EMERGENCY :: Need a Canon 300 or 400 this weekend!!!!

[stacyreeves]

Our newspaper staff's 300 bit the dust today, and we have one of our biggest games of the season this weekend. Our boss will not let us rent one, so I'm freaking out trying to find one to borrow. Does anyone have a Canon 300 or 400 2.8 that they would be willing to let us borrow for Saturday's game? I'll be happy to pay for overnight shipping to and from wherever you are, or if you're near College Station I can come and pick it up from you. We're pretty desperate here. Anyone?

[venchka]

What would a 70-200 2.8 + 2x extender do for you if the 300 or 400 doesn't materialize? Send me a PM.

[dschae1]

Um...an F2.8 lens with a 2x TC isn't F2.8 anymore. Don't you lose 2 F-Stops with that teleconverter? The 70-200 alone might fit the bill though.

[venchka]

True, it's a 400 1:5.6 with the 2x converter. I also just learned that the game is at night.

Conversely, it's way better than a broken 300.

[dschae1]

I shoot Friday Night band pictures from the field each weekend with a 70-200 F2.8...I think that would work in a pinch...like you said, it's certainly better than the broken lens.

[stacyreeves]

We have 70-200's and the converters), but we really need a 300 or a 400. This is a big game and we need full coverage. Thanks for the offers though!

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by stacyreeves

We have 70-200's and the converters), but we really need a 300 or a 400. This is a big game and we need full coverage. Thanks for the offers though!

You "want" a 300mm, but you "need" oxygen. If you just step out onto the field 10 or 15 yards then a 200mm will do just fine. Just watch out for the Zebras.

Seriously, a professional will make do with what they have.

[stacyreeves]

A professional will make every effort they can to equip themselves fully before a major event, as well.

If I don't get the lens I'm not going to just throw up my hands and not shoot the game. But I'm not going to give up trying to find a replacement lens, either. At our stadium, with our press row restrictions, and with the huge long run plays our team is fond of making which means it's crucial to stay in or near the end zone, a 70-200 is useless unless the team is in the red zone, and I would prefer to not just sit and twiddle my thumbs for the other 70% of the game if I don't have to.

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by stacyreeves

A professional will make every effort they can to equip themselves fully before a major event, as well.

If I don't get the lens I'm not going to just throw up my hands and not shoot the game. But I'm not going to give up trying to find a replacement lens, either. At our stadium, with our press row restrictions, and with the huge long run plays our team is fond of making which means it's crucial to stay in or near the end zone, a 70-200 is useless unless the team is in the red zone, and I would prefer to not just sit and twiddle my thumbs for the other 70% of the game if I don't have to.

When I started photographing sports back in the early 70's the newspaper I worked for provided a Nikkormat and a 105 f2.5 and a Honeywell Strobonar. And although I never made the cover of SI I never called the equipment useless. I learned how to wring the maximum out of it even the night in a small town when the stadium lost electricity and they finished the game with all the cars around the fence turning on their headlights.

I'm not saying don't stop looking for a lens, however don't you agree that "Emergency" is a bit of a hyperbole. There were great sports photographers at A&M before they had a 300mm. Rather than looking at this as a disaster, consider it a challenge. That was the point I was trying to make.

Of course if you had said Nikon then I could have helped you out.

[stacyreeves]

Yes well me being able to pay my rent depends on how good the photos from this game are, and it depends on how good my competitor's photo are, so I'm going to do whatever I can however I can to get a good long range lens. They have 300's AND 400's AND 600's, and for the sake of paying my bills, I'm not going to hope for a Disney Channel overcoming-the-odds David vs. Goliath situation. If the key play of the game is a mid-field interception, and that's what the editors ask me for, and everyone with the 400's got it and my little dinky 200 also got it, but half as small and thus with half the quality, I'm screwed.

I would say having only two days to find a lens and have it shipped qualifies as an emergency.

[photosbysergio]

Why won't the boss let you rent one? Does the boss not want what is best for the paper? If you can't find one can you rent one yourself? I have no idea what they rent for but if it meant me paying my bills or not, i'd surely rent one myself. Good luck on your search and hopefully someone can help you out. If I had one I'd help you out but I only have that "dinky" 200 myself.

[stacyreeves]

I would rent on myself but every place I've called won't ship and the closest place that rents lenses is three hours away. If I end up having to make the drive (that will be 12 hours in all :( ), I will, but I'm trying to avoid it if possible.

[bondarnes]

I'm 30 minutes from Dallas and headed to CS tomorrow morining.

[Ann Martin]

Really? Light Tec in houston is 3 hours away from College Station?
I don't think it is.

ann

[stacyreeves]

What is this Light Tec you speak of? I've never heard of it! Do they have a website?

edit :: Googled them and found the website. I emailed them to see if they would ship and if so, how much it would be. I might be able to find a good Ag coming to the game from Houston to pick it up for us and take it back, so this might end up working out great! Thanks!

edit again :: just kidding, the e-mail bounced back. are they still in business?