Help with Lens

[Brian Lu]

Hi all, 

 

I have been doing photography for a year now. People said i m really good at it so i m officially my school photographer after 5 months. Most of the time, i shoot sport (in/outdoors) but all of the lens i use are the school lens. I have a Nikon 50mm f1.8 and a sigma 18-35mm f.1.8. Although the 50mm suits for indoor sports with its fast aperture, it doesn't works when i m outside trying to do track & field or rugby. I now have a money for my own telephoto lens so i f left with two decision. A: a 70-200 f4; B. a 50-100 f1.8. Because i m shooting on a D7100 with APS-C sensor, i wont be able to get the same bokeh with 4 or 2.8 as full frame so i m really falling for the 1.8 but the focal length is what holding me back.

 

Thanks, 

 

[AkiraDaarkst]

3 minutes ago, Brian Lu said:

Hi all, 

 

I have been doing photography for a year now. People said i m really good at it so i m officially my school photographer after 5 months. Most of the time, i shoot sport (in/outdoors) but all of the lens i use are the school lens. I have a Nikon 50mm f1.8 and a sigma 18-35mm f.1.8. Although the 50mm suits for indoor sports with its fast aperture, it doesn't works when i m outside trying to do track & field or rugby. I now have a money for my own telephoto lens so i f left with two decision. A: a 70-200 f4; B. a 50-100 f1.8. Because i m shooting on a D7100 with APS-C sensor, i wont be able to get the same bokeh with 4 or 2.8 as full frame so i m really falling for the 1.8 but the focal length is what holding me back.

 

Thanks, 

 

You'll be shooting outdoors and mostly in daytime?  Get the 70-200 f/4, for the reach.  It will help you more than the 50-100 f/1.8.  Bokeh shouldn't matter to you much if your main goal is to capture the sports' action.  You don't need that much of a shallow DOF produced by f/1.8 in sports either.  Or if you can find a good condition 70-200 f/2.8.  Brand new might be out of your budget.

 

Also to consider, AF motor speed/performance and Image Stabilization.

[_thecrafter_18]

get the 50-100mm f/1.8 because with the crop factor of the D7100 it'll be equivalent to a 75-150 f/2.7 which should be perfect, almost twice as much light let in than the 70-200mm. The 70-200 f/4 would be a 105-300mm f/6 which is not so great at all. and yes IS and AF speed is a major consideration when getting a telephoto lens. I'd suggest hiring the lenses just to be sure you know which is right for you

[Brian Lu]

Thanks guy, i will give it more time but the advices are great. Again, many thanks. 

[xQubeZx]

I'd go for the 70-200 f/4 or a used 70-200 f/2.8 (they can be had for quite "cheap"). 

 

If you shoot outdoors in good light you won't need the extra stop of light. And I'd bet on the native glass to focus faster. The 70-200's are pro lenses used for sports all the time. They can take a beating and should be weather sealed. 

 

I can from experience say that 150 vs 300mm equivilent is quite large. And you will often find you want to shoot at the long end to get really close to the action. 

 

The 50-100 is good, but I don't think its the right tool for the job really. I rather see that one more for wildlife, cinematic video shots or portraits. 

[AkiraDaarkst]

1 hour ago, xQubeZx said:

I can from experience say that 150 vs 300mm equivilent is quite large. And you will often find you want to shoot at the long end to get really close to the action. 

Especially at any sort of sports field, be it football, rugby, american football, etc.  70-200, even if the equivalent is 105-300, is still better than not having the reach when you need it.

 

I see the 50-100 f/1.8 from Sigma as a portrait zoom lens.

[xQubeZx]

2 hours ago, AkiraDaarkst said:

Especially at any sort of sports field, be it football, rugby, american football, etc.  70-200, even if the equivalent is 105-300, is still better than not having the reach when you need it.

 

I see the 50-100 f/1.8 from Sigma as a portrait zoom lens.

Yes exactly. I see the sigma as a portrait lens or dslr "cine" zoom like the 18-35 basically is to a lot of people. 

[Brian Lu]

Thanks all of you for helping out. I think I will settle with 70-200mm f/4 or if I can find a good deal or save a little more money cause school are over and I can gather the cash through the summer. Thanks you guys again, really appreciated!

[AkiraDaarkst]

9 minutes ago, Brian Lu said:

Thanks all of you for helping out. I think I will settle with 70-200mm f/4 or if I can find a good deal or save a little more money cause school are over and I can gather the cash through the summer. Thanks you guys again, really appreciated!

Even a second hand 70-200 f4 in good condition will be useful, you don't need to buy new.  Just get one in good condition.