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Archive 2016 · Youth Baseball : lens swap?

  
 
daronk
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Youth Baseball : lens swap?


For youth baseball on a 50/70 field would you swap a
AF-S 300/2.8 D IF-ED
for a
AF-S VR 200-400mm f/4G IF-ED


I have a 1.4 ext. and current body is D300. Considering D500.

Thanks



Jan 26, 2016 at 09:21 AM
Trevorma
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Youth Baseball : lens swap?


A couple of questions:

1) Are these games during the day only?

2) Do you use the 300mm 2.8 at any night events / sports?

3) Do you foresee the games you currently shoot being shot under the lights?

If you need shots in bad lights or at night then I would keep the 300, if not then I would lean towards the 200-400.



Jan 26, 2016 at 09:37 AM
Game Changer
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Youth Baseball : lens swap?


Depends.

For day baseball or night games with good lighting I use the 200-400mm f/4.
For night baseball with bad lighting I go with the 300mm or 400mm f/2.8.



Jan 26, 2016 at 09:38 AM
daronk
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Youth Baseball : lens swap?


Most will be during the day. A few tournament games at night but majority during the day. I added the part about considering the D500 hoping that the higher ISO over the D300 negates the difference from f/2.8 to f/4. When using the 300/f2.8 I try for f4 to keep more of the play in focus anyways.

Unless I'm working with 2 bodies...doesn't the added functionality of the zoom allow for better framing of shots between all the bases, ie 1st to 3rd standing at the outfield end of either dugout?



Jan 26, 2016 at 10:28 AM
Nuchuga
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Youth Baseball : lens swap?


Beyond this season, consider the future. How often will you shoot at night or in poor lighting? Also, you have to remember that while the 200-400 has zoom versatility, the 300 has overall versatility. If you were to ever shoot sports like volleyball or basketball, the 300 will shine where the 200-400 really wont work out. Even if you buy a new body that has better ISO IQ, your still going to want to minimize ISO needed. And with sports especially, Id rather sacrifice the zoom range in order to keep a higher shutter speed and lower ISO. IMO id keep the 300!


Jan 26, 2016 at 11:27 AM
Trevorma
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Youth Baseball : lens swap?


Nuchuga wrote:
Beyond this season, consider the future. How often will you shoot at night or in poor lighting? Also, you have to remember that while the 200-400 has zoom versatility, the 300 has overall versatility. If you were to ever shoot sports like volleyball or basketball, the 300 will shine where the 200-400 really wont work out. Even if you buy a new body that has better ISO IQ, your still going to want to minimize ISO needed. And with sports especially, Id rather sacrifice the zoom range in order to keep a higher shutter speed and lower ISO. IMO id
...Show more

IMO the above statement couldn't be more wrong. If I have the light I opt for the 200-400 every day of the week and twice on Sunday's. The 300mm 2.8 is not more versatile, but it does have 2.8. In my experience the difference in IQ and depth of field is worth having the zoom.

If I were shooting volleyball and basketball in great light I think the 200-400 would work a lot better than the 300 prime.. The ability to zoom in and out as basketball players run down the court towards you, or zooming in on a "setter" in volleyball, then zoom out to the blockers at the net.....

The 200-400 wins versatility by a mile..... but it's an f4 lens.



Jan 26, 2016 at 12:20 PM
daronk
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Youth Baseball : lens swap?


Some more info...I also have an AF 80-200/2.8 D ED (2 ring) so that on my D300 if I get a D500 could be another setup.


Jan 26, 2016 at 12:27 PM
Nuchuga
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Youth Baseball : lens swap?


Trevorma wrote:
IMO the above statement couldn't be more wrong. If I have the light I opt for the 200-400 every day of the week and twice on Sunday's. The 300mm 2.8 is not more versatile, but it does have 2.8. In my experience the difference in IQ and depth of field is worth having the zoom.

If I were shooting volleyball and basketball in great light I think the 200-400 would work a lot better than the 300 prime.. The ability to zoom in and out as basketball players run down the court towards you, or zooming in on a "setter" in
...Show more

I understand what your saying, but again, its all about opinion. When i shoot basketball, I shoot using 3 bodies, 1 remote, 1 with a 70-200, and one with a 300 and so I have everything covered up to 300, and at the point, anything beyond that is too tight. If you were shooting with single setup, yes, the 200-400 would be easier to frame and overall would be more versatile, however in my case, I need to do whatever I can to keep my lenses as fast as possible!




Jan 26, 2016 at 01:04 PM
R Schwarz
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Youth Baseball : lens swap?


I switched from a 300mm f4.0 to a 100-400 zoom late last summer. I shoot youth baseball, soccer and swimming mostly outdoors, daytime. My concern using the 300mm was how similar the pictures were. I really liked the versatility and extra range for youth soccer. You can’t put an extender on as play develops towards you in a soccer game. Youth Baseball plays can be pretty repetitive, the zoom gives a gallery a lot more variety. Go back and look at your pictures from a few games, what do you want to change?
Richard



Jan 26, 2016 at 06:46 PM
leewoolery
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Youth Baseball : lens swap?


daronk wrote:
For youth baseball on a 50/70 field would you swap a
AF-S 300/2.8 D IF-ED
for a
AF-S VR 200-400mm f/4G IF-ED

I have a 1.4 ext. and current body is D300. Considering D500.

Thanks


Do you have the opportunity to trade a 300 f/2.8 for a 200-400?

Why don't you rent or borrow a 200-400 and then make a decision based on what works best for your shooting style?

The zoom capability of that lens is almost perfect for baseball on smaller fields with a full-frame camera and I've shot ice hockey, rodeo, horse shows and night football with it using a D3 and D3s at ISO 6400-10,000. It just depends on how well the field or arena is lit to allow focusing at f/4 on a D300?

Another solution is one of the newer Sigma 120-300's. I've used that lens alot for indoor and night sports.

Hopefully the AF and high ISO performance of the D500 would allow you to use the 200-400 day or night with no problems.

Good luck with your decision,

Lee




Jan 26, 2016 at 10:57 PM
jd29
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Youth Baseball : lens swap?


I am selling my D4 for $3200 if that would interest you. My experience is unless you are at an awesome facility you cant get much at night even at 2.8 and especially not the quality of a daytime shot and I've shot a ton of travel softball and high school sports. I usuallly use my Sigma 120-300mm 2.8


Jan 27, 2016 at 12:42 AM
Marty Bingham
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Youth Baseball : lens swap?


Is this a hypothetical trade or is someone actually offering to trade with you? Either way I'd go with the 200-400.

If one stop takes a shooter out of the game both lenses are probably over their head anyway.

Marty



Jan 27, 2016 at 05:24 AM
daronk
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Youth Baseball : lens swap?


leewoolery wrote:
Do you have the opportunity to trade a 300 f/2.8 for a 200-400?
...


Marty Bingham wrote:
Is this a hypothetical trade or is someone actually offering to trade with you? ...


No actual trade being offered. I've seen a few for sale that sparked my interest. I guess I should go to the field and reframe shots to the opposing base from each possible vantage spot to determine if 100mm will make or break a shot. Use the 1.4 ext. on the 300 to simulate the 400mm reach.

Thoughts were that the zoom would allow me to only use one body. But moving up to a D500 would free up my D300 for a second setup. 300mm on D500 and 80-200mm on D300.

Also thoughts between 2.8 and 4 is that the increase in ISO capabilities from the D300 to the D500 cancels each other out. Meaning as I lose daylight going to say ISO 6400 allows me to stay with f/4 on the D500 where I have to pack it up with the D300. But a 2.8 is still a 2.8.



Jan 28, 2016 at 11:03 AM
jd29
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Youth Baseball : lens swap?


the problem I've found with HS baseball and most if not all little league parks is your shutter speed even at 2.8 might be less than 1/500 so you can stop action and flash is a no no


Jan 28, 2016 at 01:19 PM





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