Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
p.1 #1Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
Yep, you read that heading right. Tape. IMO, it can be a useful tool for helping new or newer photographers improve their images. How? By taping the zoom of a lens like a 70-200 to 200 and leaving it there. I could go on explaining this concept, but it's in the video! I can say that every photographer I've suggested doing this has reported back that they did appreciate that it forced them to shoot tighter and think about how to shoot tighter.
Thoughts? (And yes, you can tell me I'm crazy and it won't hurt my feelings!)
https://youtu.be/n_NFjixOqwU
Thoughts? (And yes, you can tell me I'm crazy and it won't hurt my feelings!)
https://youtu.be/n_NFjixOqwU
Dec 16, 2025 at 10:27 PM
p.1 #2Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
Always good to make yourself shoot tight! Thanks for sharing your video and taking time to teach others, Scott.
Dec 17, 2025 at 07:06 AM
p.1 #3Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
Initially when I watched this, I thought to myself "pffft, I don't need tape to keep it at 200 and shoot tight." (70-200)
Then I tried, and out of bad habit for relying too much on cropping, I almost immediately zoomed back out as the subjects approached me.
I will try this now
Then I tried, and out of bad habit for relying too much on cropping, I almost immediately zoomed back out as the subjects approached me.
I will try this now
Dec 17, 2025 at 12:38 PM
p.1 #4Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
I have also taped the vertical grip dials on some of my bodies so I don't accident change settings, but can still use the shutter button.
Dec 17, 2025 at 10:35 PM
p.1 #5Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
Might be a good learning technique for new action shooters but I've shot a ton of baseball and if I locked my zoom down (70-200/crop sensor ie: ~105-350mm) I'd miss so many shots as guys are coming off the field, high fiving on their way into the dugout etc....
My 2nd body is on a 400 2.8 (toggling in and out of crop/full frame as needed) so I get my share of shooting tight.
My 2nd body is on a 400 2.8 (toggling in and out of crop/full frame as needed) so I get my share of shooting tight.
Dec 22, 2025 at 08:59 PM
p.1 #6Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
Caleb Williams wrote:
I have also taped the vertical grip dials on some of my bodies so I don't accident change settings, but can still use the shutter button.
I used to get frustrated with both the main dials and vertical grip dials until I learned I could lock them on the Z8 and Z9 without going into the menu!
I have also taped the vertical grip dials on some of my bodies so I don't accident change settings, but can still use the shutter button.
I used to get frustrated with both the main dials and vertical grip dials until I learned I could lock them on the Z8 and Z9 without going into the menu!
Dec 22, 2025 at 10:47 PM
p.1 #7Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
VarsIQMedia wrote:
Caleb Williams wrote
I have also taped the vertical grip dials on some of my bodies so I don't accident change settings, but can still use the shutter button.Interesting. I don't think such a feature exists on Canon cameras other than the ability to turn all of the controls off.
I had this issue more with the 1Dx series rather than the 1DX series or R3. Perhaps the dials were worn or those bodies have different tolerances.
Edited on Dec 23, 2025 at 12:19 PM · View previous versions
Dec 23, 2025 at 10:36 AM
p.1 #8Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
I am using my 200 f/2 for some basketball games this year...no zooming at those games.
Dec 23, 2025 at 11:45 AM
p.1 #9Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
more pro tip,
tape two pieces of foil to the lens, one to the zoom ring set at 180 and the other piece on the body.
wire to 9volt battery negative to one piece, and the other piece to positive. hot glue the battery to the bottom of your lens.
Dont let the lesson be reactive. make it an active learning situation.
I think the other issue that happens too often is folks are not anticipating properly so they are wide shooting and hoping to crop to success.
tape two pieces of foil to the lens, one to the zoom ring set at 180 and the other piece on the body.
wire to 9volt battery negative to one piece, and the other piece to positive. hot glue the battery to the bottom of your lens.
Dont let the lesson be reactive. make it an active learning situation.
I think the other issue that happens too often is folks are not anticipating properly so they are wide shooting and hoping to crop to success.
Dec 23, 2025 at 02:19 PM
p.1 #10Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
When shooting basketball, location can be limited so the photographers ability to shoot tight without cutting off body parts becomes variable. Just something to keep in mind.
Mar 08, 2026 at 03:01 PM
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p.1 #11Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
I feel like this depends on the sport. At some point photographers can just graduate from a 70-200 to a prime of some sort. I think forcing yourself to stick to 200 on the 70-200 Is definitely an exercise you can do, but I don’t know how much that can improve your photography. At that point, just swap it out for a prime. And I wonder if there’s a way to calculate what focal length equivalent you end up cropping into and then you could figure out What the most common set of values is and then you get a prime in that range
Mar 17, 2026 at 09:44 PM
p.1 #12Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
You should sell your 70-200 and get a Sigma 200mm f/2.0. I prefer the zoom.
Jul 18, 2026 at 03:20 PM
p.1 #13Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
Sorry, i don't like this idea, i am lucky and not lucky to have 300mm and 70-200mm, unlucky is that i don't have longer than 300mm such as 400mm or 600mm, but lucky to have a prime lens ana a zoom lens, a zoom lens called a zoom for a purpose, and when i want to shoot tight i just simply use my 300mm lens or 135mm prime is i do indoors sometimes in the past, so no thanks, keep that "TAPE" to yourself with all respect 
Jul 18, 2026 at 10:22 PM
p.1 #14Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
Yeah. I will pass the TAPE business
Jul 19, 2026 at 11:25 AM
p.1 #15Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
With all due respect to your opinions, I think you are missing the point of Scott's video.
This is not something photographers will continue to use forever, but it's a tool to help you improve as a sports photographer. In fact, Scott has been highly complimentary of the Canon 200-400mm f/4 with built-in TC.
This is not something photographers will continue to use forever, but it's a tool to help you improve as a sports photographer. In fact, Scott has been highly complimentary of the Canon 200-400mm f/4 with built-in TC.
Jul 19, 2026 at 01:34 PM
p.1 #16Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
Caleb Williams wrote:
With all due respect to your opinions, I think you are missing the point of Scott's video.
This is not something photographers will continue to use forever, but it's a tool to help you improve as a sports photographer. In fact, Scott has been highly complimentary of the Canon 200-400mm f/4 with built-in TC.
Wow I had no idea the OP didn’t intend to turn a zoom into a fixed focal length. Thanks!
With all due respect to your opinions, I think you are missing the point of Scott's video.
This is not something photographers will continue to use forever, but it's a tool to help you improve as a sports photographer. In fact, Scott has been highly complimentary of the Canon 200-400mm f/4 with built-in TC.
Wow I had no idea the OP didn’t intend to turn a zoom into a fixed focal length. Thanks!
Jul 19, 2026 at 09:35 PM
p.1 #17Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
I agree with Scott.
We all know the 70-200MM 2.8 is the default “first pro lens” for aspiring sports photographers. And for good reason. It’s fast and extremely versatile.
But my guess is that I’m not the only one who has seen a newer photographer using the 70-200 as something of a “crutch.” The newer – and often tentative – parent photographer stands in one place the entire game zooming in and out. They finish with a gallery of images all taken from the same place and angle but at varying focal lengths. That’s not a knock. We all start somewhere.
But used “improperly” the 70-200mm can lead to some bad habits and lazy pictures by virtue of its sheer versatility: the proverbial double-edged sword. Like many here I can look at a gallery of pictures and fairly confidentially say, “these were taken with a 70-200.”
On occasion, I teach a sports photography for beginners class, and I admonish any student who has a 70-200 as their primary - and a venue that allows them to change positions – to move at least 10 feet (preferably far more) every 10 minutes and/or to a higher or lower position. Do that and the 70-200 becomes a powerful tool.
I'm an old guy who has been at this for quite awhile. My lens kit is built out. And I'm fairly confident in my framing and composition. And by now I have something resembling a personal style. I use primes probably 90% of the time.There are situations and sports where tele zooms are the right answer for sure. But as my limited skills have improved my use of zooms has decreased, for better or worse.
Edited on Jul 20, 2026 at 12:21 PM · View previous versions
We all know the 70-200MM 2.8 is the default “first pro lens” for aspiring sports photographers. And for good reason. It’s fast and extremely versatile.
But my guess is that I’m not the only one who has seen a newer photographer using the 70-200 as something of a “crutch.” The newer – and often tentative – parent photographer stands in one place the entire game zooming in and out. They finish with a gallery of images all taken from the same place and angle but at varying focal lengths. That’s not a knock. We all start somewhere.
But used “improperly” the 70-200mm can lead to some bad habits and lazy pictures by virtue of its sheer versatility: the proverbial double-edged sword. Like many here I can look at a gallery of pictures and fairly confidentially say, “these were taken with a 70-200.”
On occasion, I teach a sports photography for beginners class, and I admonish any student who has a 70-200 as their primary - and a venue that allows them to change positions – to move at least 10 feet (preferably far more) every 10 minutes and/or to a higher or lower position. Do that and the 70-200 becomes a powerful tool.
I'm an old guy who has been at this for quite awhile. My lens kit is built out. And I'm fairly confident in my framing and composition. And by now I have something resembling a personal style. I use primes probably 90% of the time.There are situations and sports where tele zooms are the right answer for sure. But as my limited skills have improved my use of zooms has decreased, for better or worse.
Edited on Jul 20, 2026 at 12:21 PM · View previous versions
Jul 20, 2026 at 04:54 AM
p.1 #18Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
hlyon wrote:
When shooting basketball, location can be limited so the photographers ability to shoot tight without cutting off body parts becomes variable. Just something to keep in mind.
For basketball, I generally use the 70-200 mostly for action on the half of the court closest to me. It's a bit short for action down court so yes, this tape method might not be the best for basketball.
When shooting basketball, location can be limited so the photographers ability to shoot tight without cutting off body parts becomes variable. Just something to keep in mind.
For basketball, I generally use the 70-200 mostly for action on the half of the court closest to me. It's a bit short for action down court so yes, this tape method might not be the best for basketball.
Jul 20, 2026 at 11:50 AM
p.1 #19Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
Lego383 wrote:
I feel like this depends on the sport. At some point photographers can just graduate from a 70-200 to a prime of some sort. I think forcing yourself to stick to 200 on the 70-200 Is definitely an exercise you can do, but I don’t know how much that can improve your photography. At that point, just swap it out for a prime. And I wonder if there’s a way to calculate what focal length equivalent you end up cropping into and then you could figure out What the most common set of values is and then you get a...Show more →
I might not have mentioned this in the video, but assumed that this is for those who only have a 70-200 or even something like a 70-300 variable aperture lens. A lot of newer photographers creep that zoom out toward 70 and aren't making the most of that zoom range.
I feel like this depends on the sport. At some point photographers can just graduate from a 70-200 to a prime of some sort. I think forcing yourself to stick to 200 on the 70-200 Is definitely an exercise you can do, but I don’t know how much that can improve your photography. At that point, just swap it out for a prime. And I wonder if there’s a way to calculate what focal length equivalent you end up cropping into and then you could figure out What the most common set of values is and then you get a...Show more →
I might not have mentioned this in the video, but assumed that this is for those who only have a 70-200 or even something like a 70-300 variable aperture lens. A lot of newer photographers creep that zoom out toward 70 and aren't making the most of that zoom range.
Jul 20, 2026 at 11:52 AM
p.1 #20Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
Tareq wrote:
Sorry, i don't like this idea, i am lucky and not lucky to have 300mm and 70-200mm, unlucky is that i don't have longer than 300mm such as 400mm or 600mm, but lucky to have a prime lens ana a zoom lens, a zoom lens called a zoom for a purpose, and when i want to shoot tight i just simply use my 300mm lens or 135mm prime is i do indoors sometimes in the past, so no thanks, keep that "TAPE" to yourself with all respect
I am pretty sure I mentioned in the video that this method is for those who only have zoom lenses like a 70-200 or maybe a 70-300. Not everyone can afford long primes. Even then, I know a lot of shooters who get a longer prime and struggle with it when they first get it because they are forced to shoot tight. That's all this tape suggestion does, is force people to shoot tight.
Sorry, i don't like this idea, i am lucky and not lucky to have 300mm and 70-200mm, unlucky is that i don't have longer than 300mm such as 400mm or 600mm, but lucky to have a prime lens ana a zoom lens, a zoom lens called a zoom for a purpose, and when i want to shoot tight i just simply use my 300mm lens or 135mm prime is i do indoors sometimes in the past, so no thanks, keep that "TAPE" to yourself with all respect
I am pretty sure I mentioned in the video that this method is for those who only have zoom lenses like a 70-200 or maybe a 70-300. Not everyone can afford long primes. Even then, I know a lot of shooters who get a longer prime and struggle with it when they first get it because they are forced to shoot tight. That's all this tape suggestion does, is force people to shoot tight.
Jul 20, 2026 at 11:54 AM