How about strobes?

[JSPhoto]

Man, you guys got it good. Our coach hates flashes. No flashes. Nada. He is on a 3 championship run, and finished the season ranked #1 in the nation last year, so I defer to his judgement ;)

I shot a round that pleased the kids last night, so I figure when I get a nice fast 2.8 I'll be set.

It really depends on the sport Scott. Some of the restraints on use of flash are put into the rules by the state athletic association, and, unless it specifically says that flash cannot be used in that sport the coaches are overruled, therefore if I need flash at a location I WILL use it no matter what the coach says or thinks.
There are some sports where they do not want flash, it's in the IHSAA rules, and thats fine, but for say volleyball, if I am shooting at certain places I will ask both coaches before the event if it's ok to shoot with flash. Only once did I have a coach say no. The paper dealt with that situation very nicely and did not cover another game the rest of the year. When the coach bitched the sports editor told her why, she never said no again!

As for football, there is no excuse for a coach to say no flash unless your in a dome where the lighting is great, but not many high schools play games in a dome, or on bright sunny Saturdays. If I were a coach I'd want the photographers to get the best possible shots and use flash. Whats he do, tell visiting photographers they can't use flash? Good luck, especially outside at night. There are very few outdoor fields I wouldn't use a flash at, and off hand I can really come up with 1 of all of them I have been to.

JS

[livin4lax09]

the ebay slaves apparently work for a distance of 100 ft. They're about 30-40 shipped I believe. Cheap, but they work. Look into pocketwizards if you're looking for higher quality. I want to get a microsync, they look really fun.

[HRZag]

Woah, that Roberts thing is pretty cool.

Not sure what an "ebay slave" is and haven't looked into a "pocketwizard".

Should I just put the money towards a fixed 2 .8 Zoom? On my little zoom, fully extended, it would be at 5.6. I know that means the 2.8 would double the light (right?) is that enough of a differance.

From reading other threads, I could slow the shutter speed down a bit (from 400) and shooting at ISO 1600, Noise Ninja cleans that up.

I would prefer not to use a flash, but had never even considered the strobes. Not that I would ever buy the whole strobe setup. It was intruiging thinking about using someone elses.

Thanks again for your comments, on this and on all the other threads. They really are very helpful.

Ed

[JSPhoto]

HRZag,
Most sports shooters have at least a 70-200 f2.8 lens as it's good for everything, but yes, the f2.8 is a huge gain and a lot faster than f5.6, it will allw for lower light. Depending on what your shooting flash may also help a ton, but certain things you can't use flash for, others you have no choice...depends on what your shooting and where.

JS

[JSPhoto]

Well I didn't expect this! It looks as though I am in the market for a set of two strobes and transmitter.
A new deal I am working on will require some creative lighting for portraits in different locations. I need a set that can be setup and broken down fast as I will have to run from location to location. I guess I'm also looking into a remote as well.
This project just "appeared", and it could mean a huge jump in business for me overall as well.

JS

[Old Timer]

This project just "appeared", and it could mean a huge jump in business for me overall as well.

JS

Hope it means a huge jump in income as well. It sounds like things are really happening for you.

[JSPhoto]

Hope it means a huge jump in income as well. It sounds like things are really happening for you.

Yup, it will definately add to the "funds" side of things

[livin4lax09]

check out the flashpoints at adorama. From what I hear, they're pretty good, and not all that expensive either.