the first is the Canon 50mm fixed ($110) lens, it works great for closeups in the house and around town.

The second lens we bought specifically for taking action shots in high school gyms, after looking at several we settled on the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 USM without IS ($1,400). Even though we are novices we were able to get great upclose pictures of our sons in action shots. The lens in conjunction with our Rebel EOS SL1 takes great pictures, low lighting is no problem.- our learning curve is steep but very fun.

Chuck

Congrats on the new lens! If you purchased the non-IS version depending on your shooting situation you might want to invest a couple of bucks in a good monopod - I shoot some school sporting events on occasion and I find having one very handy when I'm sitting in the bleachers - even though my Sigma does have the OS normally I'll shut it off and use the monopod, makes it a lot easier after an hour or so not having to hold the camera pretty much constantly to get the shots I want, and the monopod is small enough that I can deploy it easily in the bleachers without bothering anyone around me or taking up a lot of room.

 

[68camaro]

"you might want to invest a couple of bucks in a good monopod" - I may pick one up before the next match but to be honest the weight while heavy wasn't enough to cause a big concern since we steady it by bracing elbos on our legs while seated, it was manageable, even for wife. I was very surprised that we didn't notice any quality issues with with no IS. While we are novices the pictures were very crisp and clear, just what we were looking for.

Chuck