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DaveG40
enthusiast


Reged: 21/07/2007
Posts: 252
Best budget sports lens
      #711108 - 25/09/2008 22:39

Hi All

Can't remember if I've already asked this one, as I've asked so many questions about superzooms etc, so apologies if I have repeated myself:

Having researched and tinkered with various lenses over the last year I'm less stressed when trying to decide on a lens, as I don't know about anyone else but trying to decide on a lens and then looking at the price can be a bit disconcerting, anyway as well as my kit lens & 50mm Prime I have 2 cracking lenses that are used the most: A sigma 28-200 f/3.5-f/5.6 (which is on 90% of the time) and the bargain lens of all time, the Tamron 55-200 (it only cost me £70 brand new), which is put on for fast action shooting, I'd really like to bring my football action shots on and to do that I'm really going to need a faster lens, does anyone have any suggestions for a lens that can improve on my Tamron's & at less than £300 ?. The beercan, minolta 100-300 and a few others are being considered and I'd really like to know which one would be the better option.


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Roger_Provins
Made-it Man


Reged: 22/10/2005
Posts: 3059
Loc: Gloucester, UK
Re: Best budget sports lens [Re: DaveG40]
      #711178 - 26/09/2008 10:10

Hi Dave,

Problem is that for many sports one really need a longish fast (f2.8) zoom = expensive! So to manage on a tight budget means compromise. All things considered I'd say get a "beercan", if 210mm is long enough for you, it's the fastest (f4) at that length that'll you'll get for the money.

--------------------
Rog


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RonM



Reged: 26/04/2001
Posts: 3722
Loc: Scotland
Re: Best budget sports lens [Re: Roger_Provins]
      #711181 - 26/09/2008 10:32

Dave, I'd agree with Roger, at that sort of money, £300ish, the sort of fast f/2.8 or f/4 Telephotos or Telezooms are probably out of your price range. I've got a 'beercan' 70 - 210 f/4 and it is a great lens, however I don't think it would be my first choice for footie, I'd be more likely to use my 300 f/4 (£600+ S/H)
One lens you did mention which is highly rated is Minoltas 100 - 300 APO as is the 100 - 400 APO, however, they are rare as to availability on the S/H & e-bay markets for just that reason.
It looks like the 'beercan' is going to be your best option, unless you see an older S/H Tamron/Tokina 70 - 200 f/2.8 'A' mount lens going for around the limit of your price range.
Best of luck in your search.

Unless Rog would be willing to loan you his 70 - 300 SSM G lens

--------------------
Ron NRIPN
Everyone has a photographic memory, some don't have Film or Digital Memory.
Life is a Learning Opportunity


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DaveG40
enthusiast


Reged: 21/07/2007
Posts: 252
Re: Best budget sports lens [Re: RonM]
      #711186 - 26/09/2008 10:51

Thanks for the response guys, I'll keep an eye on ebay & ffordes.

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Dorset_Mike
Gadget Man


Reged: 11/05/2006
Posts: 1839
Loc: Poole, Dorset.
Re: Best budget sports lens [Re: RonM]
      #711196 - 26/09/2008 11:18

How much do you rely on auto focus? Could you cope with focussing manually given a focus confirm light in the view finder?

If so it may be worth considering a fast M42 fit prime with a chipped adapter, they did manage with them before AF, you should be able to find 300/2.8 or 300/4 there were also a few longer like 400/4 and 500/5.6, various makes, Japanese, German and Russian, the latter often being Zeiss copies. At least with primes you only have to focus, manual focus zooms would maybe slow you down a bit though for action shots!

--------------------
Cheers, MIKE



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DaveG40
enthusiast


Reged: 21/07/2007
Posts: 252
Re: Best budget sports lens [Re: Dorset_Mike]
      #711223 - 26/09/2008 13:06

I had'nt really given MF much thought, I'll try it out tomorrow and will see if that opens up new avenues, I had thought about adding a x2 telecon to my f/1.7 prime, with the crop factor I'd probably be looking at about 170mm, the question is would the 2 be compatible & would it really matter if I get cosy with MF ?. Any idea what the f-stop would be on a 50mm + x2 convertor combo ?.

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RonM



Reged: 26/04/2001
Posts: 3722
Loc: Scotland
Re: Best budget sports lens [Re: DaveG40]
      #711264 - 26/09/2008 16:18

Quote:

Any idea what the f-stop would be on a 50mm + x2 convertor combo ?.




Dave a 2 times converter will lose you two stops so the f/1.7 will be something around f/4.5 - 5.6, Oh and with the crop factor of a Sony the 50mm plus 2x will give the 35mm equivalent of a 150mm.

The 70 - 210 f/4 'beercan' will give better results even at wide open throughout the zoom range than your 50mm + 2x, also with the crop factor the beercan will give you an equivalent 105 - 315mm f/4 lens. Check out the image I posted Here
EXIF :- ISO 100, 1/500th, f/5.6, focal length 150mm (225 equivalent) on my Minolta Dynax 7D taken from approx 30+ metres away

--------------------
Ron NRIPN
Everyone has a photographic memory, some don't have Film or Digital Memory.
Life is a Learning Opportunity


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