Rex Photography
best nikon camera set up for sports photography?
will be getting into this field mainly horseracing. looking to spend $1500-3000 usd. any help appreciated!
Public Comments
- With a budget like that, you won't be able to buy the newest top of the line stuff. So my recommendations will keep that in mind. Let's start first with camera bodies: Used Nikon D2h: around $1000 from eBay, based on actual sales prices for completed items. 8 frames per second speed, 4 megapixels in resolution. Or New Nikon D200, about $1600 new, based on pricegrabber.com pricing comparisons. 5 frames per second speed, 10 megapixels in resolution. Your choice on camera...myself, I'd say the D200, but you might want those extra 3 frames per second instead of the extra resolution. Next, let's talk lenses.... If you're shooting in reasonably good light (i.e. daylight), then I'd suggest the Sigma 80-400 OS (optically stabilized) lens for about $1000 new. Good zoom range and the optical stabilization is a fantastic help. If you're shooting in dim lighting as well, then you might also get or substitute a Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 VR lens (about $1650). The zoom range isn't as good, but it's a much better lens for low light. I think that's about your limit in pricing in these combos: D200 + Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 = about $3300 D200 + Sigma 80-400mm OS = about $2700 used D2h + Sigma 80-400mm OS = $2000 used D2h + Sigma 80-400mm OS + Nikon 70-200=$3700. Hope that gives you some idea. Plus you'd need to add in about $40 for a couple of memory cards and maybe another $50 for a monopod.
- Watch the prices on Nikons. They just released 2 new dSLRs - the D3 and the D300 - so the prices on last years models will go down as christmas approaches. If you can hold off for a bit, do it. You'll save a bit of money that you can put towards a better lens.
- Your budget problem is not the cost of the camera body. The appropriate lens will be the high cost. A 400mm f/2.8 VR is nearly $9,000 http://www.adorama.com/NK40028AFVRU.html A 600mm f/4.0 VR is just under $10,000 http://www.adorama.com/NK6004AFVRU.html?searchinfo=600mm%20vr&item_no=1 http://www.dpreview.com/news/0708/07082310nikonsupertelelenses.asp
- when it comes to sports if you want a big fast lens, then the best set up is a canon........thats why 90% of sports pros use them buy a monopod, if you want to use nikon, then a used body without to many shutter accuations, and a F2-2.8 200mm and a doubler, or say a 3.5 - 4.5 or so 300mm,,,,,,,really 400mm would be best a
