Digital SLR Camera and lens recommendations

Don't know what those cost or what your budget is, if you have one, but I got two of my three sons a digital for Christmas. I'm still a 35MM shooter (casual/non-expert) with a Minolta XG-1, and I can tell you that 200 MM with 2X converter is not enough and it sucks at night.

I got them each a Kodak Z740 5MP from Best Buy for <$300. It has 10X optical/5X digital lense meaning about 38MM-380MM compared to SLR camera. I'm going to borrow from one of them and try it out this year. (How can they say NO?)

If it's just a lense you're looking for, I'd say go for 500-600MM, based on my limited experience.

Recommend you check epinions.com also.
http://www.epinions.com/Camera_Lenses

I have a 10x optical/5x digital zoom digital right now, and it still doesn't reach out far enough and it's a couple of years old. Been the best camera for outdoor shots I've ever owned, but it's on it's last leg.

My budget is unkown right now as I haven't gotten final approval from the wife. Since she's the bread winner, I don't think the $1600 L glass lens I found online is gonna fly.

Nikon D200

Canon or Nikon...can't go wrong. I have the Canon 10D (no longer sold)...newer version is the 20D. I really like the photos I can get at college or HS games...I use a 100-400 zoom.

Link to previous discussion. http://hsbaseballweb.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6616002...641023721#9641023721

Generally if you have no budget you go for a high speed internal focus 80-200 or 300mm with a 2x teleconverter. Many fixed lens and zooms in excess of 300 mm are not made for sports photography (i.e. slow autofocus). Here's a link for Canon lens recomendaton for sports photo: http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Canon-Lenses/Canon-Outdoor-Sports-Lens.aspx

Kellerdad,
I agree to go with the Canon or the Nikon. I have a Canon Digital XT and very happy with it. I didn’t spring for a more expensive telephoto with image stabilization but opted for a standard (quite cheap) 75-300 zoom. I have shot outfielders using my 300 zoom and have been quite pleased with the results. But if my son were an outfielder I would look into something like an EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS (image stabilization) USM. While I haven’t done a lot of research on this lens I think it runs about $1,000.00.
I think a 300mm would be a minimum to shoot at outfield distances but as you probably already know when you start getting bigger and faster in lenses they tend to get bulky and expensive. I know in my case the finished product would be limited by my ability and not the equipment. Here's a camera and lens set-up just for you!

Keller Dad,

I'm currently using a Canon Rebel with at 100 to 300 zoom. If you son is an outfielder I would suggest you go to a 400 or higher zoom if you want those in your face shots. I have had great results in daylight situation with this setup however if the f-stop rating on your zoom lens is higher that f3 your going to have a problem stopping fast action shots for night games.(same for indoor basketball games)

Unfortunately the high speed lens with f-stops under f3 goes for big bucks. If someone's found a way to work around this problem I would love to hear it!

Good luck!

Jerseydad,
What did you end up deciding to do with your son. I remember a couple of threads back that you were considering various summer travel teams after your perfect game visit.

KD,

I just went thru this same evaluation. I chose the Nikon D70s. Seems to be a 'religion' thing, but most of the camera people I conferred with opined that the D70s is more camera than the Rebel XT. If you are patient, you might find an excellent price for the D70s kit. I got mine for $1K, then I found the new Nikkor 18-200 VR AF-s & purchased that. Now my 18-70 is on the market.

Remember that with a digital SLR the effective focal length of the lens is 1.5 times the published length. So a 400mm lens is delivering the performance of 600mm. The best parent photographer of our college team uses a Sigma 200-400mm f4-5.6 on a DSLR.

Having written all this, I have so much to learn about this camera. I still haven't taken but 1 or 2 pictures that I like with my new gear. But I'm not wasting $ on film to find out!

There are some great web sites & communities for Nikon help. I spend more time there than I do here, now.

Nikonians
Thon Hagean
Ken Rockwell lens review

PM me if want purchase details or pointers to web retailer reviews. I saved mucho dinero by purchasing via web. If I purchase locally I would go to Competitive Camera in Dallas. I will probably go down there and get some filters soon.

KD,
I currently have been using a Panasonic FZ-30 w/ a 1.7 teleconverter. Great camera but, low light is a problem.. I also am going to upgrade. I been researching everything and I think I've made my choice. The new Nikon D-200 has high ISO, 5-6 frames per second (which you need for action shots) and the reviews have been great! Along with the D-200 , a 70-200 2.8 sigma lens and a Nikon 1.4 teleconverter. This should give me everything I need for all sports I hope. Cost for everything will be under $3000. Anyone have any opinions on this set-up?

Moundmaster,

If my math is any good, that will stretch your effective focal length to almost 450mm. I have read great things about the D200, but that is past my comfort zome financially. Have you kicked around the Nikonians forums? Great info there. And as an aside , you interested in a mint, never unpacked, AF DX 18-70 Nikkor lens for your D200 body?

Moundmaster:

I think you'll love the combination you just described based on some recent research I've done.

Until now, I've shot baseball pricipally with a Nikon F100 (film) body attached to a Tokina 300mm F2.8 and Nikon 1.4x or 2x teleconverter. Having loved the F100, I've intentionally held off switching to digital until Nikon came to market with a body that, like the F100, comes close to the performance of its top-of-the-line, pro bodies (i.e. F6/D2x). Based upon everything I've read and heard, the D200 meets that standard. By the way, I've seen it recently on the internet for as low as $1,579.

As a proffesional photographer specializing in commercial advertising for 15 years with a 2008 baseball son I have been shooting baseball for a while with some pretty nice equipment. I am a Nikon guy , however I believe there is little difference these days between Canon and Nikon, especially at the 1K price level. I have shot the D100, followed by a D70 and now have a D200 in my hands. The earlier models, as a used purchase is probably worth the investment, however the D200 is by far the best with a larger screen, larger chip and quicker technology. You must remember a dig camera is a computor and every shot is processed using RAM before the next image is recorded. For you outfield parents I have found that an image from my 70-200 2.8 VR lense (incrediblly sharp lense for about $1300), shot RAW(no camera processing) at 200 asa and then cropped, sharpened and enlarged with Nikon or Photoshop software gave me a better image for the price then investing $3000+ in a super telephoto.(Although I am luckey enough to have one for my business, just don't like hauling it around everywhere. Most important thing to remember is "Always shoot largest, finest Jpegs available, or RAW if possible". Invest in a few more CF cards and never shoot the small jpegs. Inevitably you will get the shot of a lifetime and it will look like **** because it was shot small amd compressed so you can't even print it. For longer lenses (300mm and up)the key points are use a monopod, shoot at the lowest ASA possible to keep yor shutter speed at least at 1/60 for fielders, at least 1/250 to stop pitchers and 1/1000 to stop batters ( I suggest aperature setting at F4-5.6) and focus set on constant. And of course with a lense like that you can shoot right threw a fence as long as you are right up on it. I use the fence and my lense shade to help stabelize my camera. I avoid night games if possible because I'm never happy with the results but if you must shoot them try this, set your camera on the highest ASA available. You will get a real grainy, saturated effect almost like old time newspaper stuff.Great stuff to convert to B&W The more you blow it up the cooler (and grainier ) it gets. But don't expect to get the same quality at night as daylight, it just won't happen.
BTW, for a real treat and if money is no problem get the D2x.......and carry about 20 gig of CF cards because you will use them.
DM
www.d2prod.com
see 'events' for baseball photography samples

DD,
I would love to get the D2x but it's a little over my budget for a photo dad. I think the D200 is even a little high. But, I think I'm gonna strech for it. I like the 12 megs. Thanks for the info

Prepster,
Do ya remember where you saw the D200 for $1579?

Thanks to both of ya
Moundmaster

Well, it looks like that was last week's price, moundmaster. Royal Camera was offering it for that price; but, it looks like they've gone up to just about everyone else's level. Here's a link to a Froogle search result performed a few minutes ago:

Froogle Search Results

Thanks Prepster,
By the way.. Congrats on your sons articale in BA. There was a boy from our area that was at UNC. Garry Bakker from Suffern N.Y.. He played for a legion team our team played against. He was a great pitcher but it always seems we got the best of him.His High School coach was a coach for OUR legion team. LOL. Anyway.. thanks for the info

Thanks very much, moundmaster.

We think well of Garry and his folks. Unless something's changed in the off-season, I'm expecting him to be back with the White Sox organization this spring.

How about letting me know how you like the camera?

I have the Canon 20D and am very happy with it.

One reason I chose it over the Rebel or the Nikon D70 is the 5FPS burst vs the 3 FPS Burst for the Rebel and Nikon.

I have the 70-300 and the 300 is minimally acceptable for outfield pictures. I am considering getting the 1.4x or 1.7x teleconverter (probably only useful for day games)

Prepster,
Garry and his folks are great people.. his Dad and I always used to talk at the games. It was pretty funny. My son was a pitcher also and we both use to down talk our sons.LOL Garry was the better one though as he proved it. I will be buying the cam in the next couple weeks and I will let ya know.