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08-30-2015, 12:32 PM   #1
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Best Lens for Sports Photography

I have a Pentax K-5II and various lenses. I am doing more and more shooting of a variety of sports, including rugby, cricket, track and field athletics, surfing and field hockey.

At the moment I am using a Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 lens for everything except cricket and surfing. For cricket I have been using a Pentax FA 300mm f/4.5 prime lens and for surfing I have been using a Sigma 170-500mm f/5.6 lens.

Although the Sigma 70-200mm lens is perfect for track and field athletics and field hockey, I am finding it quite short for rugby. Sometimes I have used the 300mm prime for rugby, but then I lose the flexibility of zooming out when the players get very close, especially if a try is being scored close to me. Even the 300mm prime is quite short when the action is beyond the halfway mark, and it doesn't handle night games as well as the 70-200mm.

I tried using the 170-500mm lens for cricket, but I found it to be too slow when the light is low and during night matches.

I am looking for suggestions to compliment my range of lenses for the various types of sports, taking into account low light/night conditions and distance.

I have considered getting either the Sigma 50-500mm or the Sigma 150-500mm lens, but most reviews do not recommend those lenses for sports photography as they tend not to auto-focus very quickly and low light capability is also not one of their strengths.

Any comments and suggestions?

08-30-2015, 12:51 PM   #2
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Why not add a 1.4x converter to your 70-200. That gets you a nice f/4 lens with Focal length of 98-280mm. Alternately there is a Sigma 100-300 f/4 in the marketplace right now (https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/24-photographic-equipment-sale/302356-sal...=100-300+f%2F4)

Last edited by UncleVanya; 08-30-2015 at 01:38 PM.
08-30-2015, 01:28 PM - 1 Like   #3
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The Sigma 100-300/4 is my "go to" for field sports.
08-30-2015, 01:38 PM   #4
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QuoteOriginally posted by dadipentak Quote
The Sigma 100-300/4 is my "go to" for field sports.
If you had the Sigma 70-200 2.8 and the appropriate 1.4x TC would you still buy it over that combo?

08-30-2015, 03:37 PM   #5
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QuoteOriginally posted by UncleVanya Quote
If you had the Sigma 70-200 2.8 and the appropriate 1.4x TC would you still buy it over that combo?
In fact, I did have that combo and found the 100-300 superior.


Last edited by dadipentak; 08-30-2015 at 03:58 PM.
08-30-2015, 03:47 PM   #6
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Another vote for the Sigma 100-300/4. I don't cover sports (unless you include ballet). This was really part of a High School Senior Portrait session and she was on the opposite end of what y'all call the Pitch. Had a Kenko 1.5 TC on with it, plenty of light.

I'd use two bodies with your 70-200 on the other. In my case, I had a 50-135 on the second body.

08-31-2015, 02:07 AM   #7
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55-300wr?

08-31-2015, 05:21 AM   #8
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QuoteOriginally posted by timb64 Quote
55-300wr?
it's not really long enough - this is cropped to about a quarter of original size. For cricket on the bigger grounds you really need 500mm or be happy to crop.

08-31-2015, 07:15 AM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by mohb Quote
it's not really long enough - this is cropped to about a quarter of original size. For cricket on the bigger grounds you really need 500mm or be happy to crop.



So what 500mm is going to be fast enough at focus and light gathering to meet the needs of the OP?
08-31-2015, 07:18 AM   #10
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Thanks for the input.

I must say, I've been looking at the reviews of the Sigma 100-300mm f/4 lens, and I am impressed. I believe it will suit my requirements well.

I hope I can get enough funds together soon enough to snap up that one that's on sale at the moment...
08-31-2015, 07:23 AM   #11
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QuoteOriginally posted by Neville Quote
Thanks for the input.

I must say, I've been looking at the reviews of the Sigma 100-300mm f/4 lens, and I am impressed. I believe it will suit my requirements well.

I hope I can get enough funds together soon enough to snap up that one that's on sale at the moment...
Good luck! It seems like a very nice lens.
08-31-2015, 01:16 PM   #12
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This is more relevant for track and field, assuming you can get close to the edge of the track, but wider angles can work pretty well too if the athletes are close, and it's a lot more predictable than field sports. I've taken some decent shots of runners with a focal length of around 20mm, and I've seen some spectacular shots of mountain races using that sort of focal length - really helps to place the competitor in their environment. I've variously used the Sigma 17-50 f2.8 and the Pentax 18-135 for race photography, and they have both worked pretty well.
08-31-2015, 02:56 PM   #13
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I remember when I was shooting Little League Sports, the parents and coaches mostly wanted the "Sports Illustrated" look where the subject of the pictures fills the entire frame and is facing the camera...


The 70-200 is OK if you are close enough to the side lines or are doing after-event shots, but I found it pretty limiting even on an ASP-C camera. I had a friend who used a 400mm Canon f2.8 which was the size of a real Cannon ! The only thing you can do with that size lens is stand in one spot, preferably where the goals are and let the action come to you. You better have a hefty tripod or monopod too.


With a 300mm can get some really good shots, but only from a short distance, but at least you can move around. I think probably a 100-400mm f4 would be perfect as long as you are outdoors. Indoors you might have to boost the ISO a couple of notches.

Last edited by hjoseph7; 08-31-2015 at 03:01 PM.
08-31-2015, 05:28 PM   #14
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QuoteOriginally posted by hjoseph7 Quote
With a 300mm can get some really good shots, but only from a short distance, but at least you can move around.
I usually used the Sigma 100-300 with a 1.4x TC and had no compunctions about cropping--sometimes down to 1/5 of the frame--to get a good action shot (especially with the K-3.) None of my photos have appeared in SI though ;~)
03-23-2016, 05:51 PM   #15
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I have used a variety of lenses at Australian cricket matches over a 2 year period and have found the best lens I have used is the Sigma 150-500mm. I have also used a Sigma 100-300mm zoom lens as mentioned in previous posts which gives a figure but it has to be cropped, unless you can photograph from the point position, then cropping is not as necessary or only minor.

You can see some photos on:
https://www.zonerama.com/RonsGaller


The Sigma 150-500mm lens gave the greatest scope for coverage, closeups showing full body shots to expansive shots showing Wicketkeeper through to the gully fieldsman. At the present I have been able to get reasonable photos Shutter 500 fps, aperture F11 even 13, ISO 1600 in good daylight conditions. For night photography under lights at the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) I have used a Fuji Finepix S4900 30x optical zoom, this camera while only point and shoot gives a reasonable image, although some I am sure would disagree. I don't have any photos on the storage site of these matches but if you want to see I will load up. Even have photos of Australia v South Africa 50 over game November 2014. While some would poohoo a camera like this you will have no troubles getting it into the ground, tripods, 500mm lens you could be asked to “remove yourself copyright issues”. International matches in Australia max 200mm unless you have a press pass.
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