newbie needs help with a lens for gymanstics

[-JW-]

Hi everyone
I'm the newest on the block and could use some help picking out a lens for taking pictures at gymnastics meets. The camera I have is a Canon Rebel XTI. The lens I have right now is just the standard kit lens and I'm struggling to take are grainy or the contestant looks like an ant because of no zoom. Thanks for any tips or ideas.

-JW-

[eigga]

contestant looks like an ant because of no zoom

-get closer or buy a longer "zoom"

grainy

- post an image for detailed feedback (exif intact of course)

[wyofizz]

How much do you want to spend and what are you going to do with the images?

[DDCSD]

Welcome to POTN!!!

As Dave mentioned, we'll need to know your budget. That is the deciding factor as to what to get. :)

[justin240]

85 1.8? Seems like a good bang for the buck and suitable focal length...

[beacherz]

Welcome to the forum. Gymnastics is a great opportunity to capture some wonderful shots. There are lots of variables to contend with. From different gym and arena lighting to the speed of the events themselves. The more information you give us, the better your results :-) So, how close can you get to the gymnasts? Will you be in the stands, or will you be moving about the apparatus during practices, etc?

[JeffreyG]

I shoot gymnastics with the EF 135 1:2L USM. It's about $900.

A cheaper option is the EF 85/1.8 USM for about $400.

From your post, it does not sound like you have a lot of photographic knowledge. I'll admit that the EF-S 18-55 is never going to be a great lens for gymnastics but perhaps along with recommendations for a better lens we can also help you use your camera to the best of its ability in this challenging environment.

[-JW-]

Thanks for the responses.

I don't have a lot of photographic knowledge, thanks for not burning me at the stake because of it. These photo's will be of my daughters as they compete this year. Most places these girls compete are in high school gyms or in the clubs gym that ususally have fluorescent lights. Sometimes I will be right next to the event other times I may be at the other side of the gym. I would hope to spend 1K or less.

Thanks

-JW-

[DDCSD]

For around $1K, I'd go for the 135mm f/2L that Jeffrey recommended.

For gymnastics, you'll want to hang out in this thread:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=577451

Some great photographers in there and most are parents of gymnasts as well.

[eigga]

I would hope to spend 1K or less.

without a doubt...135 f/2 Its at the high end of yur price (of course) but its a top notch lens for gymnastics.

[JeffreyG]

I don't have a lot of photographic knowledge, thanks for not burning me at the stake because of it. These photo's will be of my daughters as they compete this year. Most places these girls compete are in high school gyms or in the clubs gym that ususally have fluorescent lights. Sometimes I will be right next to the event other times I may be at the other side of the gym. I would hope to spend 1K or less.

Thanks

-JW-

The 85/1.8 will work, but I prefer the 135L at more than twice the price because it is a longer lens which means I can frame the gymnast from further away. The closer you can get to the apparatus, the more easily you can make the cheaper 85/1.8 work for you.

The thread on gymnastics recommended here is a good idea to go read. The biggest challenge is that you are shooting fast action in what is usually terrible low light.

Starting with either the 85/1.8 or the 135L, set the camera in M-mode to f/2, ISO1600 and 1/500 and take a practice shot. Learn to read a histogram and use yours to see if that setting works. If it doesn't, you can go down as low as 1/320 for youth gymnstics but that really has to be a floor to catch moderate motion. If it is still dark, shoot RAW at the highest normal ISO the XTi has (1600 I think) and push the shots in post processing a bit. The more you have to push them the grainier they get.

I recommend RAW in any case to deal with the strange and cycling color of the lights. JPEGs will be very hard to color correct in post processing.

Practice using single focus points and tracking the gymnasts. The better you get at tracking the more in focus shots you will get.

[-JW-]

Thank you all for your input, i appreciate your help. ;)

-JW-