What lens to use for Pro football game?

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

12/04/2007 10:29:20 PM · #1

I am going to the Packer game this Sunday & am wondering what lens I should bring for pictures. I am quite a ways from the field, so I am debating either to bring a 300 f4 or a 500 f8 or a 80-200 f2.8. I am limited to no bag, so it is one lens only. Suggestions?

trevytrev

Canon EOS-5D

12/04/2007 10:36:22 PM · #2

Depends on what you want to capture. You could bring a wide agle and get the whole stadium w/ all the fans and take pictures of fan that are near by. If you want to capture the action on the field I would take your 500 f/8 as long as it's day game with plenty of light. good luck and have fun!

SamDoe1

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

12/04/2007 10:40:47 PM · #3

First of all, I'm jealous that you got tickets for a Packer's game. It is my dream to one day go to one without paying tons of money for a ticket. Second of all, the 300 f/4 would probably be your best bet. The 500 f/8 would be too slow for anything but a sunny day (not likely this time of year) and the 80-200 would be far too short for the stadium. Where are your seats?

Quigley

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

12/04/2007 10:43:40 PM · #4

Originally posted by Ironworker:

Why are you limited to only one lense? If you have someone with you throw another lense over their shoulder. I know that these lenses have their own carring cases so you become a pack mule for the day in the end you can take more then just one.

Its worth some thought don't you think?

MattO

Nikon D4

12/04/2007 10:43:40 PM · #5

In all honesty, take a P&S and leave your dSLR at home. You bought tickets to enjoy the game. Trying to take photos from the stands of a game isnt going to yeild you results that you will be happy with. And you wont have enjoyed the game that you paid plenty to do so.

On another note, you need to check on the teams website as most stadiums have lens and camera restrictions for people who arent with the working media.

MattO

alanfreed

Nikon Z9

12/04/2007 10:45:24 PM · #6

I'd probably go with the 300.

The 500 may work out for you, but at f/8, you're going to have quite a hard time getting a fast enough shutter speed to stop any action. You could jack the ISO up a bit, and you might just get some decent shots with it.

I know some people have a hard time getting into the stadiums with long lenses, so you might want to double check the stadium policy to save yourself a trip back to the car, too :)

Have a good time! One of the other guys who shoots Steelers games with me says that Green Bay is an awesome place to shoot a game. He was trying to talk me into going up there once, but "frozen tundra" doesn't sound all that inviting to me :)

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

12/04/2007 10:46:07 PM · #7

We are in row 51, end zone seats. My wife got them for me as an early Xmas present. Hoping to get action shots. Forecast is cloudy chance of snow.

SamDoe1

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

12/04/2007 10:46:09 PM · #8

Originally posted by MattO:

On another note, you need to check on the teams website as most stadiums have lens and camera restrictions for people who arent with the working media.

That is very true. I know Miller Park won't allow cameras with detachable lenses into the stadium without a press pass (had to put mine back in the car). Might want to look into that more like MattO said.

alanfreed

Nikon Z9

12/04/2007 10:48:58 PM · #9

According to the Packers' web site, you can get in with lenses under 12". So it doesn't specify focal length, but the actual length of the lens.

Originally posted by SamDoe1:

Originally posted by MattO:
On another note, you need to check on the teams website as most stadiums have lens and camera restrictions for people who arent with the working media.

That is very true. I know Miller Park won't allow cameras with detachable lenses into the stadium without a press pass (had to put mine back in the car). Might want to look into that more like MattO said.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

12/06/2007 07:10:15 AM · #10

Thanks everyone for the advice, I will be taking the 300 f4 & teleconverter. The Packers have one of the more liberal policies on equipment carry in.

HeiSch

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

12/06/2007 07:13:28 AM · #11

Check with the stadium. I know that ours only allows lenses up to 200mm. You don't want to be stopped at the gate and have to return your long lens to the car. They ask me every time I bring an SLR into the stadium.

strangeghost

Canon EOS-7D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

12/06/2007 07:37:53 AM · #12

My wife got me "dream" tickets to a Packer's game two years ago, luxury seats in the clubhouse. We were above the north endzone. It seemed l ike we would be miles away from the field but the views were pretty good. I shot with my 70-200 f4, though the glass of the club house, and was impressed with how well my shots turned out:

I think you'll be real happy with what you get with your 300.

12/10/2007 11:30:50 PM · #13

I had an awesome experience at the game. the 300 worked marvelously, I shot over 400 pics, & learned a great deal from the experience. For the future I will know to shoot in high quality JPEG, not jpeg + RAW, & step down the lens to 5.6 or 8.0 to get a clearer picture. As I get teh chance to process some of them , I'll put them in my portfolio & pbase account.

Dr.Confuser

Nikon D800