Dream Package for Soccer???

[charlesa]

I keep my setup very simple.  I shoot everything with either a 400 f/2.8L or 300 f/2.8L on my main camera, and then the 70-200L II IS on the other camera.  It's a pair of 1DX's, so FF, and this setup works well for me. 

I do notice the 400 f/2.8L I IS AF's much slower than the 300.  I have a higher miss rate with the 400, even on a 1DX.

Lucky git with two 1DXs! But yes, would prefer a 400 mm and a 70-200 on two 1D bodies.

[Halfrack]

Yea, a few 1Dx's and I would be tickled...  Then again, I don't think I could acquire enough CF cards to shoot a full game (something about hearing it burst out 10-12 fps shots at a time may get addicting).  Yes, setting down a monopod with 2 lenses can be dangerous, I need to design a stand for holding monopod + whale(s).  Positioning will be fun, as there are benches behind the endline.  Having shot a few years back at Real Salt Lake who doesn't have said benches, the knee pads and chair would have been really nice.  The lens changing thing is more a personal preference than anything else.

If I were to swap anything out/up, I'm thinking it would be going from the 300v1 to the 300v2.  Or bump the t4i up to a second 7d.

Thanks for all the replies!

[Halfrack]

Figure I'd jump back with a general idea of what I used and learned from this.  The pro I was hanging with had:

1d4 with 1.4x and 70-200/2.8 IS2
5d3 gripped with a 70-200/2.8 IS2
1Dx with 600mm IS2
(don't have a photo to remember) with 24-70 and flash

I ended up with
5d3 with 1.4xIII and 300/2.8 IS2
7d with 70-200/2.8
1d2 with 17-40

Really relied on the 1.4x more than I wanted to - 420mm on a FF isn't quite long enough if you're looking for specific players.  The 70-200 really wasn't wide enough at times, and at others, I wanted more reach.  The 1d2 didn't get much use - but that's what happens when there isn't a goal celebration.

[Zlatko]

Really relied on the 1.4x more than I wanted to - 420mm on a FF isn't quite long enough if you're looking for specific players.  The 70-200 really wasn't wide enough at times, and at others, I wanted more reach.  The 1d2 didn't get much use - but that's what happens when there isn't a goal celebration.

Thanks for the followup!