55-200mm VR for soccer shot?

[MrJelly]

hi,

Recently, my frd asked me to shoot for school football event. Will 55-200mm range be enough to shoot soccer player in action?

or will 70-300mm non-VR with tripod will help? as I hav tight budget, i may not afford to buy VR version one.

[nakedtoes]

200mm is not enough.. i dun think 300mm is enough also

[Saycheese78]

Yo, i tried before at our kallang stadium with a D40 then. Of course, having 300mm helps. The main problem comes after sun set. I cannot freeze the pic, especially the ball due to insufficient light. I think you should shoot at lease at 1/400s but that's near impossible with my D40 then.

[MrJelly]

Originally Posted by Saycheese78 Yo, i tried before at our kallang stadium with a D40 then. Of course, having 300mm helps. The main problem comes after sun set. I cannot freeze the pic, especially the ball due to insufficient light. I think you should shoot at lease at 1/400s but that's near impossible with my D40 then.

ur 300mm got VR?

[Reportage]

Originally Posted by MrJelly hi, Recently, my frd asked me to shoot for school football event. Will 55-200mm range be enough to shoot soccer player in action? or will 70-300mm non-VR with tripod will help? as I hav tight budget, i may not afford to buy VR version one.

depends...as long your friend understand no guarantee can have good pics.

the best way i think is to make up the quality with sheer quantity. example, if the event is like happening soon..i myself dont mind coming down for free since nothing on till next week.

[Saycheese78]

Hi

Sorry, I forgot to clarify i was using the 55-200mm VR.

[MrJelly]

Originally Posted by Reportage depends...as long your friend understand no guarantee can have good pics. the best way i think is to make up the quality with sheer quantity. example, if the event is like happening soon..i myself dont mind coming down for free since nothing on till next week.

Of cuz, my frd wont demand quality pics as the shoot will be non-paid one. I just want to give my best if i shoot and take it as experience.

The event date is not set yet. But may happen later end of this month or next month. If interested, i'll give u a beep when it's confirmed.

[DeadEnd]

Since TS mentioned it is for a school event. if you shoot from the sideline, you might just get enough reached with your 55-200mm. But might not have a close up shots. Hopefully, the event is held during bright daylight in order to use high shutter speed to freeze the motion and VR/tripod is useless in this situation.

[scandisk]

if its in broad daylight and i guess you'll been situated near the touchlines then 200mm is definitely enuf...

[Reportage]

Originally Posted by MrJelly Of cuz, my frd wont demand quality pics as the shoot will be non-paid one. I just want to give my best if i shoot and take it as experience. The event date is not set yet. But may happen later end of this month or next month. If interested, i'll give u a beep when it's confirmed.

no problems so far. give a pm or so when its confirmed.

Just that with the range, have to be more or less near the lines. If its a serious-like match, may need about 4-7 photographers with decent zoom around the field to increase chances of catching those "fantastic hero" shots.

[MrJelly]

Originally Posted by DeadEnd Since TS mentioned it is for a school event. if you shoot from the sideline, you might just get enough reached with your 55-200mm. But might not have a close up shots. Hopefully, the event is held during bright daylight in order to use high shutter speed to freeze the motion and VR/tripod is useless in this situation.

Yes,I know wont get a close-up shots. But i guess cropping later will help?

VR/tripod may be useless in high shutter speed like, say, 1/200? Then i guess 70-300mm non-VR and cropping later in com will make a wonder. meet low budget also.

But, should i go for 55-200mm VR or 70-300mm non-VR ?

[MrJelly]

Originally Posted by Reportage no problems so far. give a pm or so when its confirmed. Just that with the range, have to be more or less near the lines. If its a serious-like match, may need about 4-7 photographers with decent zoom around the field to increase chances of catching those "fantastic hero" shots.

well, i guess.....no problem where we want to shoot as we will be voluntarily helping them to document their "fantastic hero" shots. But hopefully, ball won't be flying to our cam.

I think the best shooting place will be near goal as this is their critical point. But the match won't be Grand one with thousands of viewers. May be just a hundred plus coming from two schools.

[scandisk]

if ur on a tight budget...can get brand new 55-200 VR or used 70-300 D lens ard same price...hmmm...$350ish perhaps....

hmmmm....but if you are using the D40 or D60 series cams....youll need the AFS lenses that is 55-200 VR or 70-300VR....

[Blur Shadow]

I suggest you rent a 70-200mm f2.8 VR. From my experience, you need all the shutter speed you can get since VR cannot save motion blur. With either lenses, you're getting f5.6 at the tele end. Your shutter speed may not be sufficiently fast enough, although you can certainly compensate by increasing the ISO.

[luntut]

Originally Posted by Blur Shadow I suggest you rent a 70-200mm f2.8 VR. From my experience, you need all the shutter speed you can get since VR cannot save motion blur. With either lenses, you're getting f5.6 at the tele end. Your shutter speed may not be sufficiently fast enough, although you can certainly compensate by increasing the ISO.

i second this idea.

VR or no VR, if you are shooting in lower light conditions, VR will be of ZERO help. This is a fast game, VR will NOT freeze motion.

[BlueBull]

Where will you be positioned? In the stands? on the sidelines?

[Saycheese78]

Hi

I remembered i need 1/400s or faster. 1/200s barely enough.

Anyway, just go outdoors at similar time of the competition, set your camera to 1/400s and see whether yr aperture good enough or not. Daylight I think no issue lah.

[MrJelly]

Originally Posted by BlueBull Where will you be positioned? In the stands? on the sidelines?

both......to capture at different angles

[ortega]

70-300 for the reach, add a monopod for more stability

[BlueBull]

Originally Posted by ortega 70-300 for the reach, add a monopod for more stability

Agreed. if you have a 55-200mm, then you would be shooting at the sidelines and not so much from the stands. A monopod is much recommended and get yourself a little foldable stool.