Looking for a new lens...

[MikeHoyer]

I can't afford a hyper expensive lens, so... based on what I can afford, which do you think I should go for?

http://www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/lens.../135-400mm.htm

http://www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/lens...m/50-500mm.htm

The 500mm is good, but I was thinking the other one is a bit cheaper, and if it is reccomended I might go for that.

[JamesC]

Zooms with a long range are always a compromise the way they are built... personally I'd go for the 135-400... though I have heard some very good stuff about the 50-500mm...

Check out www.dpreview.com if you want samples and lots of very opinionated opinions...

[vs346]

Mike, I can't stress enough how important it is to have a prime long lens and not a zoom. I had the 50-500 Sigma and the depth of field was horrible at 500mm (6.3) and it's not tack sharp, as it needs to be.

If you can't afford the expensive glass, then get a used one or better yet get a Manual Focus used one. Those are usually incredibly sharp and it will get your hand trained to shoot MF. I have an AF 500 F4 and i shoot manual focus about half the time on cars. The great thing about motorsports is its predictable, so MF isn't a big problem.

Or save up some more for a brand new prime, just don't waste your time or money on a zoom

my .02

[kdr]

Originally Posted by vs346

Mike, I can't stress enough how important it is to have a prime long lens and not a zoom. I had the 50-500 Sigma and the depth of field was horrible at 500mm (6.3) and it's not tack sharp, as it needs to be.

If you can't afford the expensive glass, then get a used one or better yet get a Manual Focus used one. Those are usually incredibly sharp and it will get your hand trained to shoot MF. I have an AF 500 F4 and i shoot manual focus about half the time on cars. The great thing about motorsports is its predictable, so MF isn't a big problem.

Or save up some more for a brand new prime, just don't waste your time or money on a zoom

my .02

i couldn't agree more. the amount of threads i've read on this board where the subject of autofocus and mad 28-550 zooms rear their head always amazes me. i too use the nikon 500 f4, or a 600 if i can be bothered lugging it around...and they're never set on af, the only time i might use af would be walking the pit lane or the grid trying to get some portraits of continually bobbing and weaving drivers. as VS says...look for a used manual focus 400 or 500, and especially with nikon you're laughing.

[MikeHoyer]

The only thing that bothers me about a prime is that it seems you don't have much scope for trying different things, as it's stuck at one length. For example, at Russell at Snet, I zoom in close for some 3/4 shots, then back out for pans.

[vs346]

that's why you get a 500 and a 300 or a 500 and a 80-200 (the only zoom i would buy).

the 500 for 3/4 and 300 or 200 for pans. either way you don't need AF.

like kdr, I use AF for people mostly, because those move much more unpredictably than a car coming at you.

[MikeHoyer]

Which is why, at this stage of the game I'm looking at a zoom. I can't afford a couple of big prime lenses right now. I've got to compromise somewhere.

[kdr]

Originally Posted by vs346

that's why you get a 500 and a 300 or a 500 and a 80-200 (the only zoom i would buy).

the 500 for 3/4 and 300 or 200 for pans. either way you don't need AF.

like kdr, I use AF for people mostly, because those move much more unpredictably than a car coming at you.

amazing how a car at 100mph can be easier to nail than a driver talking to his engineer in the pitlane....i swear they go to boxing classes to perfect that bob and weave motion!

what lenses do you have already mike...and are you shooting with accreditation for a purpose?

[KennyG]

Mike, go for a used 300 or 400 prime. You won't miss having the zoom, despite what you may think now. If you really do want zoom then a used 100-400L is very worth considering. It is way better than the Sigma 50-500.

Check on the FM Buy & Sell forum. I spotted this 100-400 today and it looks good value, plus it is in the UK - http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/191967

[MikeHoyer]

This is the one I currently have...
http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P...3.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

Nikon 70-300mm f4-5.6G.

[Andrew_S]

just laugh at this thread...

have ANY of you heard of the word BUDGET

buy a prime lens...

no buy 2...

no buy 2 and a zoom lens...

come on? how about some helpfull advice concidering the criteria mentioned? or maybe you want to stump up the budget for the things your suggesting?

Im astonished, at what people suggest sometimes, it may be a lot better yeah, but im sure buying a ferrari is a lot better than buying a mini, but ya know, budget conciderations etc...

[vs346]

all I'm trying to say is rather than waste $1000 on a Sigma 50-500, i would rather spend a little bit more (save up!!) on a used manual focus prime ($2000?).

i understand budget limitations, but if Mike wants to improve, he can't let his equipment be a limitation. he might as well stick with the current lense, because getting a 50-500 will only keep things the same. Zoom isn't everything, the beautiful results of a prime outweigh the fact that you actually have to move around a bit without the ease of standing in one spot and zooming in and out. true, the shots Mike mentions at Snet may not be possible without a zoom (never been there), but there are always other spots that fit a 400 prime, or even a 300.

The thing to remember is this: you'd be amazed how your shooting changes when you are CONFINED to a prime. that's what improves you.

[vs346]

also, i'm not offering to stump up the budget for the lenses i'm suggesting, but if Mike Hoyer is ever at a race (LM?) i'm covering as well, I'll let him borrow my 500mm for an hour (scout's honour). I'll be curious if he's so concerned about budget after that.

cliché alert...once you cross over into prime-land, you can never go back.

[MikeHoyer]

I'll take you up on that offer vs346!

In the meantime, I've been able to get hold of a 135-400 for 150 quid, I will try it for a bit, and then look into prime lenses later in the year.

[vs346]

will you be accredited for LM Mike?

[MikeHoyer]

Sadly, I doubt it. It's an ambition of mine though!

Maybe next year...

Nevermind, just toss it over the fence

[TerryC]

Hey Mike, did you get the 135-400mm lens at the end? Do you also have a Nikkor AF-D 80-200mm f/2.8 lens too?

[MikeHoyer]

I haven't got it yet, but Jessops are getting a used one in for me, quite cheap.

[kdr]

Originally Posted by Andrew_S

just laugh at this thread...

have ANY of you heard of the word BUDGET

buy a prime lens...

no buy 2...

no buy 2 and a zoom lens...

come on? how about some helpfull advice concidering the criteria mentioned? or maybe you want to stump up the budget for the things your suggesting?

Im astonished, at what people suggest sometimes, it may be a lot better yeah, but im sure buying a ferrari is a lot better than buying a mini, but ya know, budget conciderations etc...

being scottish andrew i totally understand the word budget! i think all vs and i were trying to do was point out that in the long run its better saving for something that will really do the job, rather than waste money on inferior and ultimately frustrating products. i remember taking what i thought was a quite good little sigma 400m f5.6 to le mans several years ago, thinking umm cheap and light...yes cheap, light...difficult to see thru and not very sharp.

looking back thru the thread if anything we're being budget concious as well. a used nikon or canon prime lens will soon be down the cost of one of these 50-500mm zooms...and far better to work with. i think mike uses nikon...and i was him i would definitely be on ebay looking for the old manual focus 500mm f.4

like i said i understand budget...all we're trying to say is if you collared a professional motorsport snapper at an event(and i'm not a full time pro i hasten to add), and said what sort of lens should i go for...a 50-500 zoom or a used 300mm or 400mm or 500mm prime lens? ...i'm sure the pro would advise exactly the same as what we're saying. work with what you've got just now, using your imagination to compensate...and save up.

[David L]

Originally Posted by Andrew_S

maybe you want to stump up the budget for the things your suggesting?...

Some of us already have..

Originally Posted by Andrew_S

Im astonished, at what people suggest sometimes, it may be a lot better yeah, but im sure buying a ferrari is a lot better than buying a mini, but ya know, budget conciderations etc...

The point is, Andrew, that many on here have stated their intentions of doing this as a pro.. You do need the tools of the trade, I don't see BMW using the Mini in F1, after all..?

Loans, credit cards, overdrafts.. We've all been there..

[David L]

Originally Posted by MikeHoyer

I can't afford a hyper expensive lens, so... based on what I can afford, which do you think I should go for?

http://www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/lens.../135-400mm.htm

http://www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/lens...m/50-500mm.htm

The 500mm is good, but I was thinking the other one is a bit cheaper, and if it is reccomended I might go for that.

How about looking for a used Nikkor 80-400 VR... May not be ideal but the glass will be OK..

[MikeHoyer]

The thing is, I'm well aware that the primes are the way to go, and I AM serious about my photography, however, I would need a couple, say a 200mm and a 400mm, and I can't really afford that right now. I should be able to get this lens, which should be a great improvement on my current 300mm for a decent price, and then think about a prime later in the year.

[TerryC]

The 80-400VR lens is still about £1000 here. It might be worth getting it from the US, taking advantage of the strong £ at the moment. My friend has one and he swears by it, that's definitely one of the very best zoom Nikkors around.

[APS]

With Motorsport photography you really do need a "fast lens" examples : 70-200 f2.8 & conv / 100-300 f4 ( my choice of lens ) , the low light capability and focus speed is very much the deciding factor for me ... I can speak with experience about the 50-500mm Sigma and must say dont get it for m/sport the focusing is very suspect at high speed and images become very soft at max zoom . I owned the lens for 2 months before selling it and gettin the Sigma 100-300f4 and so far very happy although before that i did own the 70-200 f2.8 .... stunning lens !!! but limited on distance even with 1.4 or 2.0 conv...

go for 300/400 max zoom with an absolute minimum of say 5.6 .

but hey we are all different but i have used most lenses in the class and for now im sticking with the EX range of Sigma except the 50-500 :-(

regards

[MikeHoyer]

Well I've finally got the 135-400, could've done wth it at Silverstone this weekend, but I'll try it out on cars this coming weekend.