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40D purchase HELP!!!

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JenClark

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I'm going to purchase a Canon 40D with the lens package 28-135. My main goal is to shoot indoor basketball day baseball and day/night football for my son. I figure the 28-135 will be a good anytime day lens for other things. I need help on my lens purchase for sports shots.

Looking at Canon EF 85mm f/2.8 L USM for indoor basketball until I can afford 24-70 f/2.8.

I was advised to get the 75-300 USM for daytime sport shots.

eventually will get Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8, not sure if I will go with IS or no IS version.

With that said the purchase list is:
1. 40D with 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 (1499)
2. 85mm f/2.8 (339)
3. MAYBE the 75-300 USM (269) doubt this has IS

Would this be my best option or go for the package at best buy that includes the 70-300 IS for (1999) and get the 85mm to hold me over for the bigger and better listed above.

I'm really confused............Any advice would be helpful at this point.
 
The 28-135mm lens is a decent, general purpose lens. It gives you a lot of zoom range. However, you will likely find it's speed to be too slow for indoor action.

For indoor shots, you will likely want to go with an f/2.8 or faster lens. The prime lenses don't allow you to zoom, but they work great in low light. Cranking up the ISO in the camera does help, but introduces obvious noise into your shots. Definitely add the nifty-fifty to your list. There is the f/1.8 one for less than $100 and they have some faster ones for substantially more. It takes incredibly crisp pictures but it's non-USM focusing may not be fast enough to use AI Servo. Haven't tried it on a 40D so I can't speak to that.

I had the 75-300mm non-IS lens before. I thought it was a good lens when I first got into photography, but then realized after using some better lenses how soft it was. It had pretty good resale value when I dumped it. I would not recommend getting it, though. I'd suggest saving for the 70-200mm f/2.8 lens instead. There is also the 75-300mm DO lens with IS, which many have said is a good lens but it is quite expensive compared to the one you mentioned and it's not a 2.8 lens.
 
Anyway, I would get the kit (28-135) It's a good starter lens for ourdoors. As for the 85mm. The one you're talking about is actually 85mm F1.8 (non-L) which is about $300+ . It's great lens since I shoot with it side by side for concerts with a 50mm F1.4 (about $300). The 85m F1.8 will be a much better lens and much sharper than the 28-135mm/70-300 IS. I would just skip the 70-300 since it's a much softer lens unless you get the DO version which is about $1000. You might also consider picking up 50mm F1.8 which is known as "Fantastic plastic" for $70-$80. It's a much sharper lens than the 28-135.
 
haykong said:
the 28-135mm/70-300 IS. I would just skip the 70-300 since it's a
much softer lens unless you get the DO version which is about $1000.
Click to expand...
Virtually all reports indicate the DO version is the softer and less contrasty version of the two lenses.

The 70-300 is one of the best bang-for-buck lenses out there. It's not L quality, but it might be the best non-L super telezoom out there.

The 75-300 is one of the worst lenses out there.
 
Ok sold on the 40D kit. I will purchase that soon.

What your recommending is that I get the 85mm 1.8 and the 50mm 1.4 to start off. That way I can at least get some indoor shots right.

Next I should get the 70-200 2.8 but that is a future purchase, can't do both camera and that lens now.

The 75-300, I should hold off on? I"m just after daylight shots of baseball on this lens but if it's not the way to go I will not get it.

Can you clarify something for me. What is faster 1.8 or 2.8? The lower the fstop the more light, correct? Sorry for the simplicity of the question but I'm just starting out.

Appreciate the help.
 
before you go spending money, I would just get the 18-55 kit, and then the
50mm f1.8. the 28-135 is a nice generic lens, but you might find the 28mm to

long for general purpose. The 50mm 1.8 will give a inexpensive (less than @$100)
entry into the fast lens market, and lets you see what lens speed you need for
indoor use in the venues you'll be shooting. Sometimes a 2.8 lens (the 24-70
for instance) is not fast enough (or long enough). Then you can determine
what higher priced lens you need next (it might be the 85 1.8, or it might be
the 100 2.0 or 135L 2.0 or ??). I'd stay away from the 75-300, and save up for
the 70-300 IS if that's a range you find yourself needing (or one of the
70-200 L's). There's also third party zoom lenses with f2.8 etc. that are
great and a lower cost than canon (though some might say not a better value)
like the sigma 24-70 2.8 or the tameron 28-78 2.8.

Both the 18-55 kit and the 50mm are very usable and worth their cost (which
isn't much).
 
Look at the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG HSM, it doesn’t have IS (OS) like the canon but the price is around $889. As much as the 85 or 50 might be faster, you need a zoom for sports; you won’t be running up and down the field getting your shots. IMO you will be very limited in composing your shots with a fixed lens.
--
TRock
 
Thanks for all the help. The hard part is over now, I know what I need to get and will work towards getting the zoom lens.
 
Most indoor sports need 70-200/2.8 type zoom. Of course the best is the 70-200/2.8L IS.
 
A summary (consistent with most advice you've gotten):

The 85mm f/1.8 is ideal for indoor basketball, but you need to be shooting near courtside. These were all shot with the 85mm:
http://msalvetti.smugmug.com/Sports/267638

The 70-200 f/2.8 will require at least ISO3200 for indoor basketball, unless you are shooting in a college-level gym. Most high school gyms will require f/1.8 and ISO 1600 with the 85mm.

A 70-200 might be OK for Little League baseball, but if you are shooting a 90-foot infield, it's probably too short. Go with the 70-300IS. The 75-300 is not a good lens. Besides image quality, the AF will be too slow. You can wait and save up for this lens, since you probably won't need it for a few months.

The 28-135 is a good deal for the extra $200. I like mine, and use it for general walking around and team photos. I would rather 24mm on the wide end, but that would mean a 24-105, and I don't want the spend that kind of money now.

Learn to set a custom white balance for indoor sports, especially if you are going to shoot jpg.

Hope this helps,

Mark
 
I don't think so. The IS won't help that much, since you will normally be at high shutter speeds shooting sports.

I would take a 70-200 f/2.8 non-IS over the 70-200 f/4 IS, without question. That extra stop is huge.

Mark
 
Actually the 85mm f1.8 or 100mm f2 or 135mm f2 (all faster primes) would be better choices for indoor sports as f2.8 just isn't fast enough.
 
I have the 85 1.8 for indoor sports and I love it and I have a 300 4.0L IS for football I dont shoot night games yet but when I do I will get its big brother the 300 2.8L IS.. I dont personnaly use zoom lenses. I perfer the fixed focal lenses, I love the Tac sharpness that the fixed lenses give me.. If your shooting football, 200mm is too short, go with a 300mm at least.. Good luck
 
Great shots, I will get the 85 and save my next lens and will look at the 70-300IS. Good advice........I thought the kit with the 28-135 was the smart way to go too. Not sure what you mean by white balance just yet, I guess I have a learning curve to contend with after my camera gets here.
Mark Salvetti said:
A summary (consistent with most advice you've gotten):

The 85mm f/1.8 is ideal for indoor basketball, but you need to be
shooting near courtside. These were all shot with the 85mm:
http://msalvetti.smugmug.com/Sports/267638

The 70-200 f/2.8 will require at least ISO3200 for indoor basketball,
unless you are shooting in a college-level gym. Most high school
gyms will require f/1.8 and ISO 1600 with the 85mm.

A 70-200 might be OK for Little League baseball, but if you are
shooting a 90-foot infield, it's probably too short. Go with the
70-300IS. The 75-300 is not a good lens. Besides image quality, the
AF will be too slow. You can wait and save up for this lens, since
you probably won't need it for a few months.

The 28-135 is a good deal for the extra $200. I like mine, and use
it for general walking around and team photos. I would rather 24mm
on the wide end, but that would mean a 24-105, and I don't want the
spend that kind of money now.

Learn to set a custom white balance for indoor sports, especially if
you are going to shoot jpg.

Hope this helps,

Mark
Click to expand...
 
Do you have any examples of the sharpness difference? That would be really good to compare the two so I understand what you mean. I'm going to look into the 300 2.8.
yonno29 said:
I have the 85 1.8 for indoor sports and I love it and I have a 300
4.0L IS for football I dont shoot night games yet but when I do I
will get its big brother the 300 2.8L IS.. I dont personnaly use zoom
lenses. I perfer the fixed focal lenses, I love the Tac sharpness
that the fixed lenses give me.. If your shooting football, 200mm is
too short, go with a 300mm at least.. Good luck
Click to expand...
 
I use the 300 f4L IS and I love it!! Really tac sharp, however the 300mm 2.8L is considered one of or if not the sharpest out of the L lenses from many many people and reviews. I dont have that lens yet but it is on my next lens to buy list.

I would love to post the football shots from my 300 f4L IS but not capable of doing so at the moment. If you look or do a search on the 300 f4L you will see many images it produces.. I was a buyer when I seen examples of football images with the tac sharp results, I also use it to shoot late evening games just bump up my ISO.. Beautiful lens and its not waaaaay overpriced!!
 
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