Sports Gear..

A quick question regarding some gear that you all my be able to recommend.

I have been practicing with my Canon 30D and I am going to order a new lens. I was going to order the 70-200 L non-IS and get a good monopod. I am shooting gymnastics and wrestling..Some Baseball (little league)..

I need some input of a good monopod. Any suggestions for this lens and camera setup?? I figure I may want a monopod to steady the setup instead of going to an IS lens. I could get the IS but would you all still recommend a monopod?? And wich one??

Any help is appreciated...

Phil...

Attempting to be the guru of kid sports in my neighborhood....

In my opinion you don't need a monopod and you don't need an IS lens. If you are shooting at 200mm with this lens and can get a shutter speed of at least 1/200, you should be fine. I would start using a monopod if you're using big glass like the 300 2.8L or the 400 2.8L but with the 70-200 2.8L I think a monopod will restrict your movement with this lens. Instead, work on your posture, how to hold the camera and your breathing. I think you'll find that when you cradle this lens, shoot with your breath inhaled or exhaled and learn not to "jerk" the shutter, you'll do just fine and become the guru of sports in your neighborhood.

Skip the monopod and learn to shoot hand held. Even with some 400mm lenses you can shoot hand held (although I don't suggest doing it the first time at Indy like I did for an entire day! :) ) Monopods are not only restricting, but dangerous, especially around high school and younger athletes. Worse yet are these people I see at football games using TRIPODS on the sidelines! I can't count the number of times one woman hit me with her tripod.

The 70-200 non IS is OK, however I think you will find that for gymnastics and other indoor sports the IS version will get you more "keepers". The IS version doubled my keepers at some very poorly lit venues over the non-IS version.

JS

Go for the is and skip the monopod.

First thing I learned here was to lose mine. I've had a lot of neck and shoulder problems for the last month and keep getting yelled at to use my monopod. I refuse. After losing it I feel it really inhibits me from getting good shots. Also I don't feel like I can take off and run like I need to when a pack of boys are running full steam ahead right at me. Last thing I need is to be tripping over that thing or huring someone else with it.

what'd you shoot handheld? a 400mm f/4? If you tell me a 400mm f/2.8, i won't believe it.

Phil, I'm gonna go against the grain here. I shoot a lot of sports and always use a monopod. Practically all of my shots are done with the 70-200L 2.8 IS lens, whcih has a base (for lack of better word) attached to it for a trypod / monopod. I find that when I'm hand-holding this lens that base gets in the way for zooming in / out. When I'm using the monopod it's no longer an issue because the weight of the camera / lens is not on me but the monopod. I've always shot from the sidelines and never had a problem getting out of the way from a sideline run or being in the players way. I guess it's a personally preference. But when your out there shooting all day and you have that camera / lens hanging from your neck, it can make for a long day. So my vote is for the monopod.

Just thought you should see the other side of the coin as well.

Jim

Homer,
Even though it's called a neck strap you should never put it around your neck, but carry the camera on your shoulder when carrying it. This is more important the heavier the camera body and lens. Putting the strap around your neck is asking for neck problems.

Using the monopod on tyhe sidelines is dangerous, and I hope that those of you using them have really good liability insurance in case some kid gets hurt because of your using a monopod. I have been hit by people using monopods and it doesn't feel too good and I can only imagine how it would feel to kid going full speed and gets speared. It's really worth learning to use your camera without the monopod, and if you can'y handle the weight then go with smaller/lighter gear.

Liven,
The day I used the 400's I used all three, although the f2.8 wasn't used for long, maybe 20-25 shots. The DO is the easiest and lightest to shoot with, but I used the f4 for most of the day and lugged it around the entire track. It's not something I'd suggest doing every day though :)

JS

I don't even use a neck-strap anymore, I just have a hand-strap attached to the grip of the camera. It makes more sense.

I don't personally suggest a monopod with the 70-200. It's a small enough lens that you can easily handhold it. If you use a monopod, you may feel restricted in your movements, like I have. I only use a monopod with the 70-200 in very low lit situations, where I need to minimize camera shake as much as possible. and you shouldn't technically be carrying your camera around with a neck strap if it's a telephoto lens, because this can cause damage to the contacts and the mount. THe best way to carry it is by the lens. THis matters less when you start to get into the pro line such as the 1d, because the body's weight gets closer to the lens' weight. But with smaller cameras, I would not recommend just letting the lens hang.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by livin4lax09

, because this can cause damage to the contacts and the mount. THe best way to carry it is by the lens. THis matters less when you start to get into the pro line such as the 1d, because the body's weight gets closer to the lens' weight. But with smaller cameras, I would not recommend just letting the lens hang.

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LOL, reminds me of a friend who was shooting a golf match (that he wanted me to shoot for him, but I won't go near a golf course :D :thumbsup: ) and he was running from one area to another and suddenly realized his pro Nikon felt "lighter". He grabbed the body only to find his lens was missing....the lens mount was still on the body but the lens wasn't :eek:

As for shoulder carrying your camera, no, it isn't suggested with say a plastic body such as the Rebel 300D, but it is OK with any of the metal bodies. I don't suggest doing this though with the 300 and up lenses, even with the 1D bodies.

JS

When I shoot I never put the camera strap around my neck because with a 70-200 2.8L on 90% of the time it weights a ton and makes my neck sore plus it's just dangling out there and I don;t want that. I handhold at all times but what I do is hold the strap out, bring my hand up and through and then do it again. The strap is then wound around my wrist twice so when I hold the camera up I have a very tight grip and I think this helps hold the camera steady when I shoot. Plus, running up and down the sidelines my camera isn't hanging on my shoulder and won't get bumped. With it wrapped tightly around my wrist I can control the camera and keep it safe. This is the same concept a rifleman or hunter uses. They'll wrap the rifle strap around their arm on the hand that hold the barrel. This give them more stability when aiming the weapon. Works for me, anyway.

Thank you to all !!! Good info here...I keep going between the IS and non-IS.... I think I will go with the non-IS.. I think if I work on my hold I can steady the camera. I shoot rifle and pistol competitions and do a lot of firearms instruction, so maybe if I can learn to keep my weapon steady I can steady a camera...Lets hope !!!!!

Thanks...Phil

Phil,

I tried shooting with the 70-200mm and a monopod once. It is way too restricting for that lens, and you end up missing shots because you're messing with the monopod. When you get your lens, spend a weekend just practicing taking shots with your rig.