They look expensive I've seen the big cameras at some of our track meets. They must cost as a much as a Ferrari.
They look expensive I've seen the big cameras at some of our track meets. They must cost as a much as a Ferrari.
Normally $500-$1000 for a good Minolta camera from B&H Photo online.
The big telephoto lenses by Canon are over $10000, the camera body varies but will usually be in the $2000-$4000 range.
The photogs at the NBA arena it my city tell me they have around $250,000 in photo gear for football and basketball which they purchased with money made from non-media careers, mostly airline pilots, high rise construction, medicine, inherited wealth, ...
Most of those photographers are using gear from their various photo agencies and employers. Occasionally for big events (Super Bowl, Olympics, etc.) the camera companies like Nikon and Canon have hospitality suites of a sort where photographers for news agencies and publications can come borrow and try out high end gear.
That being said, some of those photographers fully own their own gear, in which case they're in the hole for tens of thousands of dollars. A pretty standard setup for an NFL photographer, for example, might look like this:
Canon 1DX - $5000
Canon 1DX - $5000
Canon 5DIII - $2300
Canon 70-200 f/2.8 - $1800
Canon 400 f/2.8 - $6000
Canon 16-35 f/2.8 - $1100
Total - $21200
B&H is the place to get the best prices. 1DX and D4s should be in the $6000 range by now. That's w/o a lens, Ouch! Lenses go from $12,000 to $150. That adds up and is why sports pro shooters are now almost totally relegated to weekenders with real jobs on Wall Street, University Hospitals, Corporate Execs, also many loaded retirees on Tesla Obamacare plans ;-)
Speaking of which, is anyone on here trying to sell a 500 f/4 IS version 1, 300 f/2.8 IS version 1, or 85 f/1.2 (either version)?
so what type of gear do the track photographers use? is it pretty similar to what the nfl guys use? does anyone have experience shooting track meets?
Wannabe Track Photographer wrote:
so what type of gear do the track photographers use?
Flip phones.
Wannabe Track Photographer wrote:
so what type of gear do the track photographers use? is it pretty similar to what the nfl guys use? does anyone have experience shooting track meets?
Same gear. Big, fast telephoto lenses, like a 300mm or 400mm f2.8. A 70-200mm f2.8 is a great lens as well. The pro bodies like a D4s or 1DX help a lot, great AF, faster shutter speeds (perform well at high ISOs) and fast motor drives make a huge difference with action photography. And yes, it costs a ridiculous amount of money.
flipphone wrote:
Flip phones.
I LOL'd.
I do not understand. Why are doctors and lawyers on the sidelines taking pictures? Are there no professional photographers?
brogan1 wrote:
I do not understand. Why are doctors and lawyers on the sidelines taking pictures? Are there no professional photographers?
There are some. There are a LOT fewer than there used to be. Getty and Corbis sucked much of the life out of the industry (and continue to do so).
The huge drop in revenue for print media also affected the industry, obviously.
Digital technology also makes it much easier for media to just purchase images from freelance photographers, rather than having to have their own 'togs on staff. So an industry of freelance photographers who don't get paid a lot lends to itself to hobbyists and part time photographers.
Digital technology has really changed the game for action photography. It's pretty simple stuff, and with the greatest gear, very doable with only a modicum amount of understanding and work. It's not rocket science.
I lead wildlife photo tours (requires virtually the same gear) and that's very much the same kind of thing. I know quite a few Drs and lawyers who shoot regularly, all over the world, and have a portfolio every bit as great as many "pros". People with cash and time off can pretty easily shoot a world class portfolio.
Sports Photographers and Video Artists make $500,000/year and up due to the demand from social media and web magazines.
One of the best jobs in the US wrote:
Sports Photographers and Video Artists make $500,000/year and up due to the demand from social media and web magazines.
Yep .... You're right .. Because social media outlets pay so well. Think of all those big bucks I made when one of my northern lights photos got well over 100 000 views on Facebook. That cash, plus $5, nearly bought me a latte .... A pretty big, 20oz skim milk latte, for sure, but a latte nonetheless.
Web magazines pay equally well. Alaska Dispatch asked to run some of my images from ANWR ... and to be fair, they did ask SUPER nicely. Weirdly, when I tried to pay my rent with that nice request they had made, I was turned down. Apparently cash is a currency for commerce, but heightened pleasantries and courtesy are not. Such a shame.
PS - a good illustration of how well the new media pays artists and creatives.
Why bother at a track meet? USATF will issue a DMCA takedown notice the minute the images go online.
Does it matter they don't have a legitimate claim? No. Is there any penalty for making false claims? No.
Their main goal is to control media rights and you and I are the first casualties, participation in the sport is the second line of casualties.