I just got invited to Wednesday at The Masters. Holy Crap! This will be my first trip to Augusta National. As a golf nut, I am super pumped. As an amateur photographer, I want to have great glass with me.

To that end, I am thinking of renting either of the following as an option to bringing my 70-300 IS:

- 70-200mm f/2.8L IS with a 1.4x or 2x TC; or
- 100-400mm IS (possibly with a 1.4x or 2x TC as well)

As much fun as it would be to rent a 300 2.8 IS or a 400 2.8 IS, lugging either of those around the course, even on a monopod, is not my idea of fun.

Whatever I rent has to fit in my Lowepro Nova 4 shoulder bag along with my 30D/grip and 17-55 IS.

What's your opinion? Is there another option out there that might be better?

Thanks in advance.

Jason

300 2.8 is only 2.5lbs heavier than the 70-200 .

I dunno, if you're gonna rent, I'd go for the 300 2.8.

That being said, I know less than nothing about shooting golf. Have fun!

Edit: You could always go with the 300 f/4 IS. It weighs less than all of them.

AhrenL wrote:
300 2.8 is only 2.5lbs heavier than the 70-200 .

I dunno, if you're gonna rent, I'd go for the 300 2.8.

That being said, I know less than nothing about shooting golf. Have fun!

Edit: You could always go with the 300 f/4 IS. It weighs less than all of them.

The long primes are too big to fit in my Lowepro Nova 4 AW bag, so they are out.

If I was getting paid for being there to shoot photos, you can bet your a** I would be renting a 1DMarkIII and a 400 2.8 IS...

many will disagree, but the 100-400L IS will produce sharper pictures than a 70-200 2.8 with a 2x telextender. Its a great lens and very versatile.

Nathan Hobbs wrote:
many will disagree, but the 100-400L IS will produce sharper pictures than a 70-200 2.8 with a 2x telextender. Its a great lens and very versatile.

The 100-400 is tempting, but I have the following concerns:

- The lens will not be fast enough if it's overcast, especially at the long end
- The gap in focal range between 55mm and 100mm may be undesirable
- I may not be good using a push/pull zoom having never used one
- A 70-200 2.8 IS with a 1.4x TC will get me to 280mm and f/4 which is faster than whatever the max aperture of the 100-400 is at 280mm

Decisions, decisions...

I would go with the 100-400. Even if it is an overcast day you will be plenty fine at 5.6, just bump up the ISO some and it will look great, the 40d can handle it. I often shoot with a 400 2.8 and a 2x at golf events, and even on dark rainy days I can still get s decent shutter speed at iso 800. You cannot shoot during a players back swing so you really do not need that high of shutter speeds--there really isn't that much motion to stop.

It is your most versatile option by far. I really doubt you are going to miss the 55-100mm range, it isn't that big, and I think you will either want to shoot wide pano type shots or tight, you are probably going to want as much length as possible.

Go for the 100-400. I concur with JohnG, that the 5.6 will be more than ample enough even on overcast days. Now if you wanted to capture the players swing, you can try and find an EOS-1N, that had a special feature made especially for Golf Shooters by Canon. Some of the older shooters on these boards, will have more knowledge about what I am referring to.

Whatever you decide to rent, don't shoot during Tiger's downswing!


Jason W wrote:
I just got invited to Wednesday at The Masters. Holy Crap! This will be my first trip to Augusta National. As a golf nut, I am super pumped. As an amateur photographer, I want to have great glass with me.

To that end, I am thinking of renting either of the following as an option to bringing my 70-300 IS:

- 70-200mm f/2.8L IS with a 1.4x or 2x TC; or
- 100-400mm IS (possibly with a 1.4x or 2x TC as well)

As much fun as it would be to rent a 300 2.8 IS or a 400 2.8 IS, lugging either of those around the course, even on a monopod, is not my idea of fun.

Whatever I rent has to fit in my Lowepro Nova 4 shoulder bag along with my 30D/grip and 17-55 IS.

What's your opinion? Is there another option out there that might be better?

Thanks in advance.

Jason

Jason W wrote:
To that end, I am thinking of renting either of the following as an option to bringing my 70-300 IS:

- 70-200mm f/2.8L IS with a 1.4x or 2x TC; or
- 100-400mm IS (possibly with a 1.4x or 2x TC as well)



100-400mm

I live on a golf course and shoot the tournaments there fairly often as well as those at Bay Hill. I'd rent the 70-200 F4L IS and a 1.4 TC. You'll have plenty of light and that combo will let you get as close as you need but will also let you back off to a 70 when you're close to the action. And that combo is much sharper than the 100-400.

My $.02.

Jim

Golf shooting question:
For an event like The Masters, do they even let you in with a DSLR and white lens if you are a spectator?

Thanks,
Mike

Mike John wrote:
Golf shooting question:
For an event like The Masters, do they even let you in with a DSLR and white lens if you are a spectator?

Yep, they do. Check here. Because Wednesday is a Practice Round

jdryan3 wrote:
Mike John wrote:
Golf shooting question:
For an event like The Masters, do they even let you in with a DSLR and white lens if you are a spectator?

Yep, they do. Check here. Because Wednesday is a Practice Round


AHHHHH!

Now I just need to find a bag that is only 10"W x 5"H x 5"D and that will fit a 30D w/ grip, 17-55 IS and 100-400 IS... any suggestions?

Jason that 10 x 5 x 5 refers to bag size. Nothing here to say you can not have the body with lens attached around your shoulder or neck. I'd personally get a 200 2.8 along with a 1.4

Beau Arnold wrote:
Jason that 10 x 5 x 5 refers to bag size. Nothing here to say you can not have the body with lens attached around your shoulder or neck. I'd personally get a 200 2.8 along with a 1.4

Good point. But I need to find a camera bag that fits within their dimensions, as I really don't want to have a camera around my neck all day.

Personally, since you are talking about renting a lens for golf, get the 300/2.8 IS. The lens will come in the little 'vanity' case. When you get to the event, leave the case in the car, put the 300/2.8 IS on a lens strap and leave it on your shoulder when you are not shooting with it. It isn't too heavy to carry all day and as long as you have some rain protection it won't get damaged. That should give you some amazing images since you have been invited to such a special event. Just my 2p worth.

Alistair Watson wrote:
Personally, since you are talking about renting a lens for golf, get the 300/2.8 IS. The lens will come in the little 'vanity' case. When you get to the event, leave the case in the car, put the 300/2.8 IS on a lens strap and leave it on your shoulder when you are not shooting with it. It isn't too heavy to carry all day and as long as you have some rain protection it won't get damaged. That should give you some amazing images since you have been invited to such a special event. Just my 2p worth.


I appreciate your suggestion. If I did that, I'd have too large of a gap between 55mm and 300mm. I think I'm set on renting the 100-400 IS...

No worries, thought I would suggest it anyway.

Hope your 'Golf day' is sunny, you will need it with the 100-400.

---

Edit : Why not try and rent a Sigma 120-300/2.8?

Much better than a 100-400 in case the light is rubbish and that will give you the flexibility you need with focal length.

Alistair Watson wrote:
No worries, thought I would suggest it anyway.

Hope your 'Golf day' is sunny, you will need it with the 100-400.

---

Edit : Why not try and rent a Sigma 120-300/2.8?

Much better than a 100-400 in case the light is rubbish and that will give you the flexibility you need with focal length.


Good thought on the 120-300 Sigma, but that dang thing weighs almost 6 pounds and I really don't want to carry a monopod around.

I'm still contemplating a 70-200 2.8 IS and a 1.4x TC...

The 100-400 will be better than a 70-200/2.8IS + TC (particularly the 2x--yuck).I've done both & the 70-200 will be a but faster & get you the reach, but will be fuzzy. The 100-400 is a bit more annoying to use, but gets results. Just bring a monopod to support it.

Of course considering the special opportunity, I'd go with the 300/2.8IS as well--it will flat outperform either of the other two choices. Worth the slight inconvenience of carrying it around--that only lasts the day, the shots last forever.

I suppose alot of it depends on what you want to achieve with your photos.

Something like a Sigma 120-300/2.8 or Canon 300/2.8 IS while heavy offer superb image quality, will enable you (if you want) to blur out the distracting crowd behind the player and allow you to shoot at a lot lower ISO to get a nice, fast shutter speed to freeze the swing and ball, sand cloud if the player is in a bunker etc.,

Just thought I would mention that, though I know you have discounted both of these due to weight and because you don't want to carry a 'pod around.

If the choice is between a 70-200/2.8 IS with either a 1.4x and 2x TC versus a 100-400 with possibly a 1.4x TC, I would recommend just the 100-400, forget the TC, because on your 30D you will lose AF with the TC fitted and thus reduce your max shutter speed too.

In good (sunny) light leave the 100-400 wide open or within a stop of wide open to give you a fast shutter speed, increase the ISO as needed. I am no golf photographer but I do shoot alot of other sports, so I would guess for the 'swing' you would need a shutter speed of at least 1/1000s to freeze the action.

Hope this helps.

Jason W wrote:
Whatever I rent has to fit in my Lowepro Nova 4 shoulder bag along with my 30D/grip and 17-55 IS.

What's your opinion? Is there another option out there that might be better?

Beau Arnold wrote:
Jason that 10 x 5 x 5 refers to bag size. Nothing here to say you can not have the body with lens attached around your shoulder or neck. I'd personally get a 200 2.8 along with a 1.4

No, the camera has to be in the bag. You'll be turned away with a lens and camera bigger than will fit in the bag. And no, no monopod.

Sorry to dash your dreams, but I don't want you to show up only to have to put your camera back in the car and waste money renting a lens. A 40D with a 24-105 IS might be about the biggest combo you could take (in a bag that's barely any larger), and even then it'll depend on which security guy screens you going in.

Either way, find the bag that's 10x5x5 and then find whatever combo will fit inside it. That's all you'll be allowed to take in... and they're VERY strict about it.

Erik Barzeski wrote:
No, the camera has to be in the bag. You'll be turned away with a lens and camera bigger than will fit in the bag. And no, no monopod.

Sorry to dash your dreams, but I don't want you to show up only to have to put your camera back in the car and waste money renting a lens. A 40D with a 24-105 IS might be about the biggest combo you could take (in a bag that's barely any larger), and even then it'll depend on which security guy screens you going in.

Either way, find the bag that's 10x5x5 and then find whatever combo will fit inside it. That's all you'll be allowed to take in... and they're VERY strict about it.

Erik, I figured they would be pretty strict about the bag size, but I didn't see anything on their website about tripods/monopods. Are you positive they won't allow a tripod/monopod on a practice round day? Sounds to me like you've been there recently?

How many 10x5x5 bags will they let one person take in? This is another item I didn't see mentioned. Implicitly it seems it would mean one per person, but it's a little vague.

Jason W wrote:
Erik, I figured they would be pretty strict about the bag size, but I didn't see anything on their website about tripods/monopods. Are you positive they won't allow a tripod/monopod on a practice round day? Sounds to me like you've been there recently?

Normal PGA Tour events (not that The Masters is bound by any PGA Tour policies) don't allow monopods/tripods. They could distract from the enjoyment of others, take up space, and could be used as weapons. The Masters is, if nothing else, even more sensitive to these kinds of things and will do everything possible to maintain a good atmosphere for everyone.

Pros (those with media credentials) will of course have monopods, big lenses, etc. "Patrons" casual photographers will not.

Jason W wrote:How many 10x5x5 bags will they let one person take in? This is another item I didn't see mentioned. Implicitly it seems it would mean one per person, but it's a little vague.

One.

I think it's dumb they don't spell things out more on their site, but those who attend once learn the rules. Again, I'd hate to hear that you had to walk all the way back to your car to return equipment.

Might I suggest you pack light, so as to guarantee admission, and just take a few casual pictures while spending most of your time _enjoying_ the golf course, the players you'll see, etc.?