HELP PLEASE - Indoor sports - how low can you go?

[cojoneka]

Definitely on the verge of buying a lens for the 10D to take better photos of my kids sports. They play both indoor (wrestling and hoops) and outdoor (baseball, softball). I know 70-200 2.8 would be best but budget is limited to $800. I'm thinking about 135F2 or 200F2.8 which would work indoors but limit me too much with no zoom. Question: Will the 70-200F4 work indoors with no flash? Price is right plus everyone seems to rave about the lens.
Any advice greatly appreciated!!!!!

[scottbergerphoto]

Definitely on the verge of buying a lens for the 10D to take better photos of my kids sports. They play both indoor (wrestling and hoops) and outdoor (baseball, softball). I know 70-200 2.8 would be best but budget is limited to $800. I'm thinking about 135F2 or 200F2.8 which would work indoors but limit me too much with no zoom. Question: Will the 70-200F4 work indoors with no flash? Price is right plus everyone seems to rave about the lens.
Any advice greatly appreciated!!!!!
You really need as much light as you can get for sports. Indoors is tough. I think you really should go for the 700-200 f/2.8. You can save $500 by buying the non IS version. That's what I did.
Scott

[robertwgross]

Question: Will the 70-200F4 work indoors with no flash?

Of course it will work indoors without flash.

The question is: will it work well that way?

It's impossible to say.

Some sports halls are well-lit. Some aren't. Some sports have very fast motion. Some don't.

In general, simply push your ISO setting high enough, and almost any good lens will work. Will it work good enough? It depends on your standards.

---Bob Gross---

[Jon Borcik]

Using my 10D I've used both my 24-70L and 70-100LIS lenses indoors very successfully for both soccer and volleyball. The lowest I've gone with my 70-200LIS is 250 at a 2.8F stop ISO 400. If the action is really fast though, you will get occational blurring. Indoor shots without a flash is TOUGH to say the least. :shock:

[Volatile]

I go to ISO 800 without hesitation. Noise removal is easy.

I have the 70-200 f4L, and have no experience with the 2.8 version, so I can't say just how much the extra stop helps. Though I will say that everyone I've heard here that moved up from one to the other says that the extra stop makes all the difference.

I suppose some testing will probably be in order...

I recommend that you take a different lens to the arena, set Av mode and aperture of 4.0, then take some test shots and see what kind of shutter speeds you can pull off. Don't forget to test various ISO settings, the jump from ISO 100 to 800 is 3 stops, and will mean the difference between shutter speeds of 1/125 and 1/1000.

[KartGirlsMom]

I'm in the market for a D10 and am currently using an Elan7 film camera with a 70-200 f2.8 (non IS) inside for gymnastics. I generally use 800 ISO film. I doubt you can go with much less, it's really hard to find enough light.
some of my daughter (http://www.beattheboys.com/gym%20pics.htm) and some of her teammates (http://www.beattheboys.com/photomom.htm)

[GenEOS]

If you are shooting indoor sports, especially higschool hoops...YOU NEED THE F2.8 or faster glass.
A 200 prime will limit you on your shots/shooting posistions for BBall.
The 70-200 f2.8 is a workhorse for indoor sports....

[Chris1le]

I know 70-200 2.8 would be best but budget is limited to $800.

Why not look at the Sigma 70-200f/2.8 EX (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=148317&is=USA) ? It is $799.00 and has been recomended by many on this board. I've got one myself. :wink:

[Cordell]

I think you should seriously look at the Sigma 70-200 2.8 EX. I have one and think it is a great lens. I've never used an L lens of any kind, but I believe the images and color are beautiful from the Sigma. The great thing about purchases depending on where you buy it is you can return it if you really don't like it. I can't imagine you returning the Sigma.

Good luck,
Cordell

[maderito]

*IF* you can get close to the action for your indoor sports, you'll find the Canon 85/1.8 perfect for many shoots. Even the 50/1.8 or 50/1.4 can be useful if you're down at courtside. You will need high shutter speeds (>1/250) and therefore wide apertures and high ISO (800 to 1600).

For basketball, stopping action will be a big challenge. You'd have to upgrade to the 1D (MkI or MkII) for fast enough focusing to yield a high percentage of good shots. If you rely on autofocus with the 10D, your yield will be low, but gratifying. There are other approaches to capturing good basketball shots, but that's a different discussion.

[robertwgross]

I'm in the market for a D10 ...

You'll find the job easier if you look for a 10D.

---Bob Gross---

[maderito]

Bob -- I think I'll sprinkle a few "D10" mistakes in my longest posts just to keep you up and alert each night. So far, I don't think you've missed any. :) -- Woody

[robertwgross]

Geez, it seems like such a simple detail, yet it goes past so many people.

The other day, there was somebody asking a question about the Digital Rebel, a.k.a. 300D, but he called it the D300, so that is missed by search engines.

---Bob Gross---

[Mike H]

The slower lenses (like the 70-200/4L) are tough to use for indoor sports. You'll have to go to the places you will shoot and take some test shots, preferably before you make a purchase.

In my area (New Orleans burbs), typical basketball shots range from 1/200 @ f/1.8 @ ISO 1600 to maybe one stop better, sometimes a little more. When I had my D60 things were tough since it didn't have an ISO 1600 setting. The gyms around here seem almost candlelit.

I shot for the last three years in high school and playground gyms, and found that the D30, D60, and 10D all worked well.

Mike

[KartGirlsMom]

I'm in the market for a D10 ...

You'll find the job easier if you look for a 10D.

---Bob Gross---
I just put that so the guy would know I was using film. I kinda feel like a fraud posting on a digital forum.

Oh well, I can't afford it right now anyway :D . But when I do look in earnest, I will be sure to look for a 10D.