What lens for volleyball

[G3Hawaii]

What lens do you recommend for shooting volleyball or basketball? I Will be shooting mostly indoors with poor light and no flash. Shooting with a 20D and/or rebel XT

[KevC]

85mm/1.8 :)

[cactusclay]

Sounds good to me.

[JBillings]

I've been shooting basketball since January. I find my 70-200L works great.

Here's a sample, resized to a more convenient size.

[Vegas Poboy]

Depending on the gym I use the 24-70 f/2.8 & the 85mm 1.8

[cmM]

check out drisley's posts with the 135 f/2 L <- that's what I'd get for volleyball. A little expensive though compared to the 85 1.8

[drisley]

I think that the 70-200/2.8L, 85/1.8, and 135/2L are all excellent lenses.
It really depends on where you are sitting. I like tight crops, and I sit in the first 2 rows, and the 135/2L works very well.

135mm f2.0 1/500 iso1600
http://images2.fotop.net/albums/sharpnsmart/volley11122004/MG_3576.jpg

[pcasciola]

85/1.8, or 70-200 f/2.8 if you have decent lighting

[G3Hawaii]

Is the 85 1.8 an L?

[drisley]

G3, no it is not an L, but it is SOOOO close, it may as well be. The only thing about that isn't L is the price.

[Jetmech1]

I use the 85mm 1.8 when shooting my children playing B'ball. Works great and the price is right. The others lenes mentioned here would be good choices, but I have no experiences with them.

Here is a thread with some pics I shot with the 85mm 1.8 lens.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=57779
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=59859

[pfuller88]

85/1.8 - not an "L" but great lens for the $$$. I shot pictures at my son's hockey games. This fast lens is has no problems with the limited light.

[G3Hawaii]

Great pictures. How much did you crop on the hockey pic? What camera / settings?

[G3Hawaii]

Apparently the 85mm 1.8 is pretty popular. It's out of stock at B & H

[G3Hawaii]

What about shots from a longer distance. I have access to a EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM Autofocus Lens.

How much trouble will I have in low light with this?

[drisley]

Check Adorma for the 85/1.8.
For longer distances, you have to look at the 135F2L (also great with the 1.4x tcon), one of the 70-200/2.8L lenses, or the very good Sigma 70-200/2.8 lens.
I had the 70-200/4L and it's just too "slow" for low light, indoor photography imho.
I did a diving meet last year at a fairly large pool that had large television lighting set up. Even then my 70-200/4L was BARELY fast enough at ISO1600 to capture the divers (even then had some blur). I would say at a vollyeball/basketball venue, there is almost no way F4 would work.

[pfuller88]

Great pictures. How much did you crop on the hockey pic? What camera / settings?

The crop was just the bottom of the picture (width is original). I do not have the original settings handy, roughly, the shutter speed was approximately 800 or 1000, AV 4, ISO 3600. The rink had good lighting as well.

Image was cleaned up with noiseware software.

[Marshy]

Check Adorma for the 85/1.8.
For longer distances, you have to look at the 135F2L (also great with the 1.4x tcon), one of the 70-200/2.8L lenses, or the very good Sigma 70-200/2.8 lens.
I had the 70-200/4L and it's just too "slow" for low light, indoor photography imho.
I did a diving meet last year at a fairly large pool that had large television lighting set up. Even then my 70-200/4L was BARELY fast enough at ISO1600 to capture the divers (even then had some blur). I would say at a vollyeball/basketball venue, there is almost no way F4 would work.
How would the Tamron 2.8 28-75 perform in low light ?

[roanjohn]

2.8 on a zoom is too slow for indoor sports shooting IMHO.......

If you're stinkin' rich - 200 f1.8.
If you're rich - 135 f2
If you're on a budget - 85 f1.8 / 100 f2.
If you're on a REALLY TIGHT budget - 50 f1.8 (I'm not sure how this thing can focus on AI servo though)........but hey, its 1.8...... you still got the shot.

Ro1

[roanjohn]

How would the Tamron 2.8 28-75 perform in low light ?

I perosnally would not recommend it........slow focus and not so sharp wide open.

Ro1

[drisley]

Hey Roanjohn! I'm not rich! *lol* I just budget this way... lenses... mac & cheese...everything else. :)

[G3Hawaii]

Thanks for the advice. Looks like some good suggestions.