Camera for action sports?

Knine

I'm hoping to get a Camera, maybe in the sales for taking action dog sports photos?

Any ideas? I have read though some of the threads about the various types etc. Can anyone recommend a decent one on a budget?

Something like this be any use for action shots? with some zoom too?

Canon EOS 600D

Or would the Nikon D3100 Digital SLR Camera be enough?

Sorry if this has been asked dozens of times.:o

I have Canon compact IXUS and anything would be an improvement

Corkbah

can you explain what "action dog sports photos" are ?

...if its images of dogs at the track, the key will be lenses....lighting is often bad at dog tracks.

if its hare coursing ... a long lens is essential.

both cameras will focus fast and are capable of captioning action images.....just how sharp those images are will depend on getting a quality lens to go with the camera.

Knine

Oh no blood sports here :eek:

It would be dog agility shots, dog showing etc.

The camera I have just leaves me with blurred photos!

tororosso

Knine wrote: »

I'm hoping to get a Camera, maybe in the sales for taking action dog sports photos?

Any ideas? I have read though some of the threads about the various types etc. Can anyone recommend a decent one on a budget?

Something like this be any use for action shots? with some zoom too?

Canon EOS 600D

Or would the Nikon D3100 Digital SLR Camera be enough?

Sorry if this has been asked dozens of times.:o

I have Canon compact IXUS and anything would be an improvement

A Canon 60D would be a good start for sports and a 50D wouldn't be a bad bet second hand. You could get a decent set up from adverts. For a lens it depends on what you are looking to do? Greyhound racing would be in bad light so a better lens would be necessary with an aperture of f2.8 which would unfortunately push up the budget as you would be looking at a 70-200mm lens with Canon.

However if it is out in fields during the day a Sigma 50-500 mm lens would tick most boxes. It is bad for aperture if it was a dull dark day but on a bright sunny day it gives great reach, can be handheld, and is not as expensive as the more expensive fixed focal length lenses. I've seen them going second hand on adverts for less than half their RRP. Hope this helps a little

Corkbah

Knine wrote: »

Oh no blood sports here :eek:

It would be dog agility shots, dog showing etc.

The camera I have just leaves me with blurred photos!

issue is more than likely your shooting on program mode (or the camera doesnt allow you to use manual/shutter priority etc) ...learn a little about photography (sorry if that sounds rude) .... shoot in shutter priority mode (TV) and that should stop the blur (depending on the speed of the action 1/200 of a second, 1/250th of a second ....or faster 1/400th (you may need to increase the ISO to compensate for any limitations on your lenses)

if you learn/understand the relationship between ISO/Aperture/Shutter Speed/depth of field etc etc ...things will become clearer.

stuar

A camera with a decent drive and buffer, 8 frames per second or so will capture the in between bits you'll miss with slower drive, then a decent fast lens, the focal lenght depends on how close you can get to the subject, then a flash if required with additional external power source to try keep up with the FPS.

To be honest I'm not that well up on the latest camera's, but 2nd hand theres a lot of good camera's out there.

Even 2nd hand can be expensive.

I'm not into animal cruelty, but explain a little more and I could probably help you out a little, as in a loan of a decent camera and len's that have been gathering dust. All I need is your passport, I could get more for that than the equipment...:D

Corkbah

[QUOTE=stuar;82176174]A camera with a decent drive and buffer, 8 frames per second or so will capture the in between bits you'll miss with slower drive, then a decent fast lens, the focal lenght depends on how close you can get to the subject, then a flash if required with additional external power source to try keep up with the FPS.

To be honest I'm not that well up on the latest camera's, but 2nd hand theres a lot of good camera's out there.

Even 2nd hand can be expensive.

I'm not into animal cruelty, but explain a little more and I could probably help you out a little, as in a loan of a decent camera and len's that have been gathering dust. All I need is your passport, I could get more for that than the equipment...:D[/QUOTE]

no offence intended...but if you dont have money you can do it the "old Skool" way of learning to get the timing right when shooting, just because a camera takes 8fps doesnt mean it will capture bits you'll miss with a slower drive...its about timing, knowing your subject and pressing the button at the correct fraction of a second to get the image that you pictured in your mind.

having a big fancy expensive camera (and lens) basically helps eliminate the need to actually use your brain ...simply press the button when subject is nearly in frame and ...click click click click.... chances are you'll get one that you like.

or

watch whats happening ...wait for your opportunity and ...click...get the image....practice makes perfect, it might take 5 or 10 attempts before you learn what time is best to press the button.

stuar

Corkbah wrote: »

no offence intended...but if you dont have money you can do it the "old Skool" way of learning to get the timing right when shooting, just because a camera takes 8fps doesnt mean it will capture bits you'll miss with a slower drive...its about timing, knowing your subject and pressing the button at the correct fraction of a second to get the image that you pictured in your mind.

having a big fancy expensive camera (and lens) basically helps eliminate the need to actually use your brain ...simply press the button when subject is nearly in frame and ...click click click click.... chances are you'll get one that you like.

or

watch whats happening ...wait for your opportunity and ...click...get the image....practice makes perfect, it might take 5 or 10 attempts before you learn what time is best to press the button.

Fair point and correct in every sense, I learned it the old school way with Canon A1, then F1, then Pentax 67, no add on drives or auto focus, just patience, but a fast drive will catch the things I often missed, especially if you dont know the next move coming and OP did say dog shows and agility which I imagine is like krypton factor for dogs.

Knine

Thanks guys for your help

@ stuar. Thanks for your very kind offer but I will probably be needing my passport soon:p

LeoB

I use an Eos 40 d for sports and find it very good. It would be ideal for what you want to do and I know as I have taken shots of dogs for nephew when he is training them. Learn a little about shutter speeds T.V and study your events and you will see your images getting better.

You can pick up a second hand 40d for between €300 and €400 with a lens. I would suggest then you get something llike a 55-250 zoom lens which is decent budget lens with decent optics.