new hobbyist..help me out! :)

[kasfinally]

hey all, I am new to the still photography scene, but i am very much interested and going to be getting some new gear. I am a sports nut, and other then day to day shooting, Ill be focusing my hobby on sports. Hockey will be the main, but baseball or football will be there too. I am looking to spend around 600-1000 or so I'm kind of flexible. I've done my research for bodies, and odds are I'm going for a xti. But id like you guys to help me get a package that will accommodate a beginner. I'm not opposed to used stuff if someone has a set up they would like to part with.

Thanks a bunch

Dan

[freygr]

Any Digital SLR will do the job. But you will be spending the allot for an fast telephoto lens (F 2.8 or faster) for indoor sports or evening out door games.

[SmartWombat]

Any Digital SLR will do the job.

I have to disagree there.
The XT series cameras aren't fast enough autofocussing to catch the action in an indoor arena. Even my 20D was too slow for indoor go kart racing.
I was astonished how slow it felt after my 1DmkIIN ... when before I bought the 1D I was happy with it for outdoor sport.

Also it's going to need an f/2.8 lens indoors, or push up the ISO and there again you run into the limitations of the XTs where the high ISO performance isn't as good as the more expensive bodies.

Second hand may be a bit of a minefield at the lowest prices, but buying from a reputable dealer with a shop you can visit and people you can go back to with issues shouldn't be a problem.
It would be the way to get a really good system capable of indoor action within budget.

[another view]

Hockey will be the main, but baseball or football will be there too. I am looking to spend around 600-1000

Unfortunately, low light levels and action are a pretty tough combination for a camera. Top professionals will use very expensive cameras and lenses for this, and there's a reason for it... Really fast cameras can keep up with this a lot better than most, so the "keeper rate" goes up. This doesn't mean that an XTI or another similar camera won't give you any decent shots, but it'll take more work and the percentage of good shots versus missed focus, etc will be lower. Not to imply that a fast camera is all you need - this is hardly the case.

To me, the difference between a pro and an amateur is that a pro has to come back with the shot. If an expensive camera and lens helps them do that, then it's worth it.

[Frog]

With a fast lens,(2.8), I'd think you'd be able to get some good shots of baseball or football with the xti. Sure it isn't going to be pro but you introduced yourself as a hobbyist as I am. Hockey will be more difficult as its inside.
I'd guess the xti is in your price range but the lens will probably set you back at least as much as the camera.
I think you can get away with something less than 2.8 for a lens outside if the action isn't under lights.
I got some decent shots of my grandkids playing baseball last year with my nikon 18-135 and those were at f/8 for most part.

[freygr]

I have to disagree there.
The XT series cameras aren't fast enough autofocussing to catch the action in an indoor arena. Even my 20D was too slow for indoor go kart racing.
I was astonished how slow it felt after my 1DmkIIN ... when before I bought the 1D I was happy with it for outdoor sport.

Also it's going to need an f/2.8 lens indoors, or push up the ISO and there again you run into the limitations of the XTs where the high ISO performance isn't as good as the more expensive bodies.

Second hand may be a bit of a minefield at the lowest prices, but buying from a reputable dealer with a shop you can visit and people you can go back to with issues shouldn't be a problem.
It would be the way to get a really good system capable of indoor action within budget.

I have to agree with you on the auto focus. With low light and micro photography you really can't use auto focus, with any camera but the pro camera that cost allot, do you have better low light auto focus (faster and lower light).

His problem is getting the fast lens and staying within his budget. He may have to purchase gray market to stay within his budget and even then it's really going to be a challenge.

[another view]

With a fast lens,(2.8), I'd think you'd be able to get some good shots of baseball or football with the xti. Sure it isn't going to be pro but you introduced yourself as a hobbyist as I am. Hockey will be more difficult as its inside.

I didn't mean to discourage or try to talk you into a second mortgage. It's not going to be impossible to get shots of hockey without top-end gear, just more difficult and actually that's good training. Outdoors during the day where the quantity of light is higher, you should be in pretty good shape.

One way of getting a fast lens for not a whole lot of money is a 50mm f1.8. These lenses are usually around $100 and that would be 1-1/3 stop faster than even f2.8. However, you'd have to be close to the ice and also be shooting something that's happening close to you. A 70-200 f2.8 lens would be great for hockey but they're very expensive. It's just a way of getting creative with equipment - won't always work but it may get you a few really interesting shots - again, good training.

Be sure to also check out the sports forum here on this website.