Help with Lens

[SamSam]

I'm pretty new to this board (just purchased a Nikon DSLR), but have been following for a few weeks and have found you all to be very informative and helpful.
I actually would like your opinion on a lens for our son. He has a Canon EOS Rebel and only has the stock lens it came with. With several young children in sports, mainly jiu jitsu (so inside most of the time), he can't get close enough shots while at tournaments. I'm thinking of picking him up a lens on ebay and would like your opinion of the following, either a SIGMA 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC or a SIGMA 28-200mm f:3.8-5.6. It looks like the price will probably end up around $200.

I've read comments here that some consider the SIGMA to be a good lens. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[mom2rtk]

Neither of these would be a great choice for indoor action shots. He's going to need something with a larger aperture (smaller f stop like f1.8 or f2.8). There are some reasonably priced larger aperture lenses out there, but these tend to be primes (fixed focal length) instead of zoom. The larger aperture zooms are more expensive.

How close does he get?

 

[disneyboy2003]

mom2rtk is right. There are a few things you'll need to shoot great sports / jiu jitsu photos. I'm assuming that jiu jitsu is indoors.

Again, we always refer back to the 3 things that make up a picture's exposure: shutter speed, aperture, and ISO.

First, you'll need fast shutter speed. This is probably pretty obvious. Fast shutter speeds help to stop the action and avoid motion blur.

However, to get fast shutter speed, especially in lower-light situations (such as for jiu jitsu), you'll need larger apertures (smaller f-numbers) to let more light into your camera and you'll need higher ISOs to increase the sensitivity of your sensor to light.

The 2 lenses that you list have pretty small apertures. They're great for daytime photography, when there's lots of light outside. Because of this, many people buy these lenses for travel photography: you get a great zoom range and it's great for daytime. However, for indoor / lower-light photography, the smaller apertures make it very tough to take good sports photos.

You'll need to look for a lens with large apertures (small f-numbers). You'll want at least f/2.8 or larger (smaller f-number). Again, larger apertures let more light into the camera, thus allowing you to use faster shutter speeds. That's why large-aperture lenses are often called "fast lenses". Fast lenses are ideal for sports photography.

You mentioned that your son will be farther away from the action. Ask your son to see what focal ranges he typically uses when he's taking pictures during jiu jitsu. Here are a few options for lenses:

• Canon 50mm f/1.8, $100 - your best value! (link to B&H)
• Canon 50mm f/1.4, $370 (link to B&H)
• Canon 85mm f/1.8, $379 (link to B&H)
• Canon 100mm f/2, $435 (link to B&H)

Note the larger apertures (smaller f-numbers) of these lenses. All these apertures are larger than f/2.8 (ie. all the f-numbers are smaller than f/2.8). That's what you're looking for. Also, please note that these are prime lenses (ie. fixed focal length), so there is no zooming with these lenses.

If you're looking for *zoom* lenses that are also large aperture, then you're gonna be paying a LOT more. First, the largest aperture zoom lens will be f/2.8. There are no zoom lenses with larger apertures than that.

If you've got $1800 to spare, you can go for the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 lens with image stabilization (link to B&H). This is a very popular lens for professionals and some sports photographers. I believe that Sigma has an equivalent lens for about $800 (link to Adorama). I think this lens has no image stabilization.

Anyway, that's kind of the thought process on what to look for in a lens for indoor sports photography. Hope that helps.

 

[SamSam]

Wow! You've been very helpful, and I've ever so glad that I posted my question here before taking a leap into buying a lens when I still have so much to learn. I've printed out your replies and will talk to my son before doing anything.

I guess always having just used a point and shoot, I assumed that he would need a telephoto to get the shots he wanted. So much to learn!

 

[mom2rtk]

Better to know now than after purchasing the wrong lens!

The right equipment will make all the difference.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

Sigma has announced the new 70-200mm f2.8 stablilized lens for Canon with delivery this spring. The official release date is not available yet. If you can wait, this is the lens I would recommend. I purchased the non-stabilized macro version (I have in-camera stabilization-Pentax) in December for $899. I don't know if that is in your price range, but this is the lens that will work. The 70-200mm 2.8 (all brands) is one of the more popular 'sports' lenses out there. I use it for my DGD indoor iceskating and night auto racing pics. While indoor arenas appear to have adequate lighting, camera-wise, they do not. I tried to use an f4 lens indoors and it just didn't cut it with the exposure and stop action.

 

[SamSam]

Sigma has announced the new 70-200mm f2.8 stablilized lens for Canon with delivery this spring. The official release date is not available yet. If you can wait, this is the lens I would recommend. I purchased the non-stabilized macro version (I have in-camera stabilization-Pentax) in December for $899. I don't know if that is in your price range, but this is the lens that will work. The 70-200mm 2.8 (all brands) is one of the more popular 'sports' lenses out there. I use it for my DGD indoor iceskating and night auto racing pics. While indoor arenas appear to have adequate lighting, camera-wise, they do not. I tried to use an f4 lens indoors and it just didn't cut it with the exposure and stop action.

Good to know. After talking with my husband, he is saying if we get that nice of a lens it will be for our new camera. can't disagree with that!
Your suggestion of the new Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 sounds like a nice first upgrade for us. As I'm typing this I realize we have a Nikon, our son has the Canon....will Sigma lens work for Nikon?

 

[disneyboy2003]

As I'm typing this I realize we have a Nikon, our son has the Canon....will Sigma lens work for Nikon?

Sigma makes lenses that are specific for different camera brands. So Sigma lenses that are specific for Canon cameras won't work on Nikon cameras. Likewise, Sigma lenses that are specific for Nikon cameras won't work on Canon cameras.

In general, lenses that are specific for one particular brand usually won't work on a different brand's camera. (however, there exists an adapter that will let Nikon lenses be attached to Canon cameras, but I don't think there's an adapter for Canon lenses to be attached to Nikon cameras)

 

[Master Mason]

If you've got $1800 to spare, you can go for the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 lens with image stabilization (link to B&H). This is a very popular lens for professionals and some sports photographers. I believe that Sigma has an equivalent lens for about $800 (link to Adorama). I think this lens has no image stabilization.

Anyway, that's kind of the thought process on what to look for in a lens for indoor sports photography. Hope that helps.

Image stabalization isn't going to be helpful in this situation, and therefore you don't really need to pay for it. By the time you have gotten a fast enough shutter speed, to freeze the action, you have taken camera shake out of the equation.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

It will be coming out in the Nikon mount. I have attached the Sigma blurb. As Master Mason stated, in some cases the OS is not needed, but there may be times when it will and if you don't have it you may kick yourself. They have not released the price yet. If you don't want the OS, eventually you may be able to find a non-stabilized lens cheaper.

http://www.sigmaphoto.com/shop/70-200mm-f28-ex-dg-os-hsm-sigma