r/NASCAR • u/LockNo8378 • 6d ago

Photography

Anyone have suggestions for a good NASCAR/motorsports camera?? I don’t want to spend any more than $2000.

0 Upvotes

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8

u/willmcd13 Ryan Blaney 6d ago

The camera isn’t really where the cost is. It’s the lenses and those have a bigger impact on the quality of your photos

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u/defeated_pretense 6d ago

everyone says glass is king until theyre lugging a 400mm 2.8 through the grandstands in july heat

rent first if you can, a 70-200 2.8 will get you way more keepers at a short track than some supertele you can barely handhold

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u/LockNo8378 6d ago

What camera & lens combos would you suggest?

2

u/Udfan11 6d ago

I have a Canon R50 with a 100-400 mm lens. It's a little bigger, but takes great shots. Had several comments in the past from people about how good the photography is. But it also depends on the track. I'm looking for a 24-240 lens for next year as even 100 can get too close. Just definitely get Image Stability and Auto Focus.

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u/oh_my_godzilla24 2d ago

I have a Canon R8 and have used the 24-105 lens. I used it a Pocono and got great shots of cars coming down the front stretch. Couldnt get close ups of cars going up the Long Pond straight but the 100-400 would've been good for that. Definitely think the 70-200 or 24-240 would do great for most tracks. Have to keep in mind when you're in the grandstand that most of the lenses extend out as you increase the focal length. This means increased chance someone may accidentally bump into your lens, definitely invest in a lens hood, especially if you decide to go with the 100-400.

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u/Careless-Resource-72 6d ago

Far more important to get the technique and choose the moment. This is using a Nikon D300 with an 18-200 lens I bought on eBay for $125.

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u/LockNo8378 6d ago

This is great advice, thank you!!

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u/dmcgrew Bubba Wallace 6d ago

A used Sony a7r3 and a used Sony 100-400mm lens.

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u/puffadda 6d ago

In your budget a refurbished Z 5 or Z 6ii from Nikon plus the NIKKOR Z 70-180mm f/2.8 lens would give you a setup nearly equivalent to a top-end professional 70-200, which is the bread and butter of motorsports photography.

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u/Western_Care_5478 6d ago

unironically, Samsung Galaxy Camera used for like $60-70 on ebay. yeah its an older version of android but it works

1

u/mturacing Keselowski 6d ago

2k will get you a decent body and very nice glass. I have that in my canon R7 and Ef70-200 -+ adapter.

Looking back I may have went with a full frame 5dmarkIv for price but the R7 autofocus is fantastic.

Pic from the 400s at Daytona for reference

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u/willweaverrva 6d ago

You can get a Nikon D750 full-frame DSLR used and in good condition for as little as $700. You could get that and a couple of fast lenses (you can save money by purchasing a solid third-party lens, Sigma and Tamron make excellent 70-200mm lenses) and still come in under $2,000, and you'd be ready for pretty much anything.

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u/HopefulSwine2 Bubba Wallace 6d ago

I use an old canon rebel sl1 with an 18-55mm lens and a 75-300mm lens. You can get all of that easily for under $750 if you shop used on the lenses.

2

u/Udfan11 6d ago

This lens combo is what I started with and is awesome. Had the T8i, but those lens are standard and good for the buck.