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Recycle THIS - 04 Sep 2006 04:40 GMT

Hi all.

Just bought myself a Canon 350D (second hand) on eBay. It comes with the kit
Canon EFS 18-55mm lens and a Sigma AF 28-70mm lens.

I am led to believe that the kit lens isn't all that good, but that the
Sigma is a decent lens.

What I need to know is this:

I will be doing a fair amount of sports photography, mainly motorcycling and
wrestling (I know, I know... Wrestling's not a sport!) and I would like to
find a lens suitable for both the fast moving bikes (up to 180mph) and the
not quite so fast moving wrestlers. The bikes (obviously) will be outdoor
and the wrestling indoor under floodlights.

Any suggestions (sensible!) gratefully recieved.

Thanks

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bmoag - 04 Sep 2006 06:46 GMT

My suggestion is that you learn to use what you have before you spend any
more money on equipment. If you do not already have a quality image
processing program, e.g. Elements or Photoshop, and know how to use it the
single best investment you can make is not only to obtain the program but,
far more importantly, learn how to use it with raw format images.

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Recycle THIS - 04 Sep 2006 17:08 GMT

> My suggestion is that you learn to use what you have before you spend any
> more money on equipment. If you do not already have a quality image
> processing program, e.g. Elements or Photoshop, and know how to use it the
> single best investment you can make is not only to obtain the program but,
> far more importantly, learn how to use it with raw format images.

Thanks for the input. I already have Photoshop CS2 on my computer from
earlier pootlings with my Kodak P880 (although I'm no expert with CS2) so I
know the very basics of manipulation. RAW format is something I have never
had any experience of, so that will be my first project - take a few simple
shots and play with them until I either A) Break them or B) get the result
I'm looking for.

Again, thanks.

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jean - 04 Sep 2006 16:28 GMT

If you can get close enough to the action (for motorcycling), a Canon 70-200
f4 L won't let you down, it is sharp and focusses fast. Use jpeg for
optimum burst capability and expect to throw away more than 50% of your
shots. AI servo mode works best and for pictures that look like the bikes
are moving a slow shutter speed, slow enough to blurr the wheels, will give
better results (see http://www.pbase.com/jeandr/image/65969361/large) Learn
to pan the camera as you shoot to blurr the background.

Jean

> Hi all.
>
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> Thanks

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Recycle THIS - 04 Sep 2006 17:00 GMT

> If you can get close enough to the action (for motorcycling), a Canon
> 70-200
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Jean

An extremely helpful suggestion Jean, illustrated by exactly the kind of
shot I will be hoping to take eventually.

Thank you very much.

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AaronW - 04 Sep 2006 17:08 GMT

> Just bought myself a Canon 350D (second hand) on eBay. It comes with the kit
> Canon EFS 18-55mm lens and a Sigma AF 28-70mm lens.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Any suggestions (sensible!) gratefully recieved.

Canon 50/1.8
Canon 85/1.8

Canon 28-135/3.5-5.6 IS
Canon 70-300/4-5.6 IS

http://digitcamera.tripod.com/#slr

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