Basketball + 85mm 1.8 + Full Frame

[mrgooch]

Is this a good lens for shooting basketball on a full frame camera?

[GPFocussed]

Absolutely. Don't take my opinion for it though. Go to a camera shop and try the lens out on your full frame and you'll see for yourself. I am biased because I have an 85 f/1.8 lens already. It is a bit long for my crop sensored body but once I upgrade to full frame I know that this lens will be coming in real handy.

[Big K]

It's a good lens for any camera. Probably one of the best Canon lenses for the money, especially for indoor action sports.

[mrgooch]

It would be used mainly for basketball indoors. Just need to know if its MM size is right.

[Big K]

It would be used mainly for basketball indoors. Just need to know if its MM size is right.

I personally use a 135 f/2 on a Mk III for most of my basketball shooting and occasionally use the 85 f/1.8. I like to shoot really tight.

The 135 is too tight if you are right under the basket and the 85 works much better and would work very well on a FF body even from there.

The 135 f/2 is hands down my favorite ambient indoor sports lens but there is nothing wrong with the 85 f/1.8.

[snyderman]

Another 'thumbs up' for the 85mm f/1.8. On a crop body (my 50D) it can actually be a bit long for the under the basket action if you have courtside access. For example, I like to setup shop on the baseline (3' behind actually) between the sideline and basket. If there is action around the basket on rebound or layups, the lens is only too long in this case. From the 3 point line in (HS basketball) it is an incredible lens!

Plus, shooting at f/2.0 (standard setting for my home gym) the backgrounds are pretty sweet, too!

dave

[n1as]

I found the 85 was my best performer, giving more in-focus sharp images than the 50 f/1.4 or 135L. The only issue was the 85 was sometimes a bit long.

I'm thinking you'd have more issues with the FF body's focusing ability and frame rate than with the 85 f/1.8 lens.