WIde angle fast prime for sports

[oaktree]

In a previous post, I asked about the 35L for sports.

This time I want to know if there are ANY lens wider than 50mm that are good for sports, mainly basketball. Something sharp at f/2.0 and fast focusing.

Thanks in advance.

[bildeb0rg]

All the Ls are sharp at f2, but I just cant see them being that usefull for basketball.
But then, I have no imagination.

[bacchanal]

Anything with USM should be fine. 24L or 35L would be ideal depending on the FL that you want. The 28 1.8 is pretty decent also, but not quite as sharp or quick as the Ls.

That said, I've found the 40D to be quite a bit more responsive than the Xti in AiServo. You might want to consider trying a 40D out and going with a 28 1.8, instead of putting $1100 into an L prime.

[TheSportsGuy]

how about the canon 20 f/2.8??

[Zilly]

sigma 20mm f1.8 works well

[gasrocks]

"All Ls are sharp at f/2" is not really correct. L has little to do with it really. On an individual lens by lens basis, then we can talk about f/2.

[DDCSD]

What about the Sigma 30mm F/1.4?

It is HSM, but I haven't used one so I don't know if the AF is fast enough or not.

[Zilly]

What about the Sigma 30mm F/1.4?

It is HSM, but I haven't used one so I don't know if the AF is fast enough or not.

not exactly wide tho is it

[DDCSD]

not exactly wide tho is it

Well...... it is wider than 50mm, which is what the OP asked for.


This time I want to know if there are ANY lens wider than 50mm that are good for sports, mainly basketball. Something sharp at f/2.0 and fast focusing.

[Zilly]

Well...... it is wider than 50mm, which is what the OP asked for.

still not wide tho is it :rolleyes:

[ALaS]

30mm f/1.4. Though I don't know how much that FL can do for you with basketball. Do you have an 85 f/1.8?

[tsaraleksi]

Why are you not considering the 35L anymore?

[oaktree]

30mm f/1.4. Though I don't know how much that FL can do for you with basketball. Do you have an 85 f/1.8?

I have the 85/1.8, 100/2.0 and 135/2.0 so I'm covered in the low telephoto range. I'm trying to cover about 24-35 mm.

Why are you not considering the 35L anymore?

Probably the cost. I already have 2 L primes. If I can get by with a less expensive lens, I'll be a happy camper.

[JeffreyG]

Probably the cost. I already have 2 L primes. If I can get by with a less expensive lens, I'll be a happy camper.

Then try the 28/1.8. For sure you want ring USM.

[Gatorboy]

In a previous post, I asked about the 35L for sports.

This time I want to know if there are ANY lens wider than 50mm that are good for sports, mainly basketball. Something sharp at f/2.0 and fast focusing.

I normally use an 85 f/1.8 for BB, a 50 would be ok, but anything less is way too short.

[JeffreyG]

I normally use an 85 f/1.8 for BB, a 50 would be ok, but anything less is way too short.

I've seen excellent shots taken of players driving for a dunk or layup from under that basket with wide lenses. These shots will usually show the offensive player going up, a defender trying to block and a dynamic view of the arena.

If the OP knows he wants a wide lens then I don't question that. All sports would be shot wide angle if we could only get close enough in most cases. I think telephoto is a make do solution.

[tsaraleksi]

Look at professional sports photography, a substantial amount of it is shot wide rather than with medium telephotos.

[JeffreyG]

Can you imagine how awesome football shots would be if you could get close enough to shoot wide?

But it would only take about 2-3 plays before the WA photog running around the field would get hit and crushed. I'm picturing little bits of camera all over the field.

Long is used for a lot of sports since you simply cannot get closer. At the pro and college level of basketball the atheletes will often drive along the baseline and give you an incredible wide shot from below the net. The honestly look like they can fly. I've seen (never shot, mind you) some really awesome shots like that.

[tsaraleksi]

Wide angle can really lend itself well to sports story telling-- getting the whole play in the frame, etc.

This is my personal best wa basketball shot and I think it does a pretty good job illustrating what I'm talking about.
http://turcophoto.com/photos/254134720_pAKzZ-M.jpg

[DDCSD]

not exactly wide tho is it

Well, it's the widest AF lens that can be sharp at F/2 with the exception of the Canon 28 1.8 (which is inferior to the Sigma by most accounts and nearly the same focal length) and the 24L or the Sigma 20mm 1.8 (which does not have HSM).

I guess I made the mistake of trying to answer the OP's question and suggest a lens that hadn't been mentioned when I should have simply stated the widest lens available that was capable of F/2 and second guessed other's posts.

[Zilly]

second guessed other's posts.

that is what is expected . . . . . .