Posted: 8/2/2025 10:46:18 AM EDT
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I really want to run this lens for Friday night lights which are coming up really soon, but my God I hate that dump truck sized lens hood. Thought about using it on my D780, since I can keep the shutter speed up (1/1000 or so) and still handhold. The D780 does quite well at high ISO, much better than my D500 and D3s. Any idea if using it without the lens hood would be a disaster? Like I said, I like to walk around a lot, so using a monopod just isn't my thing. It can output some very nice images, but with no stabilazation on the lens (or camera body), I have to keep my shutter speed up, and as we all know, h.s. football fields generally are poorly lit. Will probably fall back to my D500 and 70-200 VRll, since I can shoot at a tad bit slower shutter speed without too much motion blur and (kinda) keep the ISO in check. The D500 is a great camera and I really enjoy using it......great autofocus, shoots plenty fast, balanced well, etc, but high ISO my D780 is better. I keep an eye on ebay for an older Nikon 300mm f/2.8 stabilized lens, but in decent shape they are $1200 and higher. So what wld you do? Any thoughts/suggestions appreciated. 
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Maybe slightly off topic, but my aim is learning, not criticizing. I'm curious why you purchased the lens if it was going to be too cumbersome for you to use for the intended purpose? I totally get being wowed by features and performance and overlooking size. Was that the case here? |
"Now none of the frightened soldiers moved, for they saw that cowardice and valor purchased equal plots in the sniper's killing field."
"Not interested in a lecture by either side”
- isaidme
"Not interested in a lecture by either side”
- isaidme
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Originally Posted By mudholestomper: Maybe slightly off topic, but my aim is learning, not criticizing. I'm curious why you purchased the lens if it was going to be too cumbersome for you to use for the intended purpose? I totally get being wowed by features and performance and overlooking size. Was that the case here? I actually didn't buy it for sports. Mostly just messing around and for the price (forget how much I paid, but it was easily under $400 years ago) couldn't pass it up. I had a Sigma 120-300 f/2.8 Sports lens or whatever they call it, but it was just HEAVY and the fun factor slipped away in a hurry using it, and I do this for fun. Being honest with myself, the 70-200 really is the perfect lens for me and how I like to shoot. |
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I would carry a monopod if I was shooting a sporting event in bad light. Once you take into account the camera and heavy lens, it wouldn't be more than a minor inconvenience to add a lightweight stick to rest your camera on. Question is, will they let you bring it in as general admission? Or will you need credentials? |
"Now none of the frightened soldiers moved, for they saw that cowardice and valor purchased equal plots in the sniper's killing field."
"Not interested in a lecture by either side”
- isaidme
"Not interested in a lecture by either side”
- isaidme
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Originally Posted By mudholestomper: I would carry a monopod if I was shooting a sporting event in bad light. Once you take into account the camera and heavy lens, it wouldn't be more than a minor inconvenience to add a lightweight stick to rest your camera on. Question is, will they let you bring it in as general admission? Or will you need credentials? I have been the "self proclaimed" team photographer for a handful of years now. I'm friends with the coaches and athletic director and simply give my pics to the kids, which they seem to enjoy, so I have unlimited access to the field. Try to get better every year. We are a small town and lots of football tradition here (I played a hundred years ago) so it isn't that hard to get access to the field, anyway, as long as they know who you are and your intentions are good. From 5 years ago with a D750 and a Tamron 70-200 G2. f/3.2, 1/800, 130mm, 1600iso. I was pretty proud of this pic back then......now, it kinda looks like shit. 😅 I use to shoot #7 (QB) a lot back then. Friends with his Dad. Super nice kid and he's a senior at Alma on their team. Kid had wheels.  |
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Some of my telephoto lenses have similarly obnoxious hoods. I tend to leave them behind, at least on the theory that for specific glare I can use a makeshift shield. But for sports events with light coming from lots of directions, it seems like you want to accept the hassle and put the hood on. At least it's not as attention-grabbing as a wide angle 'petal' lens hood. |
Clumsy migratory ungulate