Basketball and Lens Hire

[jamesb84]

OK, I'm supposed to be covering a BBL (British Basketball League) game soon. I know I cant use strobes, so I'm stuck with ambient...

Having looked at the photos on the team site, the exif says: Nikon D80, 1/250, ISO1600, f/2.8

So, my thinking would be, hire a lens for the night... Now, I will be taking the 1D II, 30D, 350D, 70-200/f2.8, 50/f1.8 (for the 350D - under the hoop) and either the 85/f1.8 or the 135/f2.0

My question is this...which of these 2 would be the better lens to hire for basketball?!?!

My other option would be the 200/f1.8 (but that is A LOT more expensive)

James.

[gmen]

James...

The 85mm f/1.8 is your best bet. If you sit near the corner of the court, you'll be able to cover the important action around the key/hoop.

The 135mm is just a wee bit too long for 'hoop' action. You'll still be tight with the 85mm but there's a bit more breathing space.

Couple of random old examples with the 85mm..

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/LondonUtd_Newcastle_261106_005.jpg

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/LonUtd_Plymouth_240307_005.jpg

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/LonUtd_Chester_170207_007.jpg

Cheers,

---- Gavin

EDIT: Should add that these are on a 1.3x crop body too.

[jamesb84]

James...

The 85mm f/1.8 is your best bet. If you sit near the corner of the court, you'll be able to cover the important action around the key/hoop.

The 135mm is just a wee bit too long for 'hoop' action. You'll still be tight with the 85mm but there's a bit more breathing space.

Couple of random old examples with the 85mm..

Cheers,

---- Gavin

EDIT: Should add that these are on a 1.3x crop body too.

Excellent...is the 85 your normal lens for basketball (when you shoot it)? I'm debating what to take...I'm covering Plymouth Argyle the day before so i'll have my full kit with me (thinking perhaps the 300 for t'other end of the court too).

Only problem i foresee is an issue with my 30D where I get a strange artefact at ISO3200 which means I try not to use it wherever possible. In fact, I ought to see if anyone here has any advice...*goes off to check forums for good places to seek help*

James.

[gmen]

Excellent...is the 85 your normal lens for basketball (when you shoot it)? I'm debating what to take...I'm covering Plymouth Argyle the day before so i'll have my full kit with me (thinking perhaps the 300 for t'other end of the court too).

Only problem i foresee is an issue with my 30D where I get a strange artefact at ISO3200 which means I try not to use it wherever possible. In fact, I ought to see if anyone here has any advice...*goes off to check forums for good places to seek help*

James.Hi James,

When the light is low, the 85mm does very nicely. That extra stop that's available can help get your shutter speed up to a sensible 1/500s.

The 300mm will give you good player isolation down court. You can get a lot of backs when you're shooting 'down-court-basket-action' but it's great for stock.

---- Gavin

[Huskers69]

I like the 85 1.8 when the action is on your side of the court, and the 70-200 2.8 when the action is at the far end of the court.

[Bkolowski111]

As mentioned it can be tough to get interesting shots from the other side of the court. I use a Nikon 80-200 and find that most of my shots close to the basket are in the 80mm-90mm range, so the 85mm is the lens to get for action at the basket.

[Thalagyrt]

The American Airlines Arena, where I shoot with the Miami Heat, is so dimly lit that I have to shoot at 3200. I'm shooting 1/250" ƒ/5.6 so my exposure is consistent, as I use the 28-300L for the games. I've used a 70-200 2.8L a few times and shot at 1600 and 1/600" but was underexposed by about two stops.

Even at 3200 I'm still exposing to the left a bit. I don't know how the venue you're going to be shooting at is, but without a strobe be prepared to boost it up a bit.

For what it's worth, at the AAA with a strobe it's generally ISO 400, 1/400", ƒ/5.6.

[jamesb84]

The American Airlines Arena, where I shoot with the Miami Heat, is so dimly lit that I have to shoot at 3200. I'm shooting 1/250" ƒ/5.6 so my exposure is consistent, as I use the 28-300L for the games. I've used a 70-200 2.8L a few times and shot at 1600 and 1/600" but was underexposed by about two stops.

Even at 3200 I'm still exposing to the left a bit. I don't know how the venue you're going to be shooting at is, but without a strobe be prepared to boost it up a bit.

For what it's worth, at the AAA with a strobe it's generally ISO 400, 1/400", ƒ/5.6.

Having looked at the EXIF of another guy who shoots this team, it is
Nikon D80
1/250
ISO1600
f/2.8

So I'm expecting
1/640
ISO1600
f/1.8

Which i think i've calculated right?! That'll be for the 85mm and the 50mm

And for the f/2.8 lenses (the 300L and the 70-200) I've worked out;
1/500
ISO3200
f/2.8

James.

[Thalagyrt]

That looks like it should work, just with a pretty narrow DoF. If you're shooting your mkII that shouldn't be a problem as its AF is pretty much dead on.

[jamesb84]

That looks like it should work, just with a pretty narrow DoF. If you're shooting your mkII that shouldn't be a problem as its AF is pretty much dead on.

Yeah, thats the plan! I'll probably use all 3 bodies so we'll see what comes out.

Just wish i could use strobes though, 'cept the BBL doesnt allow any sort of strobe or flash photography, which sucks.

James

[rdompor]

I don't think it's wise to shoot basketball at just 1/250s. You'll definitely get blur unless you're strobing. I suggest taking both the 85 and 135 and leaving the 50. The 50's focus is too slow and inconsistent to rely on.

[DarrenL]

Where is the game taking place? What arena?

When I shoot basketball I use a 50mm 1.8 as the light I generally shoot under is poor (ISO 1250, F1.8 to get a SS of 1/200 or 1/250).

The 50mm gives you a bit more breathing space than the 85mm under and around the hoop but it's too short for down court stuff.

The players move fast but I've not noticed blur in the teams I've covered BBL and EBL when shooting at 1/250. If it were the NBA then I've say shoot faster but the speed in the game is different.

Have fun

Darren

[DDCSD]

The players move fast but I've not noticed blur in the teams I've covered BBL and EBL when shooting at 1/250. If it were the NBA then I've say shoot faster but the speed in the game is different.


Really? I get blur at 1/250 with 12 year old girls playing bball.

[DarrenL]

I've honestly never seen blur when shooting head on from just to the side of the hoop. If I shoot side on then I get blur but never head on.

I've shot soccer at 1/200 and not got blur but you have to be more selective with what and when to shoot. It's all a compromise :)

Darren

[jamesb84]

Where is the game taking place? What arena?

When I shoot basketball I use a 50mm 1.8 as the light I generally shoot under is poor (ISO 1250, F1.8 to get a SS of 1/200 or 1/250).

The 50mm gives you a bit more breathing space than the 85mm under and around the hoop but it's too short for down court stuff.

The players move fast but I've not noticed blur in the teams I've covered BBL and EBL when shooting at 1/250. If it were the NBA then I've say shoot faster but the speed in the game is different.

Have fun

Darren

It's at the Plymouth Pavillions. As i said before, the shots on the Raiders site have EXIF attached, so i'm fairly confident of the lighting (provided my exposure calculations were correct).

I plan on using the 85 f/1.8 at ISO1600, shooting from the corner of the court, plus the 50 f/1.8 at ISO1600 for anything under the basket, and the 300L f/2.8 or the 70-200 f/2.8 at ISO3200 for anything down court and for stock images (and i'm going to need a lot of them!)

With those lenses and ISO i'm expecting 1/500 or 1/640 so the action should be frozen pretty well.

I'll make sure I post some results, and you can all C&C my 3rd/4th ever basketball game (and the first with any really decent kit).

James.

[The Moose]

If you'll use the 50mm f/1.8, you'll definitely want to pre-focus and not touch the * again. Probably already know that, but don't forget ;)

[jamesb84]

If you'll use the 50mm f/1.8, you'll definitely want to pre-focus and not touch the * again. Probably already know that, but don't forget ;)

Actually, I've never really been a fan of the * to pre-focus before, tried it with football (soccer) and didnt really get on with it.

However, I might see how the nifty fifty responds with this!

James.

[jamesb84]

Well...I didnt use much of the 50mm...but the 85 was brilliant, and the 70-200 was great for stock etc.

I'll another thread in the Photo Sharing section (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=7715731)...but the images (apart from the obvious noise at ISO1600 were pretty good. Especially considering I've not shot basketball for at least 2 years, and the action/style is very different to football or rugby.

James.

[The Moose]

Nice shots. Where exactly did you sit? And was it the extra stop that made the 85 brilliant?