What to buy for sports shooting?

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MarkH67

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#2350736 9-Nov-2019 13:44

I've created some saved searches on Trademe - "70-200 f2.8", "24-70 f2.8", "7D Mark II" and "5D Mark III". My aim is to look at what is available and to watch out for new listings, if I spot a good deal on something I want then I can bid on it and also I can watch to see what it sells for, giving me a better idea of what to expect to pay for the gear I'm looking at.

I did put in a bid on a 5D MkIII that came with a 24-70 f2.8 because that was an auction for 2 items from my list and it was sitting on a really cheap price. When it was at $2.2k I put in an autobid for $2.5k. Unfortunately one of the other bidders put in higher bids until it passed my autobid and I didn't really want to get in a bidding war. I think maybe I should have tried a bit higher because it ended up selling for only $20 higher than my autobid, but the other bidder would have probably bid more if they had to. It was a very low usage camera with under 10k shutter activations, so it was barely used.

Now I'm looking at one of the 7D Mk II cameras on TM, I'd rather not pay as much as the buy now price, but if I could buy the camera for the opening bid price then it would not be a bad deal.

The lenses I want are not as common, but I figure that I have a decent amount of time to wait for them to come up. I've had enough of cheaper lenses and really want to get the good quality sharp lenses that I can be happy with for many years, even if I end up mounting them with an adaptor on a future camera.

If Canon would hurry up and put out a truly good new model that had everything I wanted (or really close to everything) then I'd probably just buy a new camera and give Canon a nice chunk of money. I really think they need to do better because they are currently losing more and more market share to Sony. Until the new cameras are better I'm just going to spend less on 2nd hand and I'm pretty sure that the cameras I'm looking at are capable of taking VERY good photos, despite their age and lack of certain features.

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#2350745 9-Nov-2019 14:13

also got a well used 70-200 f/4 L IS + a not much used 5D Mk 3 for sale here ... pm if interested

70-200 - $900, comes with box. 4 yrs old so i'm told. one owner (not me). NZ new. always used with filter, though there is a very fine scratch on the front glass but only from a certain angle. some chipped paint.

5D Mk 3 - just over 5 years. don't know shutter count, but kept in dry box (i'm the only owner). NZ new, i'd say i could count the number of occasions i used it. but i did have a blonde moment, while trying to remove one dust from the mirror (not the sensor) i scratched the mirror, so you can see a scratched mirror on the viewfinder but the sensor and the rest of the camera is fine, and from the way i have babied it it's had a pretty sheltered easy life and has hardly seen the sun, poor thing. $1500.

waiting for a no fees trademe weekend to sell there ...

MarkH67

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#2353420 14-Nov-2019 16:31

I've managed to get a 7D MkII with battery grip for the opening bid price, should have that in a few days. I prefer having a battery grip - I have one on my 10D and I had put one on the 40D (sold it when the camera stopped working). Buying a new battery grip for the 7D MkII would have cost over $400, so heaps saved by buying a camera with the grip already on it. Once i get a 70-200 f2.8 IS on the camera it will be pretty heavy all up, but I'm OK with that.

MarkH67

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#2359595 23-Nov-2019 07:03

I've now read through the manual (mainly to figure out how to use the focusing options) and had a play with my 7D MkII. It is a seriously nice camera to use and probably all I really need to handle anything I need a 'good camera' for. Mostly I just need to get some lenses and some other accessories now.

I only have my nifty fifty (50 f1.8 II) which does a good job:

But I'll definitely need a 70-200 for the WRC (as well as for many other things) and a 24-70 for the useful range that offers. For wider I could either buy a FF camera and mount the 24-70 on it or I could buy a Canon 16-35 f4L IS lens which looks like a really good lens at a reasonable price.

I'm currently thinking that as nice as a 5D MkIII might be, I might just wait for a FF mirrorless that isn't rubbish. (I know the EOS-R can take really good photos, but it totally sucks in a few ways that makes it a no-go for me).

Apart from 2 or 3 lenses, I do need some other stuff. I've ordered some 64GB SD cards because they are fairly cheap. Once I get another fortnight's pay (next Thursday) I'll order a couple of 64GB CF cards (damn, CF cards are a LOT more expensive than SD cards - over 4 x the price!). I am also looking at the remote (under $35) and maybe a WiFi card (around $100). I also could do with a new tripod, something that goes down to a nice small size that is easily transported by motorcycle, currently considering the Benro FGP18A + B1 Ball head.

I'll also buy some batteries. The camera came with the battery grip, but only 1 battery. I'd like at least 4 batteries total so I can have 2 in the grip and a spare 2 to swap to in case I ever run out of juice. Probably 2 fully charged batteries will last all day with plenty left over, but there could be times where I don't get the opportunity to charge up overnight. I might also need another charger to allow charging 2 batteries at once.

Right now I'm VERY happy with my new camera. My thanks to those that recommended the 7D MkII, definitely a good match to my needs!

MarkH67

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#2368365 4-Dec-2019 20:26

I've had a hunt through my stuff and found my old 550EX Speedlite that I bought 15 years ago. It still works as good as ever and gives me a decent flash range (way more than a built in flash can ever match) as well as being able to bounce the flash off the ceiling.

I also found my Sigma 18-50 DC lens, it's a cheapie but does provide an OK wide angle from the crop sensor.

I've got my 64GB Sandisk Extreme CF & SD cards - enough for thousands of shots when shooting RAW + JPG.

I bought a couple of Wasabi batteries and a charger that can charge 2 batteries at once from a USB power source - it is even QC2 compatible for 18W charging.

Today my Benro FGP18A GoPlus Travel tripod (Aluminium version) arrived and I've mounted a Sirui K-30x ball head. I've very impressed with this travel tripod and also with this ball head. With the ball head mounted on the tripod it still fits into its carry bag. With the legs unlocked and swung up over the centre post/ball head the tripod is quite small when packed up - very useful for motorcycle travel. It also makes a pretty usable mono-pod when combining the centre post with the removable leg - that might come in handy at the Rally of New Zealand when shooting with a heavy lens!

I have bought both the WiFi card and the infrared remote, so I have 2 different ways of triggering the camera remotely, very handy for tripod shooting (like long exposure shots of waterfalls).

I'm now pretty well set up with everything I need - except for the 2 expensive lenses. I'm watching TradeMe auctions for 24-70 f2.8L II lenses and 70-200 f2.8L IS II lenses to get a better idea of what a good price is for a 2nd hand specimen in good condition. I'll even consider buying a 70-200 f2.8L IS III brand new if I can't get a good enough bargain on a 2nd hand lens. It seems that some sellers look at what they paid for their lens or what the recommended retail price is, then they price their 2nd hand lens based on that. But there is a really wide range of prices you can pay for a new lens and even a parallel imported lens would be better than a 2nd hand one.

I'll need to leave buying the lenses for a few months, as I've spent heaps already and I have a 4-week holiday coming up that I'll need money for. But it shouldn't be a problem to get the good lenses well before the start of September.

MarkH67

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#2483675 14-May-2020 12:58

I haven't yet added anything since my last post, but the WRC coming to NZ at the start of September will presumably not be happening, so all urgency is gone.

I'm still keen to get a 70-200 f2.8L IS lens, mainly because it is a VERY good lens that would be useful for sports, portraiture, cats and all sorts of various photography uses! I've been watching Trademe auctions and a MkII version in good condition would cost around $1700 or so. A new MkIII (very little different to the MkII) seems to be around $3k at the cheapest for what is probably a parallel imported lens. Buying 2nd hand does save a decent amount, but there is a risk with 2nd hand compared to brand new where you have certain rights - I'm inclined to pay the extra and get a brand new MkIII lens. I'll probably get the 70-200 first and get around to buying a 24-70 at some point later on.

I have been keeping an eye on news releases about the EOS-R5 mirrorless camera - it does look like it will be very impressive. I've thought about holding off buying a new lens and maybe putting my money into an R5 and buying RF mount lenses. The biggest problem with this idea is that the R5 might be somewhere close to $6k and the 70-200 f2.8 RF mount lens is around $5.5k in NZ. I think I will just stick with the 7D MkII for a while and spend $3k on a great lens rather than somewhere close to $12k for lens & body, even if the new camera really is as good as it seems. If I win lotto then I'll change plans accordingly.

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geoffwnz

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#2483836 14-May-2020 15:10

The decision around the WRC round will be made at the end of this month. Fingers are still crossed, but the likelihood is that it will not be held here this year. The NZ Rally Championship for 2020 has been cancelled already. We are hoping that the WRC and Rally NZ will be able to postpone until 2021 instead of outright cancelling. Can only wait and see at this stage.

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kobiak

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#2483847 14-May-2020 15:36

for 70-200mm F4 + Canon 70-80-90D

My old 40D + 70-200mm F4 5 yrs ago. Not as fast as cars, but light was not great and lame location:

oh snap. should checked the dates :D

helping others at evgenyk.nz

MarkH67

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#2489211 22-May-2020 10:28

I really want the 70-200 f2.8L IS lens because it is so useful for sports, portraits, animals, etc. It would be a great lens to use for a very long time. With the WRC delayed there isn't any great hurry . . .

Wait, what!

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/CAACNP70203/Canon-EF-70-200mm-f28L-IS-III-USM-Lens-L-Series-Pr

Well that was a big hit to my bank balance!

This is the first time I've seen a new one of those under $3k and I've been looking at prices for well over 6 months!

I can't wait to put this lens on the 7DMkII and have a play!

MarkH67

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#2495889 31-May-2020 18:44

Got my lens last Thursday, have been playing a little despite the grey weather.

My obliging model:

Even though this lens isn't a macro, it can still do an OK job at max zoom:

This is actually quite a small flower, something big like a rose would fill the frame.

It is a pity that there isn't a New Zealand WRC round in September to really test the lens out. I might have to get myself to some sort of motor racing event somewhere to get some good shots with this camera/lens combo. I'll have to see what is available with speedway or drags or local rally action or whatever.

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