compare Sigma f4300 hsmAPO to Canon70-200f4/l

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Have a chance to purchase a Sigma apo 300 lensf4 hsm at $375 or a new canon70-200f4/l for $550. Plan to replace my canon100-300f4/5.6 usm so I can take photographs of soccer and basketball games.Is f4 in either lens sufficient in indoor sports?

-- mario monasterio (mariomonas@hotmail.com), December 05, 2001

Answers

The Canon 70-200 f4 is one of Canon's most respected lenses out there, it is a superb lens, I can't find anyone who has ever used it and didn't love it. The sigma on the other hand, well how's that new ad go "Nothing screams amature like a 3rd party lens".

Hope this helps.

-- Jake F. (JakeF@nowhere.net), December 05, 2001.


The Sigma 4/300 is a very sharp and fast lens (if it's an HSM version, don't buy the one without HSM autofocus). I did own one (it's for sale on ebay.de right now) and were very happy with the lens. I just replaced it with the Canon 4/300IS because of the IS. The HSM autofocus is very fast but not as fast as Canon USM (compared Sigma 4/300HSM to Canon 4/300IS USM). The build of the Sigma lens is very good, to. The Canon 4/70-200L is as sharp and fast as the Sigma and it's a zoom lens which gives you some flexibility. f4 is the minimum you will need for indoor sports. The decission you have to make is not Sigma or Canon, it's prime or zoom.

-- Martin (uboot67@yahoo.com), December 05, 2001.

Hold on, even with 800 speed film, a F4 lens is not fast enough for indoor sports, even in a brightly lit professional sports arena. It also depends on the sport your shooting and the amount of blur you are willing to accept because of subject motion in your picture. My recomendation is the Canon 70-200 F2.8, or the 100F2 or 132F2 if you can get close to the action. I am a member of the NPPA (Nat. Press Photographers Assoc) and was a staff photographer for the World University Games. If you want to talk about dream, money no object, lenses, the Canon 200F1.8 is the best lens there is for indoor sports. Anyone out there that would like to sell me one used, cheap?

-- Mike Dziak (BigLens2C@msn.com), December 05, 2001.

i agree. i recently covered a highschool basketball game and used a 50mm f/1.8 with ISO 1600 film and shot around 1/250sec without flash. most pros use flash for indoors. if you are courtside, a 200mm lens is probably too long... i used a 135mm f/2.8 at the same game with mediocre results mainly due to the slow f-stop and found it to be more than long enough for shooting while the players where on my end of the court. i would probably have to reccomend the 70-200 because it is a canon with quick usm focusing and good zoom range. if you want to do indoor with it though, use fast film and a flash. if you have ever seen espn magazine or sports illustrated pictures of night baseball games, then you know that they are very grainy. those pros are using 300mm f/2.8 plus lenses with ultra high speed film, at least ISO1600.

-- Jeff Nakayama (moonduck22@hotmail.com), December 05, 2001.

Maybe then the answer is the 135F2L USM? Certainly, I love my 70-200 F4L, and everyone I've ever spoken to that owns one thinks likewise. However, as said the F4 aperture isn't fast enough for indoor sports.

-- Isaac Sibson (isibson@hotmail.com), December 06, 2001.


When I shoot indoor sports like basketball I use the following lenses: 1.8/85, 2/135L, 2.8/300L, 4/70-200L. I never had problems with not enough light for f4. I use Kodak Supra 800 film and push it to 3200. You should try this (if you haven't already) and see the fantastic results.

-- Martin (uboot67@yahoo.com), December 07, 2001.

do you use a flash, martin? what kind of shutter speeds are you getting? what kind of court (highschool, college, pro)?

-- Jeff Nakayama (moonduck22@hotmail.com), December 12, 2001.

Jeff, Sorry for late answer but I had some work to be done.... I shoot pro basket ball (I sell my pictures to a sport magazine) and do not use flash during the games. Only during breaks you are allowed to use flash or after the game. With f4 and ASA 3200 you still get 1/125 to 1/200 which is fast enough. The pro games are in big halls with good light.

-- Martin (uboot67@yahoo.com), December 18, 2001.

cool

-- Jeff Nakayama (moonduck22@hotmail.com), December 24, 2001.

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