High School Basketball Lens Help

[jsanz11]

I just got the new EF 50mm 1:1.8
i was told this lens was great for indoor sports...what settings should i put my camera too to get some good pictures? i usually ilke using the manual setting but i still can't seem to get the pictures to come out just right...any help would be great.
thanks,
-joey

[fslshooter]

Joey - I tried shooting basketball with my 50mm once and wasn't happy with the results. The lens was fast enough but I needed a bit more reach. With the 50mm I think you'll get your best results by first positioning yourself as close to the action as possible -- like almost under the backboard. Then you'll probably need to shoot at 1/350 or faster to stop the action. You might want to try AV mode, open up to f/1.8 or 2.0 then dial in whatever ISO you need to get a shutter speed of 1/350 or faster. Maybe one of the basketball shooters will chime in and help us a bit more here.

[jsanz11]

what other lens do you recomend besides the 50mm? i was looking at the 85mm one...run about 350$ correct? thing i hate abotu these lenses is they have no zoom...
-joey

[Croasdail]

Trust me... you will appreciate f1.8 vs 2.8 much more then any zoom - though I do wish there was a 1.8 zoom. You really don't need a zoom - Basketball has a very defined are where the action happens, and if for some reason action does fall outside of that area, you have both a cleaner image because it is a prime, and you have the extra stops, which means that you have the option of shooting at a lower ISO, so croping is still an option. With a 2.8, you have ISO pegged, and because of the resulting noise, your post options are significantly reduced.

Specifically, to your lens, it is pretty good but not the best. You should be able to get some reasonably good images with it though. Just remember that if you are shooting directly below the net and shooting action 10 feet infront of you, your DOF will be really thin. Cheers and good luck with it.

[jsanz11]

thanks..i'm gonna try it out today with some middle school basketball...i'll share some pics tonight...

[liza]

I shoot gym sports and find that the 85mm/1.8 is a real gem. It's fast and is the perfect focal length when you're shooting from the 3-point line.

[jsanz11]

here are the pictures i took...i get a lot of blur with auto focus...do most of you sports guys use manual focus? i used the 50mm lens i just bought...
coments and suggestions please
-joey
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v641/jsanz11/IMG_3628.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v641/jsanz11/IMG_3618.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v641/jsanz11/IMG_3613.jpg

[jsanz11]

also this gym is very poor lit...the pictures are much brigher than really is in that gym
-joey

[22littlereasons]

Begin with the end in mind. If you are not positioned in a location suitable for your lens then your results will fall short of expectations.

With a 50mm lens the location is usually under or down along the baseline to get the action in the key - rebounds, lay-ups, or in the case of youth basketball.. that giant heard of kids bashing into each other trying to get the ball. *s*

[mdm]

Try it with just the center focus dot.

[jsanz11]

how do u only use the center dot?

[mdm]

on mine i press the af point selector button at the top right on the back of the camera. then look at the screen or in the viewfinder. turn the dial or wheel until you get to the center dot. You can change it back anytime.

[jsanz11]

i don't have the dial...i havea rebel..
-joey

[mdm]

main dial by the shutter button.

[kawter2]

the images blurry from missed focus.

you need to be shooting servo mode, or prefocusing in MF (what camera do you have.. if the 300d, the only way assure to get servo is the "Sports mode" or do some crazy trick to get it to know the subject is moving)

[jsanz11]

i have the regular rebel and the rebele xt...i was using the regular rebel though....when the subject is a little too far i the lens seems to focus more on the background rather than the subject...how could i get it to focus more on the subject?
-joey