Best lens for a hockey arena for Rebel XT or 30D

I would like to buy a great lens to take the very best shots in a hockey arena. I have not decided yet on whether to buy a Canon 350D(Rebel XT) or a 30D but I have read that the lens makes all the difference.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Julie

You'll need something with low light capability, and something with reach, so this might be one of your better choices. You'll probably have to be ISO 1600, f2, and hope for reasonable light to give you a faster shutter speed to stop the action. The XT only goes to 1600 ISO, which is sometimes not enough when I am shooting my daughter's gymnastics (same crappy lighting you'll be dealing with). If you want shots right out of the camera, make sure you set the whitebalance (with either white coffee filters, a gray card, or an expodisc). Otherwise, shoot RAW.

This is the lens I use most often in this environment. It's a fast lens, and it provides a good zoom range (I sometimes use a 1.4X TC for additional reach).

The IS feature helps with getting sharp shots even in lower light / hand held.

" Best lens for a hockey arena for Rebel XT or 30D"

Best is subjective. But because you need to shoot indoor you will need a fast lens would not consider a lens slower then f2.8. Most fast Canon lenses are "L" lenses and are expensive. They are great lenses and you wrote you wanted a "great lens". You will also need some reach no matter where you shoot from. However the longer fast lenses are big heavy and prohibitively expensive. A zoom lens may help if you are close to the ice when the action is near however the zoom lenses a full stop slower then the 135mm f2. If the arena is dark you will need the highest ISO possible that would require the 30D or 20D for ISO 3200. I don't like using ISO 3200 have only captured a few ISO 3200 images that I thought were usable after using NeatImage noise reduction. There are also third party lenses you might want to consider. I would want a Canon "L" lens 100mm or longer. Here is a list of the faster Canon glass:

Canon EF 50mm F1.0 L $ 2,599.99 2.2 lbs
Canon EF 85mm F1.2 L $ 1,499.95 2.3 lbs
Canon EF 85mm F1.2 L II $ 2,099.95 2.25 lbs
Canon EF 24mm F1.4 L $ 1,119.95 1.21 lbs
Canon EF 35mm F1.4 L $ 1,119.95 1.28 lbs
Canon EF 50mm F1.4 $ 309.95
Canon EF 50mm F1.8 II $ 69.95
Canon EF 85mm F1.8 $ 339.95
Canon EF 200mm F1.8 L $ Used 2-4K 6.6 lbs
Canon EF 100mm F2 $ 389.95
Canon EF 135mm F2 L $ 899.95 1.64 lbs
Canon EF 200mm F2.8 L II $ 659.95 1.68 lbs
Canon EF 14mm F2.8 L $ 1,799.95 1.23 lbs
Canon EF 15mm F2.8 Fisheye$ 579.95
Canon EF 16-35mm F2.8 L $ 1,369.95 1.32 lbs
Canon EF 24-70mm F2.8 L $ 1,149.95 2.1 lbs
Canon EF 100mm F2.8 Macro$ 469.95
Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8 L $ 1,139.95 2.8 lbs
Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS $ 1,649.95 3.5 lbs
Canon EF 300mm F2.8 L IS $ 3,899.95 6.0 lbs
Canon EF 400mm F2.8 L IS $ 6,499.95 11.7 lbs
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JJMack

J Ouellet said:

I would like to buy a great lens to take the very best shots in a
hockey arena. I have not decided yet on whether to buy a Canon
350D(Rebel XT) or a 30D but I have read that the lens makes all the
difference.

Any suggestions?

Click to expand...

You will want to get the 30D for a few reasons.

1) You get a high sensitivity center focus point, which the Rebel XT doesn't have. This will help with focusing accuracy and focus tracking when using lenses that have a maximum aperture of 2.8 or larger.

2) You get 5-fps, the Rebel XT only gets you 3.

3) You will get a much larger buffer. Which means you will be able to continuously shoot much longer before the buffer fills and you have to stop and wait for it to clear.

4) You get a bigger, brighter view finder which will help you keep track of the action better.

Also the Canon 135mm f/2L USM (as already mentioned) is a great choice for a lens.

Got deep pockets?

http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/lens/ef/data/ef_200_18l_usm.html

--
---

'I have been a witness, and these pictures are
my testimony. The events I have recorded should
not be forgotten and must not be repeated.'
-James Nachtwey-
http://www.jamesnachtwey.com/

i agree. i've shot a lot of high school hockey, and you should get the fastest lens you can afford in the 135L or 70-200 zoom area. i've shot with the 70-200 f/2.8 IS at 1/500 (sometimes a bit slower, say 1/350 when desperate!!) at iso 1600 a great deal of the time successfully. (i don't have the 135L yet but it's my next lens purchase...) get the 30d for the better low light iso because you will spend most of the time at iso1600. get a monopod if you think your arms will get tired with the zoom - i have no problem shooting an entire game with it, but only you know whether or not that's will be true for you. otherwise the 135L is a perfect solution. keep the shutter speed as high as possible for crisp shots.
and have a good time!!
--
codfish

i found your other threads on this topic, and i too shoot a goalie. i shot this one from the end with a 10d and a 50 f/1.4:



and this one from the stands (to avoid the dirty glass) with the 10d and the 70-200 @ 200mm:



both were pp-ed using noise ninja. and the 30d is much cleaner at iso1600! and you can sometimes get down to 1/250 on the goalie...

--
codfish

Thanks for taking time to reply, I appreciate your advice.

I have to decide on either:

EF 70-200m F2.8L or EF 135mm F2 L

My son is only 11 so I can get very close to the goal. Which would you choose?

Julie

then perhaps the 50 f1.8II for about $70--even if it doesn't allow you to zoom enough enough, you could crop (ie digital zoom) later. Might want to get it in addition to the 135. The 70-200 is a great lens, but many say that 2.8 isn't enough (and from shooting indoor gymnastics, I'd agree)

Thanks to everyone for the great advice. I have decided to get two lenses.

135 mm f 2.0 L
70-200 mm F 2.8

Now, I am looking for a good online company to purchase these lenses. I have asked for some suggestions on another thread.

Thanks again everyone!!

Julie

I am interested in the quality of a picture using a EF 1.4x teleconverter on a 135mm F 2.0 L lens?

Will the picture be as good as using a 70-200 F2.8 lens?

Thanks,

Julie

Hey Julie...

I have three hockey players (11, 15, 19) and I was using the 200L f2.8 prime, but switched to the 70-200L f2.8 last season and I really love the lens.

Here are a couple of galleries if you want to check it out.

http://www.pbase.com/terrywatson/hockey_pt_2

http://www.pbase.com/terrywatson/jr_bluejackets

--
'Image is everything'
http://www.watsonfx.com

You said that you can get close, and with the fast glass you can shoot at a high shutter rate and low iso.

J Ouellet said:

I am interested in the quality of a picture using a EF 1.4x
teleconverter on a 135mm F 2.0 L lens?

Will the picture be as good as using a 70-200 F2.8 lens?

Thanks,

Julie

Click to expand...

--

• Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something •
Plato

I buy most things from two companies with great success:

onecall.com -- I have probably spent over $10,000 with them over a couple of year period on various electronics/cameras/lens/speakers. They offer 3 day FEDEX delivery, and have called me everytime about a week after I got my product to make sure I am happy. Additionally, they'll match prices on the major internet dealers (not all dealers, just the major/reputable ones). They are GREAT--if they carry it, I buy it there.

and

bestpriceaudiovideo.com -- I have ordered a few video and camera related items. Often free ground shipping, and usually some of the best prices for an authorized dealer.

I purchased all items on BHphotovideo.com because they had the best prices and everything was in stock.

Canon Digital Rebel XT $649.95
Canon EF 135 mm f/2.0 $899.95
Canon EF 1.4xII Extender $284.95
Canon BG - E3 Vertical Grip $139.95
Canon 430 EX Speedlite E-TTL Flash $239.98
2 Lexar 2GB 133x Compact Flash $179.90 (for both)

Thanks again for everyone's help.

Julie

PS. I will post some shots when my son gets back on the ice!

I believe the 1.4x was designed for the Canon 300mm F2.8. I can tell you it woks great on my 300mm F2.8, 180mm f3.5 and on my 70-200mm f2.8 IS. I do not own a 135mm F2 but the 1.4x is works with the 135mm F2 makes it a 189mm f2.5. Judging from my 300 and 180 the image quality should be excellent.
Here is an image taken with the 180mm + canon 1.4x II.



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JJMack

Some excellent info here on lenses which is going to help me and others a lot.

As an addition to this thread I am wondering how effective a flash is in an arena? I am also looking for a lens to shoot hockey with my Rebel XT but bought the Speed light 430 first before the lens. Currently I only have the kit lens. I am so new to this I don't even know if it is a bad lens or not. I am reading all kinds of comments on it.

Is the flash going to help in an arena?

Thanks
Stan

If your shooting through the glass - no.

If your nice and close w/o glass then you can get some resonable shots with the flash - fill ect.. too far away and the shadows get bad. Experiment with it and see what you like.

In general, fast glass and high ISO is the combo most folks prefer. You can also add several strobes and really light the house up, but thats usually a pro gig.

The 851.8,135f2 and 200f1.8(less common) are the top choices for low light indoor arena sports - with the 70-200f2.8IS also in the mix for its great all around performance (even if alittle slow in dark indoor facilities)

The 50mm lens are not usually used at they are not long enough for most hockey arena shots, not sharp wide open amd has a slow AF motor.

Its always nice to have a decent flash though - so dont worry, you can use it for many other situations.

Trebor

Stano said:

Some excellent info here on lenses which is going to help me and
others a lot.

As an addition to this thread I am wondering how effective a flash
is in an arena? I am also looking for a lens to shoot hockey with
my Rebel XT but bought the Speed light 430 first before the lens.
Currently I only have the kit lens. I am so new to this I don't
even know if it is a bad lens or not. I am reading all kinds of
comments on it.

Is the flash going to help in an arena?

Thanks
Stan

Click to expand...

For a lot of reasons, not the least of which is that it can blind or otherwise distract players and coaches. The higher the level of play the more I believe this is a no-no. Beyond that, a flash casts unnatural shadows, it limits your fps to less than 1 fps. The two lenses Julie is buying are really the only solution, unless you can afford the 200 f/1.8 . Best of luck.

Ian

PS - The kit lens is a great lens if you take the time to learn how to use it and understand its limitations. It is, however, too slow (fast=low f/stop number) and too short for hockey.
--
bughunter
Pbase supporter
http://www.pbase.com/iangreyphotography

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