Camera recommendation

[Ice9]

Yeah sure, get a D3300. Just don't expect professional (or even adequate for newsprint) results shooting action indoors. Which is, you know, what the OP wants to do. See my example in above post (pic from a D3000, though I doubt the newest gen can do much better) for what this combo produces indoors. Also if the OP gets a 55-200, good luck shooting indoors at f/5.6 at 200mm as your largest aperture. Hope you like soft images!

Not knowing anything about your situation, I use a 55-300 lens indoors and it's yet to fail me, even in some pretty dungeon-like lighting conditions.

 

[silvercharm]

I had a managing editor try to pull that shirt on me when I was a rookie 25 years ago working a high school beat. Tried to tell me that my driving time was not on the clock, and that my driving time was covered by my mileage reimbursement. I knew better. Told him the mileage reimbursement was for my car only, and that my time was paid for so long as I was doing something for them work-related. He knew I knew the facts and backed down.

Moral of the story: NEVER pay for something or do something for free for your employer and definitely don't pay for things your employer should buy to help you do your job. You have an agreement with your employer. You work for them, they pay you money. That's all it is. An agreement that doesn't mean much in the end. Otherwise, if you start footing the bill, what's to keep them from saying you need to buy your own laptop to use for work?

You guys would make great teachers. Because they never pay for anything out of pocket.

 

[Doc Holliday]

You guys would make great teachers. Because they never pay for anything out of pocket.

You want to blow your money on something for work, by all means be my guest. Not me pal.

 

[The Big Ragu]

Not knowing anything about your situation, I use a 55-300 lens indoors and it's yet to fail me, even in some pretty dungeon-like lighting conditions.

The focal length of the lens isn't what determines how it shoots indoors. It's the speed of the lens, or the aperture. He said something about an f 5.6 lens. That is not going to be able to shoot action in low light. It is going to struggle to shoot action outdoors. Does your 55-300 lens have a lower minimum f number?

 

[murphyc]

I should amend my original comment to mention I bought most of my camera gear when I was freelancing. When I bought D1H bodies while working at my previous shop, my boss reimbursed me since I used those bodies for work only.
I'm not totally sure from the OP if he's being asked to provide his own equipment or if he has access to a paper's equipment. If the former, I say go cheaper. If anyone complains, just say you're doing the best you can with a limited budget. If you have access to a paper's equipment and it's 55-200 level glass, I would first ask if the boss would be willing to spring for a 50/1.8 lens. I think they have an AF-S version now which should help with the somewhat slow focusing of the non AF-S version, but if not, you should be able to pick up a non AF-S version for about $100. I would prefer using my 85/1.8 (more reach, faster focusing), but that's probably going to be $300+ for a pretty used sample. If you're given 55-200 glass and that's all you're getting, my next step would be to check the state's athletics association rules about shooting with flash. In my state flash is allowed, but even if that's the case it's always a good idea to chat with the game refs before the action gets started.

 

[Ice9]

The focal length of the lens isn't what determines how it shoots indoors. It's the speed of the lens, or the aperture. He said something about an f 5.6 lens. That is not going to be able to shoot action in low light. It is going to struggle to shoot action outdoors. Does your 55-300 lens have a lower minimum f number?

Lowest it goes is 4-4.5 range

 

[TexasVet]

A. If an assigning editor wants you to have a nice camera to shoot with, then they should supply it. They can't expect a writer to go buy that on their own with the peanuts they're making. Otherwise, like someone said earlier, they should hire freelance photogs who have the equipment.

B. If you do decide to purchase camera/lens set ... be sure to keep the receipts to write it off for tax purposes. Also, use the camera to your best advantage and use it to make extra money on the side (weddings, school photos, etc) to try to make up the cash and start an enterprise business on the side