zoom question.........

I've got a Nikon D40. I want a zoom lens. Something that would get the pitcher in a major league ballpark for example.

What do you suggest?

 

you want a telephoto (long) lens. Zoom just means that it has different focal lengths, not that it's necessarily long.

I assume you're talking about shooting from the stands. I'd recommend something that was at least 300mm (although that might not get you as close as you'd hope). Size and Money will come into play as you get longer too.

I'm not as familiar with the Nikon stuff, but here's a list of some long Nikon glass:

http://www.lensrentals.com/category/supertelephoto/for-nikon

 

reaching to 300mm would do that. maybe the 55-200? Don't know. You can get relatively cheap zooms (sigma 300 APO is under $200 and very good budget lens) that'll do the job, but getting anything better will be costly.

If it's a night game, you're probably not going to be happy with your results. I shot some baseball from a minor league box at night and you just can't stop motion and let a bunch of light in, too. it's tough.

 

Its not a lens I will probably use that much. I go to a lot of ballgames etc. and I thought it would be fun to have and play with.

There is one occasion coming up in particular though.............June 20th. the Civil Rights Ballgame in Cincinnati. Bill Cosby, Hank Aaron, Muhammed Ali, and Oprah will all be there (along with others) and as of today............President Obama is throwing out the first pitch. I have tickets to that game!

 

That's impressive, I can't get my grandmother to use anything other than a disposable.

 

day game or night game?

 

Pregame starts at 6:30...........game at 7:10 so it would still be day light. I am more concerned with just making sure I get something strong enough to get some decent close up shots.

 

I had to up grade when my Brownie camera broke.

 

If you're looking for something with a lot of reach that would do well in less than perfect lighting then I'd suggest this.

 

hehe


but yeah, night game, enough range to make things not tiny, enough light to let in so you can actually expose the picture, and still have enough shutter speed to capture baseball? That's not something you're really going to pull off well unless it's really expensive.