[ygmt13]

Hi,

i have been shooting on my Fujifilm S5100 for almost 2 years now, and am sick of it's shutter lag, and lighting problems.

i usually shoot my pictures at sporting events, and am wondering which camera i should buy, as well as a lens. Low shutter lag and high shutter speed are imperative. i cant stand blur every time i take a picture.

I can probably go a tad over 1000 dollars total, but i would like to keep it there.

Thnx in advance

[stepheno]

A quick calculation shows that 1,000 dollars equates to about £530, easier for me to think that way Well we know your budget and we know you shoot sports which is a good start. Are you intending to get DSLR or get a new bridge camera?

If it's DSLR you want then for that sort of money I'd be looking at the Canon Rebel XTi (our 400D) or the Nikon D80 - both have good burst speed which is good for sports. You will have to consider which lens to buy with it - but that's another question and more money. You might also consider Pentax, Olympus or Sony DSLR camera as they have Anti-shake built into the camera. You really need to do an in-depth comparison of possible cameras, a lot of reading and probably more questions here. Hope that helps for starters.

Alternatively if you want to stay with bridge cameras then ask again and we can have a look at that route.

[ygmt13]

ok, i've done alot of reading, comparing the Rebel XTi Vs. the D80.

I would lean towards the D80, but thats pricey.

would it be better to get a D70s because it has a 1/500th shutter sync?

the fortunate part is i can get a D80 from my mom, b/c i got 6 A's (out of 8) on my report card this quarter, but i'm limmited by the fact that lenses that have a fast AF needed for sports cost near 400 bux.

I would look for a Telephoto Zoom lens, as i would be sitting in Fenway (or Gillette and TDBN Garden) and would probably need a Zoom. i;ve heard there are discontinued lenses that have these specs, and a fast AF, but i cant find any on the web. any suggestions?

[Dave]

D70's are a steal at the moment s/h. Unless blowing up prints to serious poster sizes you would probably not tell the difference between a well taken shot on the D70 vs D80. Go for it WIth the money saved it could help get the Telephote you are after

[stepheno]

If you can get a D80 from your mom does that leave you with a thousand bucks for a lens? Or does your mom charge you

[ygmt13]

no, im reasoning that since the D80, i can find at a trustworthy site for a little less than 900 bux, so i would figure i can equate that to a 1000 dollar limit for "camera equipment"

[stepheno]

OK - then I would agree with Dave about the D70. You will need to spend some on a decent zoom for sports and for a thousand bucks you are not going to get the ideal set-up - ut getting a D70 will leave you some cash for a lens. Why not post a question about zoom lenses for sport?

[Dixie]

If you want to get up close in sports venues like baseball stadiums then you are going to need to consider a 300mm lens as necessary. Anything less and you'll be getting little people in big spaces. Given the financial limitations you need to gor a zoom and I suggest you make it one that will cover you from just larger than a standard lens, maybe a 70 to 300mm.

You can get a decent one from Sigma that will cover that range, give you macro options as well and still keep you under $300 so that would allow you $700 for your camera which might be increased slightly if I am reading you right concerning your reward for a good report card (well done btw, keep it up!)

I am guessing you are a Bostonian as you mentioned Fenway (Park I am assuming) where the Boston Red Sox play. The reason I mention that is the weather and thus quality of light. In summer and autumn you will have some strong lighting and some gorgeous colours in autumn (fall to you :o)), this matters because of the relatively narrow aperture you will get from a cheaper lens.

There really are quite a few factors to consider but if it is sport you want, the thing that really matters is having a good telephoto and a camera that can shoot at a decent speed. As a general rule, Nikon lenses tend to be a touch more expensive than canon lenses but independent lenses tend to be the same for both mounts so a Sigma lens on either will be the same.

Don't be afraid of looking at second hand, especially for the lens. There are lots of bargains to be had as long as you know what you're looking for, know the prices new of the lenses you see so you can get a good price and check the lens carefully for scratches, fungus, etc.

I wish you well in narrowing down exactly what you should get and maybe we'll be seeing some Red Sox shots on here come the spring :o)

I am not an American by the way so am just guessing on that side of things. I have been through all of this search ad nauseum as I want to upgrade too

Cheers,
Dixie

[ygmt13]

Dixie, thnx, btw you're right, i am from Boston.

i have one last question, where besides e-bay do i get these secondhand lenses? thnx!

[sweet_sac]

Originally Posted by Dixie

I wish you well in narrowing down exactly what you should get and maybe we'll be seeing some Red Sox shots on here come the spring :o)

GO SOX!!!!!!

Daisuke Matsuzaka #1

[ygmt13]

why did we pay 51.1 million just to talk to the guy? id rather have a closer...

[sweet_sac]

Sorry to go off-topic but......

The Sox really needed starting pitching - remember what happened last year with all the injuries? This way we have Paps, Schill, D-Mat, Beckett and Wake with some options if we get any injuries.

I dont know who'll close, but the Rocket would be tremendous!