Some NCAA DIII Basketball

[Spatz]

All shot with with a 50 1.4 and Canon 1d markIII. The 50 1.4's focusing is super slow, but I still managed to get some shots. Shot f/1.8, 6400 ISO, 1/1250s.
Any recommendations for a lens for next year? I'm likely going to get some strobes considering how dark the home court is.

From the first round of NCAA Women's DIII tournament. Colby vs. Husson
1#
http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/656/9r6a9702.jpg
From the first round of the NESCAC tournament last weekend. Colby vs. Amherst
#2
http://www.spatzgallery.com/Colby-Sports/Basketball/9R6A8960-2/797261858_bneNK-L.jpg

#3
http://www.spatzgallery.com/Colby-Sports/Basketball/9R6A9062/803005899_t3jAA-L.jpg

#4
http://www.spatzgallery.com/Colby-Sports/Basketball/9R6A8941/803005865_tyns3-L.jpg

[snyderman]

Spatz:

those are really nice for ambient light shots--especially #1 which is a great capture and crop of the action. Plenty of light on your shots and good white balance.

Couple of thoughts: You probably can get away with 1/640 on the shutter. 1/800 if you feel the need to go faster than that, but 1/1250 meant a significant increase in ISO. In most HS gyms, I can usually get away with f/2, 1/640 at ISO 2500. You probably had to do some NR on those shots, I'd guess?

For next season, a great basketball lens with very fast focus is the 85mm f/1.8 which is similarly priced to your current 50mm f/1.4. The upside to the 85 is faster focus and a bit more reach out to the 3-point line. The downside of the 85 is that it's way tight for around the basket action. I usually only get half a body on layups and never what you #2 shot showed for the dunk finish.

dave

[Spatz]

Spatz:

those are really nice for ambient light shots--especially #1 which is a great capture and crop of the action. Plenty of light on your shots and good white balance.

Couple of thoughts: You probably can get away with 1/640 on the shutter. 1/800 if you feel the need to go faster than that, but 1/1250 meant a significant increase in ISO. In most HS gyms, I can usually get away with f/2, 1/640 at ISO 2500. You probably had to do some NR on those shots, I'd guess?

For next season, a great basketball lens with very fast focus is the 85mm f/1.8 which is similarly priced to your current 50mm f/1.4. The upside to the 85 is faster focus and a bit more reach out to the 3-point line. The downside of the 85 is that it's way tight for around the basket action. I usually only get half a body on layups and never what you #2 shot showed for the dunk finish.

dave
Lots of NR needed, but thats not uncommon for most sports. I might drop down to 1/800 tonight though I feel like thats getting pretty slow.


As for a lens set up I think I would like to keep it wider or equal to 50mm. Perhaps the 50 1.2 or 35 1.8.

[zelseman]

I think a shutter speed of 1250 is a little bit overkill. You could for sure get away with 1/500 and reduce some of the noise. Your WB also looks off in the first 2. A little green in the first, and magenta in the second. Cool shots though, I wish I had a Mk3 to shoot our D2 games.

[PaCiFiSt]

I cover Villanova basketball, and I stay at 1/640 all the time. I've never had an issue and I am consistently able to stop the action with that. I'd drop down to 1/640 and drop the ISO.

[Spatz]

Thanks for the recommendations guys! Got some good shots tonight. I attached two. ISO 3200 and 1/640s this time around.

Colby vs. Babson -Double OT loss for Colby, they just missed a 3 pointer to put the game into the 3rd OT.

[superdiver]

these are pretty darn good for a 50 1.4 as slow as it is...

as for next year, i would get a 85 1.8 and no strobes,

or if you get strobes I would use my 24-105, just cuz i love that lens...

[Nmura]

Next season, 85 1.8 or 135 2.0

[superdiver]

i think the 85 is a much more usable length, the 135 will be hard to get the whole player in the shot, not that you have to...

[Gary W.]

Hey all,

Get the 85mm f1.8, stop it down to 2.0 or 2.2 and don't look back!! I managed to shoot at 1/800-1/1000th, ISO 2500-3200 with my 7D in a HS gym.

Gary W.