HELP! need lens recommendation for renting for football game

[jessicalynn]

what lens would be good to rent for a professional football game. I want to get clear close pics but the lens cannot be over 12". We are in row 7 behind the home team bench so I will be pretty close but I really want some good close ups so was looking at renting a 100-400 4.5-5.6 IS Canon. of course the sites I looked at (rentglass.com and photolensrental.com) it's out of stock. so any ideas on a good lens for a Canon Xsi and a good site to rent from? the game is this saturday so I would need to order it quickly I'm guessing. how long does it normally take to get to you??? I would need it by friday. thanks for any help!

[jessicalynn]

ok just found a few on borrowlens.com. they have the one I mentioned I was looking at and thenthey have a few others.

which would be best for where I will be using it..........

the Canon 100-400 IS
or
Sigma 50-500 4-6.3 APO DG
or
Tamron 200-500 5-6.3 SP AF Di LD IF
?????????????????????????????????????????? I have a 55-250 IS lens but when they were out in the middleof the field it didnt get as close as I would have liked (though we were in row 32 at the time)

[RexK_Cozumel]

The 100-400 should be fine. or you can get a 70-200 f2.8 and a 2x teleconverter.

All of those lenses are chinsy and will be very soft/weak/lame.

Don't rent them.

[jessicalynn]

the Canon 100-400 is chinsy?!??? really???? well what would you suggest then? I have a Canon Xsi camera.

Rex suggested the 70-200 2.8. Get that one.

[jessicalynn]

ok now my question is that I did use a 55-250 lens last time and it didnt get as close as I wanted. so woudlnt a 70-200 get me even less close?? and I was trying to not use a converter because I just go off the whole less glass is better. I know they say the more glass you add the more it takes away from the quality of the pic. That's why I was really looking into the 100-400. and if I have my 55-250 with me too between those 2 it should be good right??

[jessicalynn]

ok after doing research I see the 100-400 is slow and not good for night games. the 70-200 is more to rent so hubby wont be happy. lol but even if they arent as close as I would like I can also crop and enlarge and from what I have read can still get great sharpness and clarity. thanks for the feedback! I would love to hear more opinions!

[waffles]

I bought at Tokina 12-24 for that exact reason. You'd be amazed at the kind of things that happen off to the side or otheriwse not directly in the action during a basketball game.

[LoveDSLR]

Originally Posted by jessicalynn

o woudlnt a 70-200 get me even less close?? and I was trying to not use a converter because I just go off the whole less glass is better. I know they say the more glass you add the more it takes away from the quality of the pic. That's why I was really looking into the 100-400. and if I have my 55-250 with me too between those 2 it should be good right??

Only if the primary lens isn't up to par. Canon 70-200 f/2.8 L IS + 1.4x/1.7x is still excellent/good. How about Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 or Sigma 300mm f/2.8 + Sigma 2x (not sure about the rental cost)?