Shooting Sports From A Distance (WHAT LENS?)

[fireb0x]

Howdy,

I am new to the photography game (Camera wise. I have a good eye for composition [I think...]) and am starting to photograph more and more local area kids sports.

Football season is coming up and I want to make sure I can capture some great pictures from various places on the field, despite where the action is.

I wanted to know what lens I need to buy to be able to shoot relatively tightly composed photos from about 50 yards (I am thinking of this as if I was standing in the back of the endzone or on the sidelines).

I own a D90, and I have been looking at the 70-200mm f/2.8 (LINK) and the 80-300 f/4.5-5.6 (LINK).

Drastic price difference (for obvious reasons), but I am mostly concerned that if I plop down the cash for the 70-200mm, I won't be able to get a good shot from long distance. Am I covered with the 200mm (300 on D90) or should I go from the more powerful 300mm (450mm on the D90) and sacrifice the aperture. The 2.8 aperture on that 70-200mm glass has me itching to put some good cash down, but I want to make sure it is worth it and can take those good, long pictures.

Any advice is helpful, thanks!

[lputman]

I shot at my sons' peewee football games from the sidelines with my 70-300 f/4-5.6 lens and loved it. As they finished with peewee football and moved to school and the games were played under the lights, I wasn't able to get the shots that I needed due to the light and the limitations of the lens. I'm now in the market for the 70-200 f/2.8.

[makealeftturn]

I use my 18-200 on my D300 for my son's Little League games. I think I am somewhat closer to the action, at least in the infield, there than you will be for football. I have gotten some great shots but really really really want something to get in even tighter.