Help with lens for sports

[Bill W]

Mr T, IMO you have it; 70-200 2.8. You may, rarely, find it a bit too tight, but on the whole for a basketball game....its the do all lens.


I've photographed various sports in decently lighted gyms w/a 40D, 17-85 IS 4/5.6. Granted, I had to bump the ISO to 1600 for some shots and they weren't Sports Illustrated caliber, but still very good under the circumstances.


The 2.8 will make all the difference in the world w/a 7D...lower ISO and better noise control....with great versatility.


I'm doing some college hockey games in the next few weeks and I will be shooting w/a 70-200 IS 2.8....whether it will be rented or purchased depends upon how much damage I do buying gifts for Christmas. LOL


Regards


Bill

[Colin]

I second the notion of a second body...


70-200 2.8 should be good with a high ISO. Limitations may or may not be the shutter speed you can get ifthey flicker enough to show up.


a 135 f2 would indeed be nice, but a fixed prime is far less flexible. Would be nice to have both available, on separate bodies

[MrT]

Thanks everyone for you ideas. Bill W. what shutter speed are you getting with your ISO and aperture settings. When I go with 2.8 and 1,600 I am at 500 or below. Is that ok in your experience for basketball.


I will try using the 70-200 as I do have flexability in being able to move around some. I could use a Rebel with the 50mm 1.8 maybe set to 400-800 ISO for my close up camera.


Thanks again


MrT

[Brendan7]

I have used the 135mm f/2 and while you miss some shots, the ones you do get will outclass the competition.


I highly recommend it......


BB

[Bill W]

Mr T....from my notes; my shots were between ISO 1000 and 3200 and state most shots were in ISO 1000-1600 range. I was able to shoot 1/50 to 1/1250, w/most in the 1/125-1/500 range.


Sorry I dumped all b-ball pix and only kept these 2 volley-ball shots (my first gym shoot and both shoots were of friends' children) as 2 examples of 2 extremes; 1/50 shutter speed (too slow) and 3200 ISO on the 40D w/17-85 f4-5.6 IS


properties f5, 1/50, ISO 1250, 44mm








properties f5.2, ISO 3200, 1/250, 38mm








Please, I'm not saying the primes wouldn't be better IQ, I'm just saying; I found the 17-85mm to be sufficient reach (x1.6) in the gym and obviously more versatile than a prime...e.g. select 1 player for a close up and then re-compose to include most players on the court.


So IMHO, I think you have the court covered w/your 2 lenses and 2 bodies, though I prefer 1 lens, 1 body, but that's me.


Get there early to experiment w/ISO, f/stops and shutter speeds, have fun and don't forget to post some shots....


Regards


Bill