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 p.1 #12 · 70-200 f/2.8 L II & 2.0EX III for Soccer? | |
morenoar wrote:
I have never shot with 5D, but I did shoot with a 10D many years ago. I used both the 100--400 and 70-200 2.8 IS (first edition) with both a 1.4 or 2x. Now, the 10D was slow as heck, compared to what is out now a days, but that is all I had. Without the converters, the lens focused fast. Adding the converters, there was a bit of difference in the focus factor. Even now with my 400, I notice a bit of difference with 2x converter. Not much with 1.4 converter. As for sharpness, there is a bit of difference. The converter made my shots a bit soft with the 70-200. With out the 2x converter, sharp and crisp. To me, I saw the difference. To the company I was working for,they saw the difference. Parents, all they saw was little Johnny or Suzie in a very clear action shot. They purchased many pictures, be it with or without the converters. Even the parents that had Digital Rebels with generic lense, saw the difference in our shots versus theres and they would by too. Even with the 2x converter, you may need to move up and down a bit so as when you crop, you don't crop heavy. I would have to go thru a boat load of pictures to find my samples, but as a parent (wife too) we like the results of 70-200 with and without the converters. My point is, NO WAY is the 5D2 slower than the 10D, I think...Show more →
I had a similar experience to morenoar (Hi Angel!) in that the extender affected the AF speed and accuracy on my 20D in a negative way. In the end, I decided it wasn't worth the tradeoff as my keeper rate suffered in spite of having the ebility to shoot goal line to goal line. I have shot many, many HS soccer matches with just the 70-200 (around 150,000 images) and usually come away with upwards of 1,000 images to choose from in a single match. I eventually did acquire a 400 f/5.6L and used it occasionally, but the 70-200 f/2.8L is the cornerstone of my soccer shooting kit.
If I were shooting a 1D Mkx, I would not likely be content to shoot HS soccer with a 70-200 f/2.8L, but the 1.6x crop factor on the xxD series bodies has worked out fine for me.
Depending on where the sun is coming from, I usually shoot from the touchline, about 30 yards up from the goal line, or behind the goal line with the sun behind me and the cleanest BG I can manage and let the action come to me. The times I have tried chasing the action, I spend more time chasing, and less time capturing.
The thing is that the (single) absolutely perfect youth soccer lens doesn't really exist. So, unless you're going to shoot with two rigs, you are stuck with living and dieing with what you get from whatever you choose.
The 100-400L is a great range, but I love me my f/2.8 aperture (YMMV). The Sigma 120-300 f/2.8 has a pretty satisfactory range, but it weighs upwards of 7lbs (IIRC) and costs over $2K. Though, if it was more in the price range of my beloved 70-200 f/2.8L, I would admittedly be tempted.
The xxD series biggest drawback as a sports rig is the 9 point AF system. Compared to something like a 1DMkIII (with something like 45 AF points), it isn't as accurate so keeper isn't what it could be. I usually just set to centerpoint only to take advantage of the high precision (when used with an f/2.8 lens) center point sensor and live with it knowing which focus point will be used.
Bottom line is that a 1.6x crop factor body with a 70-200 f/2.8L is plenty capable of getting you more than what you need and no single lens is the perfect all encompassing solution IMHO.
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Maybe I'll try to rent/borrow one of the extenders to give it a try.