24-70mm F2.8L for Sports?

[bsmotril]

I shoot a lot of rollerderby indoors with flash in poorly lit skating rinks. Most of what I shoot is at ISO 1250-1600 with around a 200-250 shutter speed and my 85mm F1.8 prime at F2.8-4. Sometimes that lens is a bit to long on the 30D and I can't fully frame a skater. I'm thinking of getting the 24-70 2.8L, and was wondering if anyone else used it for sports in not ideal lighting. So far my 85mm does pretty good in focusing quickly, and servo tracking. Will the 24-70 perform focusing as fast or as well as the 85mm prime? Also, how is the bokeh compared to the 85 when shooting wide open?

[bsmotril]

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

[angryhampster]

It would be fine, however you don't really need to worry about lighting if you're using flash.

[SuzyView]

Your question is a good one. It's just not something I would use my 24-70 for. I have the 85 1.8 and that is very good, but you cannot use flash with ice skating or gymnastics due to safety, so the larger the aperture, the better. Have you considered the 50 1.4 if the 85 is too long?

[ust82gopher]

Tried the 24-70, but it is slower to focus than the 85. Had lots of poorly composed pictures.

I would agree with Suzie - maybe 50 1.4 would be better.

[bsmotril]

It would be fine, however you don't really need to worry about lighting if you're using flash.

I sure do when I'm using Servo AF in lousy light.

[bsmotril]

Your question is a good one. It's just not something I would use my 24-70 for. I have the 85 1.8 and that is very good, but you cannot use flash with ice skating or gymnastics due to safety, so the larger the aperture, the better. Have you considered the 50 1.4 if the 85 is too long?

I have, and will be trying one in a few weeks at the next event. I would like the versatility of a zoom, but I also love the IQ of my 85mm prime, and I expect the 50 would be as good.

[Crossfire]

I use the 24-70 a lot for ballroom dance photography, along with the 70-200 2.8 IS. These events are usually held in gymnasiums, where the light is ok, but not great most of the time. I am usually shooting at ISO 1600 wide open, which enables me to freeze action to a reasonable extent without using a flash.

I have also tried using some of the faster prime lenses, but have found that the zoom's provide greater flexibility, especially when trying to track couples around the dance floor.

[cdifoto]

I shoot a lot of rollerderby indoors with flash in poorly lit skating rinks. Most of what I shoot is at ISO 1250-1600 with around a 200-250 shutter speed and my 85mm F1.8 prime at F2.8-4. Sometimes that lens is a bit to long on the 30D and I can't fully frame a skater. I'm thinking of getting the 24-70 2.8L, and was wondering if anyone else used it for sports in not ideal lighting. So far my 85mm does pretty good in focusing quickly, and servo tracking. Will the 24-70 perform focusing as fast or as well as the 85mm prime? Also, how is the bokeh compared to the 85 when shooting wide open?

Why aren't you opening that puppy up!?!?!? :shock: Go to f/2 and you can drop back to ISO800, or you can up your SS to 1/500th!

[bsmotril]

I stop it down a bit to get enough depth of field to get the whole pack of skaters in focus. With it wide open, I'll get the jammers in front in focus, but all the blockers in the back of the pack will be soft. I have no problems with the quality I get at iso1250, 1600 is a bit iffy, but still usable if I get a good exposure. Shutter Speed of 500 is not workable with the 580 speedlight.

[pagnamenta]

The 24-70 f2.8 is great for indoor sports. I used it for indoor basketball, badminton, and gymnastics shots. It's great to have that and some primes.