Best Camera for Gym Pics

[crazygymom]

Hey guys!! I just spent probably $100 buying pictures of my daughter from various competitions. That is insane to me but my camera gives me blurred action shots. A lot of times the lighting in gyms is very dark. What kind of camera and lenses do you guys use or suggest??

 

[gymgymgymnast08]

I have no idea what camera my parents use but its like a still camera so we get action shots and I've had some pretty awesome pictures of me and my teammates!

 

[mariposa]

i use a canon powershot s3is. i love it. it has been replaced by the s5is, but you can still find it at places like amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerSh...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1206037276&sr=8-1

and amazon's s5is reviews
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...p_cp_ob_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1206037276&sr=8-1

here is the newegg.com link/reviews of the s5is
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i have some pics i took at a college meet on my photo website. here it is. the lighting was of course good there. i used the sports setting and had it set to multiple photos to catch tumbling passes and i had sooo much fun. i have more, but they aren't on my website.
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[gymmomntc2e6]

Can't wait to read all the replies - I am currently saving for a new camera to try to get some great shots at meets.

 

[Billy]

My hubby has really gotten into gymnastics photography because of this same problem (blurring of action shots and low lighting). He did tons of research and finally bought a camera and a lens specifically because of their ability to take these kinds of pictures. He bought a Canon Digital Rebel XT SLR EOS then bought a 70-200 mm F 2.8 Sigma telephoto lens. He says the lens is what really makes the difference. Here is one of his recent motion shots (DD warming up her cast on bars at a recent meet):

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[gymbratsmom]

My hubby has really gotten into gymnastics photography because of this same problem (blurring of action shots and low lighting). He did tons of research and finally bought a camera and a lens specifically because of their ability to take these kinds of pictures. He bought a Canon Digital Rebel XT SLR EOS then bought a 70-200 mm F 2.8 Sigma telephoto lens. He says the lens is what really makes the difference. Here is one of his recent motion shots (DD warming up her cast on bars at a recent meet):

I think we have the same dh. We have the same camera but we have a Canon 20D camera. It was a great investment. Here is one picture I found
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[MartinaE]

I can only go with gymbratsmom here!! The Canon 20D should be the camera for you if you want to get really good photos!!
Other cameras will still leave you with blurred action shots.....

The photos you can see on our website that have my name on were all taken with this camera just to give you an idea.

But you need a real good zoom lens, too. And I only go with original Canon lenses there. There is a difference between Sigma and Canon.
I would go for the 70-200 2.8 L USM lens if you want to get the best possible photos.

Note, that this is not exactly cheap - but it`s worth it!!

 

[JBS]

I can only go with gymbratsmom here!! The Canon 20D should be the camera for you if you want to get really good photos!!
Other cameras will still leave you with blurred action shots.....

The photos you can see on our website that have my name on were all taken with this camera just to give you an idea.

But you need a real good zoom lens, too. And I only go with original Canon lenses there. There is a difference between Sigma and Canon.
I would go for the 70-200 2.8 L USM lens if you want to get the best possible photos.

Note, that this is not exactly cheap - but it`s worth it!!

I shoot the 20D (it's the 40D now) with the 85mm f/1.8 and the 50mm f/1.8. The 85 is an awesome lens for the money you spend on it, it's under $400.

I would really like to get the 135mm f/2.0L. It's almost in my price range. I think it's a little over a thousand dollars.

The lens I have always wanted (200mm f/1.8) has been discontinued for a while, it sells for $4000 - $5000 used. However, Canon just came out with a new version of it, 200mm f/2.0L IS (Image Stabilization) Here is the link to it:

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Also, here is a great thread from sportsshooter.com about the best gymnastics lens:

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[gymmomntc2e6]

My husband has been researching as well, he was a photographer in military. He is going to be getting the Nikon 40D, cannot remember what add'l lens he will get, I think is is either a 55-200 or 70-200.

 

[MartinaE]

JBS - that sounds great!!
Of course if I had the money those lenses you mentioned would be a dream to add to what I already have!!!

 

[JBS]

Just wanted to keep this thread current with a great new lens:

Amazon.com: Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L II IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras: Electronics

Rock and roll...that's the lens I want!

Remember...if you shoot a crop body camera (not a full-frame sensor) like I do, then you have to multiply the focal length by the crop factor. For my Canon 20D...it is 1.6x (I think).

70mm-200mm would be multiplied by 1.6 to actually be 112mm-320mm (which is pretty sweet for gymnastics).