Greetings Canonites: I'm a former daily newspaper reporter/editor who's always loved photography and shot with limited amateur/pro equipment for years. I now do a lot of very local freelance work -- mostly youth and prep sports (basketball to soccer and football, as well as professional polo and equestrian), as well as some news, mostly with my D30.
My equipment is limited to the D30, Canon 28-105 3.5/4.5 and Sigma 70-200 2.8 EX, as well as 550EX. I'm under-employed at the moment and cash supplies are low. My dilemma: Although I really like the Sigma, I need to send it back to the company for the second time in six months. Something is loose inside the lens, and I don't believe it is focusing as smoothly as when new (it seems to sputter much more than the Canon lens when in servo mode). At the same time, I need to send the 28-105 back after dropping it, causing a slightly bent barrel and not-so-accurate focusing. Obviously I need to borrow (fat chance) or buy some new glass. What should I get immediately? Since most of the upcoming sports involve longer glass, I figure I had better buy at least a 200mm lens. But that might not be so smart in the long run, considering I will eventually have the 70-200 back. I can't afford a 300 or longer 2.8 lens and I have an opportunity to buy a Canon 300 F/4 (non IS) L. Is this a smart buy, for about $700? It gets a 4.3 rating (out of 5) on Photodo.com. But will it suit me for football (probably not at night) and other fast moving sports, especially with the slow-focusing D30? Is this lens made any more? Or, first, should I get a 17-35 2.8 Canon or 17-35 2.8/3.5 Sigma? Will either of these lenses suit me with indoor sports such as basketball. I have also thought about picking up a used 50 mm 2.8, 1.8 or 1.4 Canon lens for such things as basketball (making use of the 1.6 magnification of the D30). Sorry this is so long. I will appreciate any and all advice, hopefully keeping me on the right track as a I try to build a stock of pro equipment. Regards, ----------------------------------------- Bob Markey II http://www.PalmsWestPress.com Royal Palm Beach/Wellington, Fla. ------------ Realtor-associate Continental Properties, Inc. Specializing in central Palm Beach County http://www.WellingtonHomes.com * **** ******* *********************************************************** * For list instructions, including unsubscribe, see: * http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/eos_list.htm ***********************************************************
