lens for shooting pictures of badminton/volleyball?

[allenzhou_]

which lens would be the best for shooting pictures of badminton/volleyball?

[liam5100]

How much light do you have to work with? How close are you going to be able to be to the sidelines?

[allenzhou_]

i can be right at the sidelines about 2m away and i wont have much light as badminton players like to play with dimmer light and i cant use flash

[liam5100]

what budget? The best choice then, in my opinion, for low light is the 85 1.2L or the 50 1.2L. Alot of people will tell you the 85 isnt a great sports lens, but I use it in low light all the time, vball, basketball, etc. I love it for low light.

If budget is an issue the 85 1.8 is more economical.

[Big K]

what budget? The best choice then, in my opinion, for low light is the 85 1.2L or the 50 1.2L. Alot of people will tell you the 85 isnt a great sports lens, but I use it in low light all the time, vball, basketball, etc. I love it for low light.

If budget is an issue the 85 1.8 is more economical.

^ Any of these are good. I think the 85 f/1.8 has faster focus than the other two listed but not enough to make a big difference. The real problem I have with either of the f/1.2 lenses is that the DOF gets really thin shooting that wide open.

I also am a big fan of the 135 f/2L for volleyball and use it for a good chunk of the work I do.

[liam5100]

Oh I forgot about that one, BIG K is right the 135 f2 is good as well. But you would probably have to be back a bit from the sidelines, same would go for the new 200 f/2.

And for FYI purposes, I never shoot less than 1.8 when I use the 1.2 lenses for sports. The DOF is just too short and hard to control past that 1.6 or 1.8 mark as BIG K said.

[superdiver]

First choice for me would be the 85 1.8, the 135 and the 200 would work, but migh be too close...

[flickserve]

Given the low light conditions and the requirement for a lens that can track quickly, I recommend the 85/1.8 and 50/1.4 for badminton. What camera is being used?

[superdiver]

problem with the 50 1.8 (I dont own a 1.4 version) is that its too slow focusing for bb or badmiton, and its a little wide, I imagine the 50 1.4 is about the same since I really never see anyone use it in sports much...

[mtakako]

Could Considered the 100 F2. But top pick will probably still be the 85mm F1.8 or 50 F1.4 if money is a concern.