This saturday there is a cycling "Event" in town and if i can get away from work early i will go down and take some snaps etc, However, i have never done any sort of sports photography before, i know you need a fast lens so im thinking my 50mm 1.8 will do that job ? however i might not be able to get that close too the main road, so my 70-300mm f/4-5.6 might come in handy, however its pretty slow in the AF department compared too my other 2.

Tips and advice are welcome!

Thanks
Nicholas-c

Edit: My mate just said that its wednesday 18th 7:30pm - 9:00pm... a little dark for photography at 9 ?

You don't need a fast lens as in aperture fast if you're shooting during the day, especially in bright sunlight as the current weather is, so you're probably be fine with the 70-300. Equally, I don't think you'd need a really high shutter speed for cycling. As for AF speed, it's primarily an issue if the distance from the subject to you chances rapidly, for example if they cycle directly towards you. If they're going past at angle, then the relative distance change isn't so big and AF shouldn't be an issue. You should be fine with the 70-300

Experiment with Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and AI Servo AF mode.

Good luck with your 50mm--AF isn't the best. If it's bright outside, then you might be able to get away with 5.6. Up the iso if you have to.

well the BBC weather site is saying it will be raining saturday so it will be alot darker than it is today

i could get my bro to go up and down the road outside on his bike

Also, sports mode seems to auto focus after every shot in continuous mode ?


Edit: My mate just said that its wednesday 18th 7:30pm - 9:00pm... a little dark for photography at 9 ?

You might have to use the fifty then if its around 9PM. There will be light, but it will be fading. The 50mm's AF isn't the best, but its not *that* slow. It should be ok. Or as giga said, up the ISO.

use af-c or ai servo, just use the center point and half press ur shutter to as u track the rider with the highlighted af point.