Hiring a lens

[APoc184]

Who has experience with this? Maybe specifically from ODP?

I'm completely off work this weekend and will be spending most of Saturday morning at school rugby matches. I always take along my D3100 and 55-200mm kit lens to snap some images for our fanpages and website but yeah, the "quality" is limited with my equipment.

I'm in the process of saving up for a decent lens and i'm currently looking at the Nikon and Sigma 70-200 / F2.8 lenses but that will still be a while till I have the funds.

So I've been eyeing a rental for some time now and I'm pretty much going to do it but now I cannot decide which one to get.

I've got three choices for the weekend.

Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 G IF-ED AF-S VR

Nikon 300mm f/2.8 IF-ED AF-S VR

Nikon 200-400mm f/4.0 IF-ED AF-S VR

I now the obvious choice would be to get the 70-200mm because that is the lens I am interested in but that is not so much of an issue to me this weekend. I'm going to take the 70-200mm for a test drive on a later stage anyway, before I make my final decision.

What would you go for? Taking into consideration that 90% of the shots will be for the rugby. I might play around with it on Sunday at the nature reserve close to home.

And any other tips on the hiring of a lens?

 

[Edduck]

200-400mm f4. Do it. Just Do it. I will sit on Saturday ALLLL day and be jealous (even though I am a Canonite )

 

[bwana]

I don't think you really need to think about this too hard. The 200-400 is the only reason why I occasionally consider switching to nikon (sanity eventually restores itself though ).

If you're keen on sigma's 70-200 there's really not that much point in hiring nikon's one.

Edit. On the other hand. . . If you can rent sigma's 120-300 f/2.8 you might find yourself reconsidering the 70-200, at least for shooting rugby.

 

[APoc184]

Well that just spoiled my weekend.

Phoned to book the 200-400 now and the lady tells me it is unavailable for the weekend. ARGH!!!!!!!

I honestly don't even know if I want to get the 70-200 anymore. Read up the whole morning about the 200-400 and was super excited to try it out. Now to take the 70-200 seems like a waste of time.

And there seems to be no other place in Pretoria that does rentals. Only in Johannesburg.

In a last ditch effort, I am trying to see if a friend of my brother can organise me one directly from Nikon for the weekend. Not putting my money on that happening.

 

[bwana]

Pity about that. However a 70-200 is still a very useful lens for rugby, particularly if you have a TC.

I used that combo extensively last weekend during my coverage of a Classic Clash match last weekend and was very happy with the results. It helped that it was a day match and I didn't have to battle with bad light (unlike the above photo).

 

[APoc184]

Whoop Whoop!!!

I've got my 200-400 for the weekend.

In a last ditch effrot I contacted the guy from Lensrental.co.za and he agreed that I could do everything over the phone and via email and that a friend can pick up the lens this afternoon. If all goes well I will have the lens in my hands tonight, otherwise tomorrow morning 06h00.

The guy was so nice he even included a 1.4x TC as a complimentary.

So yes, I am extremely excited and cannot wait to get shooting tomorrow. I might even take the lens with me to Loftus tomorrow night for the Bulls vs Lions game. I have to cover the game for our site but might just as well leave the mediabox for a while and go take a few shots during the game.

 

[bwana]

Whoop Whoop!!!

I've got my 200-400 for the weekend.

In a last ditch effrot I contacted the guy from Lensrental.co.za and he agreed that I could do everything over the phone and via email and that a friend can pick up the lens this afternoon. If all goes well I will have the lens in my hands tonight, otherwise tomorrow morning 06h00.

The guy was so nice he even included a 1.4x TC as a complimentary.

So yes, I am extremely excited and cannot wait to get shooting tomorrow. I might even take the lens with me to Loftus tomorrow night for the Bulls vs Lions game. I have to cover the game for our site but might just as well leave the mediabox for a while and go take a few shots during the game.

Nice - enjoy it!

Why didnt you rent a [-]decent[/-] more suitable body at the same time?

 

[APoc184]

Nice - enjoy it!

Why didnt you rent a [-]decent[/-] more suitable body at the same time?

I wanted to but his only D300s was already booked for the weekend.

Depending on my experience with the lens I will definitely be getting the better body with the same or other lens soon.

I will of course post some images here on Sunday or Monday.

 

[bwana]

I wanted to but his only D300s was already booked for the weekend.

Depending on my experience with the lens I will definitely be getting the better body with the same or other lens soon.

I will of course post some images here on Sunday or Monday.

Have you checked out the price on a 200-400?

 

[APoc184]

Have you checked out the price on a 200-400?

For Hire!!! For Hire!!!

Not to buy. Not in this decade anyway!

 

[bwana]

For Hire!!! For Hire!!!

Not to buy. Not in this decade anyway!

You're fortunate to have a place like lensrental's in the area - at those prices I'd probably never buy another long lens.

 

[adsl2]

The 200-400 is the only reason why I occasionally consider switching to nikon (sanity eventually restores itself though ).

The Canon one is not to far away

 

[bwana]

The Canon one is not to far away

So I've been told but I've got a 400mm f/2.8 to get first.

 

[APoc184]

You're fortunate to have a place like lensrental's in the area - at those prices I'd probably never buy another long lens.

We are indeed very fortunate.

I've read on ODP's Forum how the guys struggle to find lenses for hire anywhere else. So we are rather lucky to have two places within driving distance.

 

[bwana]

We are indeed very fortunate.

I've read on ODP's Forum how the guys struggle to find lenses for hire anywhere else. So we are rather lucky to have two places within driving distance.

Locally rentals are 2x, sometimes 3x, more than what I'm reading on that site. Plus they usually have to ship the glass up from their cape town branch at huge expense.

 

[APoc184]

That is a bit rough.

I paid R540 now for the lens including insurance of R90 and the guy included the TC for free.

 

[APoc184]

Anybody that says it is only because the professionals have those big expensive lenses that they take such good photos, don't know anything about photography.

I had a great time with the lens but I got nowhere near the quality of our website's professional photographers. I'm sure my slow body also had something to do with that but I really struggled at times to fit the action in and get that big brute of a lens into position. It gets pretty heavy after 600+ shots

That being said. I will do it again without giving it a second thought. Was sooooooo much fun.

Here are a few shots I took during the weekend: Any pointers or advice would be appreciated.

AFFIES 44 vs PRETORIA BOYS HIGH 0:
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BLUE BULLS 27 vs GOLDEN LIONS 36, Loftus Versfeld:
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[hilton]

Hey that one of Strauss scoring the try is brilliant!

 

[bwana]

Anybody that says it is only because the professionals have those big expensive lenses that they take such good photos, don't know anything about photography.

Of course not, it's also the big expensive bodies!

Decent photos though, nothing really to be overly concerned about there.

Pity you stripped off the exif, it would be interesting to see what settings you used. It looks like your camera struggled a bit during the bulls match with the WB, next time maybe set it manually?

Oh, and get a monopod.

 

[hilton]

It looks like your camera struggled a bit during the bulls match with the WB, next time maybe set it manually?

Or better, in pp (or is that what you meant?).