DSLRUsers.com

Hi everyone,
I am heading off to the WakeWars Event in Glenelg, South australia in two weeks, and with an absense in my bag for a lens longer than 135mm, I am looking for something with a bit more reach.

Now I am planning on getting on the back of the tow boats, though no garuntee, so I was looking at a Sigma 150-500, but on the back of the boat, this may be a little too much reach, and other suggestions from anyone?

i've never shot it but sounds like fun...i have a sigma 50-500 f4-6.3 for sale at the moment $950 + postage....might be a better option

bwhatnall wrote:Hi everyone,
I am heading off to the WakeWars Event in Glenelg, South australia in two weeks, and with an absense in my bag for a lens longer than 135mm, I am looking for something with a bit more reach.

Now I am planning on getting on the back of the tow boats, though no garuntee, so I was looking at a Sigma 150-500, but on the back of the boat, this may be a little too much reach, and other suggestions from anyone?

i would have thought the 18-135 would have worked out pretty good ?

Sigma 100-300 F4, Ive got one, its a great lens.
You going through vic to get there? you can borrow mine if you want

Mick

Haha, thanks guys, yea, I phoned a high up wakeboarding photographer in the US, and he reccomended a 70-200 f/2.8, simply for the speed, and it is perfect reach from the back of the boat. It is in Adelaide, otherwise i would love to borrow that 100-400, sorry.

Now to look for a place to hire a 70-200 from withought paying 2 grand

ljxphotography wrote:Sigma 100-300 F4, Ive got one, its a great lens.
You going through vic to get there? you can borrow mine if you want

Mick

I payed $1500 for the 100-300, I have seen it for around $1200.
Its a very sharp lens, sharper than my 80-200 Nikkor.
70=200 is a good lens .

Mick

if you are going to be on the back of a boat, getting splashed may be an issue, you may want a weatherproof cover or a waterproof case protecting your gear...

and +1 for the 70-200...

I definitely think the 70-200 is a good choice. I shoot a fair bit of wakeboarding and it's always at around 200 or a bit less if you are getting high jumps, which you probably will be at the competition. Should be some great tricks there!

I shoot wakeboarding with a 100-400 lens and it is almost always at 200mm during the event from the back of the boat..

70-200 is perfect from the back of the boat, I wouldn't worry about getting splashed in a wakeboard comp type boat, we own a mailbu wakesetter and very very rarley do you get wet shooting.

Hi Brooke,

As people have mentioned, shooting from the back of the boat you'll need atleast 100mm+, So Ideally the 70-200 F2.8 is a good option. If you can't get into the boat and you have to shoot from the shore, you'll probably need a bit more then 200mm to get a good close shot of the rider and the wake in frame (not sure how strict they will be at wakewars, It is a pretty high key event for wakeboarding so the boat may be tight for room). You wont have to worry about getting wet either.

Just keep in mind the only time you will be able to get into the boat is before or after a hole heat/final has been run, and once your in the boat, you can't leave until heat/final has finished. The weight in the boat has to remain even through the hole heat for it to be fair for every rider, which means noone can enter or leave the boat once a heat has started. So be prepared to be in there for a long time if you do get in, and take some water!

Hi Brooke I live 15 min away and I can sell a 75-100 sigma that is VERY sharp.I tested this on my D700 against the 120-300 sigma f2.8 and I would rate it within 5% as sharp of a lens renowned for its sharpness--inmotion

Brooke Have you organised a seat in the boat/s yet? I was speaking to another of ADL's togs today, and he has been invited to shoot this show (As have I) and the impression he had was they werent going to let even the invited togs shoot from the boat?
The Pat also lends itself nicely to shore shots depending on lighting direction and also how lensed up you are.

I will be using either a 300 or 70-200 from shore, depending where they lay the course this time.

I am only going for a few hours as I am a bit over shooting currently.

Cheers.
(The other) Brook.

Im hoping to head down to this for a little while, although not lucky enough to have the opportunity to shoot from the boat im using my 100-400 and 50d for the event, cant wait to give shooting wakeboarding a try, cant wakeboard but shit it looks fun....