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Dilemma about a new job

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blackdog714-1

blackdog714-1

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So, I've been a stay at home dad for the last 5 years. I had some pretty nice equipment (1DmkIII, no snickering, it worked great) and a decent collection of L lenses.

Unfortunately, having no pay for the last 5 years, I needed to pay some bills, so the mkIII went to the highest bidder.

I've been invited to start shooting a local sporting/police event, where teams of shooters (guns, not cameras :P) compete head to head on a timed course. The pay is pretty decent and I'll be behind all the pointy ends...

My dilemma is that I have my 30D and an 80-200/2.8L, however I don't feel the focusing speed is going to be fast enough...

Lucky for me, I can borrow a friends 1DmkII for a couple of weeks, but I need to buy a decent body ASAP for cheap.

My thoughts are to buy a used mkII, however a newer 50D is compatible with my current stock of batteries and other accessories. I just don't know if the focusing speed will be up to par...

Thoughts, suggestions?
 
may i suggest a 7d if within budget?

focus speed and FPS

i will leave the lens dilemma for you to sort out as you have already had some L lenses before.

whatever your choice is, good luck.
 
I don't know how much actual movement you will be photographing... most photos I have seen of shooting competitions show the shooter stationary at a station. One exception is Yamil Sued's "Floating Molly":
http://womensoutdoornews.com/tag/photo-by-yamil-sued/

Yamil is a good guy... look him up and contact him and he can answer all your questions about photographing shooting sports.

BTW the 30D is a fine camera... I have no problems tracking soccer, baseball, or lacrosse action in bright sunlight. When the sun goes down though, it doesn't do so well with tracking action.

--
Curtis Clegg
 
Curtis Clegg said:
I don't know how much actual movement you will be photographing... most photos I have seen of shooting competitions show the shooter stationary at a station. One exception is Yamil Sued's "Floating Molly":
http://womensoutdoornews.com/tag/photo-by-yamil-sued/

Yamil is a good guy... look him up and contact him and he can answer all your questions about photographing shooting sports.

BTW the 30D is a fine camera... I have no problems tracking soccer, baseball, or lacrosse action in bright sunlight. When the sun goes down though, it doesn't do so well with tracking action.

--
Curtis Clegg
Click to expand...
Yeah, I love the 30D but the focus speed isn't nearly as fast as the 1D was...

BTW, this is a practical shooting competition, which means everyone is running and gunning. Nothing static about it.
 
Unfortunately, the 7D is out of my price range (new or used), which is why I was focusing on the 1DmkII or the 50D (both ~$1000)
 
The 1DII will work just fine. I had one last year, and the thing will work great, focus great, and do everything you will want it to. I use a 7D because I needed the much higher ISO capabilities for some of the indoor sports I shoot of my son, but the 1DII is incredible. Also, I printed easily 11x14 prints and had no issues whatsoever. The only down side is that at 8mp, you pretty much need to make absolutely sure you get the composition the way you want it, as there isn't really much room for cropping, IMO.

Especially shooting an outdoor competition like what you've described, the 1DII will WAY MORE THAN fit your needs. Good luck! Jason G. :)
 
Shooting a PAYING event, you should have backup gear.

If you don;t have a second body, lens, etc...Beg, Borrow, RENT what you need on a per event basis until you can afford to own the gear you feel is needed.
 
slowhands said:
Shooting a PAYING event, you should have backup gear.

If you don;t have a second body, lens, etc...Beg, Borrow, RENT what you need on a per event basis until you can afford to own the gear you feel is needed.
Click to expand...
My thoughts were to borrow my friends mkII and use my 30D as back up.

I'm not missing a shot if I can help it :)

I figure I'll have about a grand to spend after a couple of events, which is where the debate over the 50D vs. the mkII is in my mind.
 
From my experience with the 50D, it might do the job AF wise, but I'd be panicking using it for such an event as its focus isn't the most consistent for moving subjects. You would be better off with a 1D MkIIN which has great AF speed. Sure, the file size is smaller and cropping would be less feasible, but if you have a good lens (70-200mm f/4 in good daylight) or f/2.8 in poor daylight), it would work better. I'm guessing but you probably won't be using flash except at award ceremonies. How close you will be to the competitors with suitable composition will decide what is an appropriate lens.

Whatever camera body you choose, it would be very important that you log some time using it with the lens you choose. Get to really know the combination's strenghts and weaknesses in similar shooting situations. You want to be asked to shoot the next event, so its crucial that your work really shines.
blackdog714-1 said:
slowhands said:
Shooting a PAYING event, you should have backup gear.

If you don;t have a second body, lens, etc...Beg, Borrow, RENT what you need on a per event basis until you can afford to own the gear you feel is needed.
Click to expand...
My thoughts were to borrow my friends mkII and use my 30D as back up.

I'm not missing a shot if I can help it :)

I figure I'll have about a grand to spend after a couple of events, which is where the debate over the 50D vs. the mkII is in my mind.
Click to expand...
 
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