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Question: Is a lens with f/2!.8 *really* needed!?
If you were shooting a HS football game at twilight/night would you *really* need a lens with f/2!.8!? That's what everyone keeps telling me, but I've been told there were alot of things I couldn't do with with my camera that I've pulled off!.

Be honest: Is it *really* necessary!? Or could I get by with an f/3!.5 or f/4!?

The reason I ask is because I am need of a lens in a hurry and I don't have time at the moment to save up for something better!. This would just be a temporary lens until I could afford a better one!.Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
I shoot using a canon 70-200 F4 on a Rebel XT!. It barely makes the grade!. I shoot division II college games!.

I hate night games!. I need to go to ISO 1600 (I gradually move there from ISO 400 as the night gets darker - I postpone it as long as I can!), and the rebel isn't great there!. I am in manual exposure mode, set the shutter at 1/250 and the aperture of course at F4!. It does OK for the web, but I would be reluctant to try and print an 8x10 of the photo!. I wind up lightening up some of the pics in photoshop!.

You don't get much blur in some cases: When you take pictures of the teams lined up, or when there is a mass of players crunched together making a block or a tackle, or when you have a player running toward you!.

You need a shutter speed of about 1/1000 to freeze a thrown pass, so the ball will be blurred on most any passes!. A player running perpendicular to your lens is also going to be a little blurry!. But hey, sometimes that works! It doesn't hurt to show some movement/action!.

If you have an opportunity to photograph a practice, it will help you at the game!.

Good Luck!










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Try shooting it with the lens you have!. After you review the photos you will know the answer!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

use a flash
look at 85mm or 105mm and you will find fast multipurpose lenses that will work and you will use it for other photographyWww@QuestionHome@Com

Fast lenses have other advantages besides your statement here!. In low light conditions fast lenses offer brighter focusing abilities, especially with AF lenses!. The image as seen thru the camera's viewfinder is brighter, crisper and more contrasty so making sure what your seeing and photographing is easier and better!.

Fast(er) lenses also have better DOF control (Depth Of Field) and one can isolate their subject easier with this ability of selective focus!.

Slower lenses do allow you to use higher ISO (ASA) settings but then you have induced noise, as you would if you used faster film, grain, and your images lose quality!.

Faster lenses are not just a factor of being larger in diameter!. They are often made differently too!. Different # of elements in a different arrangement of groups and often with ED or LD glass to control chromic aberration (color fringing) and to assure the crispness is there!.

In the 200mm range a 2!.8 is quite nice, in a 300mm, 2!.8 it is just awesome, but look at the prices!. A 300mm f/4 isn't too shabby tho and a whole lot cheaper, not to mention lighter!.

One fact about these fast lenses is if they are not used at their maximum aperture, you have waisted your money!. Meaning if you buy a 2!.8 telephoto and shoot at f4 or more, why did you buy such a fast lens!.!.!?

I have and use a 55mm f/1!.2 and I use it entirely for the very shallow DOF it has as well as seeing in very low light!. Now, this isn't one of the sharpest lenses at wide open, but in the center of the image it is quite nice, but it is what it is, and I use it that way!.

So, again, the fast lenses allow you and the camera to see and work faster, especially in lower light levels and light is what is needed to focus with and expose pixels (and film) with!. Many also make excellent portrait lenses too, again, for the DOF, especially my 85mm 1!.8!.!.!.

Bob - TucsonWww@QuestionHome@Com

When compared to f/3!.5 or f/4, no!. f/3!.5 is two thirds of a stop slower, f/2!.8 gets you two thirds of a stop faster shutter speed!. Depending on the level of sensitivity your camera is capable of, two thirds of a stop in ISO is not significant enough to make any difference - honestly!. But, camera manufacturers have to sell fast lenses for top dollar, and people who buy them have to justify their purchase - so there you go!. f/1!.4 makes more of a difference, that's 2 stops faster than f/2!.8 and can make a difference!. But, there are no telephoto lenses over 85mm (typically) that are that fast!. So, you're not missing anything!. f/2!.8 is overrated, in my opinion!. If you have a slower telezoom, you can still get good results if you can bump your ISO to get a decent shutter speed!.Www@QuestionHome@Com