Yes, sorry James I knew this one would be out of Tess's price range I got off on a tangent! I really was meaning to comapre the 1.8 capabilities, I was thinking maybe there is another lens with 1.8 in her price range but I'm not sure?

Tess if you can get permission to use flash for winners shots that would help a ton. But be prepared to be chased down with pitchforks if you take flash of dogs competing, My own longhaired doxie had passed her first 38 straight shows in obedience, from novice through utility with high scores, until the day a local newspaper reporter took a flash shot of her as she was approaching the bar jump which startled her and she screeched to a halt right in front of the jump and stared at him...and flunked. That was years ago and it still makes me cringe!

I have also had dogs in the ring, both breed and obedience, who were afraid of just me holding the big camera, before I even took a photo. At one show, I was showing Hallie, not taking photos myself, but another guy was taking some photos by the obedience ring and one ladies Aussie was so freaked out by the sound of the click that she had to pull him from the class even though the photographer stopped taking photos. (he wasn't an official photographer he was just taking photos I presume of his wife in the ring). So I no longer even take photos at the obedience rings (that lens is quite big and conspicuous though). I have no problems at Schutzhund or Lure Coursing, etc, just the indoor dog shows. I now just take photos of the groups.

I don't think you'll have too much luck indoors with a 5.6 lens, you wont' get much better than a lot of point and shoot cameras can do light wise, a lot of blur, and you really need to be able to offer something better than most people can get with their own cameras as a professional. I don't know if the reach is what you want but I really do love my Tamron 28-75 2.8, I think I got it for about $300. or so. I haven't tried it at a dog show without flash but I would think you'd get more keepers than with a 5.6 lens...