Which lens to rent?

[ThurlFan]

Going to a swim meet soon, and looking at renting either the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM ($54/week) or the Canon EF 135mm f/2.0L USM ($39/wk) for the event. At last year's meet I had some decent results with my XSi and the 50mm f/1.8 but I would like to get closer to the action. Looking back at the pictures, I see I had my best results at 1/320 sec, f/2.2 and ISO 800 (the XSi only goes up to 1600). I didn't use the ISO 1600 for fear of high noise, but recently shot some pics at a wrestling meet at 1600 and was pleasantly surprised.

On the one hand, the 135 will more than double my reach and still give me the wider aperture that I was successful with last year. On the other hand, the 70-200 will give me flexibility to zoom (or not) based on where I sit and whether I am able to physically get closer to the athletes - but sacrifices nearly a full stop which would have to be compensated for with slower shutter speed. What to do...what to do...

Now entertaining thoughts from the peanut gallery...



PS: Whichever I choose, I'll pick it up in person so there's no shipping charge to contend with.

 

[Frantasmic]

I have the XSi and rented the 135 for volleyball last fall. I fell in love with the lens and would love to purchase my own copy.

It is a great lens. I'll see if I can post some examples when I get home.

 

[annnewjerz]

If you can find a set location to shoot from where the 135 works, I'd go with that only because of weight and a little extra speed. The 70-200 is much more versatile for getting some wide pictures of the pool and swimmers/divers and will also allow for some closer shots when they are about to go or pop up from the water.

Having used a zoom for shooting shows in Disney last year and a long prime this year, it's definitely trickier and a little more limiting, but I was happy with what I got with the prime when I got a good spot to shoot from.

 

[mom2rtk]

Hey Thurl fan...... where are you located that you can pick one up in person?

 

[ThurlFan]

mom2rtk, I work in the KC metro (Kansas side) so I'm reasonably close to the home office for rentglass(dot)com in Overland Park. They don't advertise it on their website but when I called them they said you can select in-person pickup at checkout. I was also told that you must specify a one hour window during which you will arrive to pick up your item(s).

 

[mom2rtk]

mom2rtk, I work in the KC metro (Kansas side) so I'm reasonably close to the home office for rentglass(dot)com in Overland Park. They don't advertise it on their website but when I called them they said you can select in-person pickup at checkout. I was also told that you must specify a one hour window during which you will arrive to pick up your item(s).

I thought you were close to KC. That's very helpful. I might be looking to rent something for my son's high school graduation, so knowing that's possible will help.

You'll have to post back and let us know what you got and how it works out. I thinking of renting for the extra reach, as the graduation will be in the big Community of Christ auditorium here in Independence. We won't know until we get there how close we'll be. I have a Sigma 50-150 2.8 non IS, but I'm just not sure that will be long enough.

Thanks!

 

[bob100]

Going to a swim meet soon, and looking at renting either the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM ($54/week) or the Canon EF 135mm f/2.0L USM ($39/wk) for the event. At last year's meet I had some decent results with my XSi and the 50mm f/1.8 but I would like to get closer to the action. Looking back at the pictures, I see I had my best results at 1/320 sec, f/2.2 and ISO 800 (the XSi only goes up to 1600). I didn't use the ISO 1600 for fear of high noise, but recently shot some pics at a wrestling meet at 1600 and was pleasantly surprised.

On the one hand, the 135 will more than double my reach and still give me the wider aperture that I was successful with last year. On the other hand, the 70-200 will give me flexibility to zoom (or not) based on where I sit and whether I am able to physically get closer to the athletes - but sacrifices nearly a full stop which would have to be compensated for with slower shutter speed. What to do...what to do...

Now entertaining thoughts from the peanut gallery...



PS: Whichever I choose, I'll pick it up in person so there's no shipping charge to contend with.

I would go along with the 135 f2 rental but don't be afraid to use 1600 ISO, the XSi can actually go above 1600, use an image editing program and push the exposure in post processing

 

[ThurlFan]

Thanks for the responses. Both the lenses I mentioned in the OP are out of stock at the moment, but the Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM is available. Since the meet is this weekend I may have to pull the trigger on that one just so I have something in addition to my 'nifty fifty' to work with. If the 135 is restocked by the end of the day I'll go with that one instead.

 

[Marlton Mom]

Hi Thurl,
I'm in the process of deciding on my next lens and I too am going back and forth between 2 lenses. One of the things that I have found helpful is to check out sites that have tested the lens and read their reviews. Since I am obsessed with sharpness I am leaning towards a lens that can deliver that quality as opposed to a wider zoom range. By checking out the tests you might be able to read info that would help with your decision.

Good luck!
Marlton Mom

 

[ThurlFan]

I called the shop and the 135 is out for another 7-10 days so it won't be available. The 70-200 f/2.8 IS USM is due back tonight, and the 200 prime f/2.8 is also available but not image stabilized. The zoom ($60) will cost nearly twice as much to rent as the prime. As dark as I expect it to be in the natatorium, should I splurge to get the IS? I guess the other reason I'm leaning toward the zoom is I'm not going to have a lot of freedom of movement - I'll just be another family member in attendance, not a credentialed photographer.

PS: Thanks for the tip, Marlton Mom...until I went and looked at reviews I didn't realize that the 200mm prime was not image stabilized!

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

Is this a high school event? Getting "press" credentials might be easier then you think.

I was able to score football sideline passes to my step son's high school football games by talking to the booster club. All I had to agree to was getting them a couple of shots (which wound up going in their newsletter and the yearbook).

Go ahead and give the AD at the school if you don't know anybody on the booster committee. Again, you would be surprised. If you told them you were going to rent a big lens like you are, you might just get an all access pass to mvoe around the area.

 

[ThurlFan]

Is this a high school event?

Yep, state championships (Kansas). I'll tell SIL (my nephew is the reason I'm going) to ask the coach about it ASAP. She's very active as a booster as well as parent.

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

State championships might be a bit trickier than a meet at the local school but it's still worth the shot. Good luck

 

[ThurlFan]

Day one finished, not a lot of time for PP yet, but here's one I got from the end of the pool opposite the starting block...After all the discussion (all unput appreciated BTW) the only one in stock was the Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM so that's what I'm using.

 

[Marlton Mom]

Great shot! Hopefully there will be more meets and more opportunities to give different rental lens configurations a shot. One advantage to shooting with a fixed focal length is that it forces you to think exclusively like that lens. Since you have experience with these meets do you find yourself positioning to work the lens? Did you score a sideline pass? This shot really showcases the advantage of using a 200. Are you using any other lenses in addition to this?

I can't wait to see what you capture!!!

~MM

 

[ThurlFan]

The only other thing I have in the arsenal is the 50mm f/1.8

Yes, I did get permission to shoot poolside
I walked around the perimeter with the 200m lens, then I sat down with the program before the events began and wrote in where I wanted to stand and which lens to use based on which lane each of the kids I wanted to photograph were going to be in. Shot from both sides, and the far end as they day went on. Really worked up a sweat by the end of the meet going from vantage point to vantage point between heats...

 

[Marlton Mom]

The only other thing I have in the arsenal is the 50mm f/1.8

Yes, I did get permission to shoot poolside
I walked around the perimeter with the 200m lens, then I sat down with the program before the events began and wrote in where I wanted to stand and which lens to use based on which lane each of the kids I wanted to photograph were going to be in. Shot from both sides, and the far end as they day went on. Really worked up a sweat by the end of the meet going from vantage point to vantage point between heats...

That sounds like an awesome plan. I can relate to the working up a sweat thing. When I was taking pictures for my son's school I would be covering the same events year after year so I got really good at anticipating locations that I wanted to shoot from and shots that I wanted to get. Then I would target the students or teachers that were the most reactive.

A sports event is way tougher because everything is happening so fast and moving at such great distances, photographically speaking.

Did you have any depth of field issues with the 50? I'm still trying to get a feel for that lens (35mm 1.8) on my Nikon D90. The depth of field is really small at the smaller apertures so I'm trying to reckon how one comes to terms with opening the lens up to shoot in difficult lighting circumstances while still trying to preserve a certain level of clarity in the photographs. I almost feel like I need to be on a tripod or have a very static subject with that lens opened up. Oh well.... everything is a compromise isn't it??

Thanks for taking the time to share this experience with us!

Marlton Mom

 

[mom2rtk]

No matter how you ended up getting that lens, by choice or default.......

You did it proud!

Great shot Can't wait to see more!