attempt at basketball

[five0.4tluv]

I finally read enough and got the stop action I needed in this gym. I have a 40d and I used my 17-55 for this shot. Unfortunately that resulted in ISO 3200,f2.8,1/620 at 42mm. I've used Aperture to reduce noise and this is the best I can do with my limited PP skills. I've been thinking about getting either a 50d or 7d (better/faster focusing) to replace my 40d or getting new glass (EF 85 1.8 or 70-200 f2.8-I). I will be needing longer reach anyway for spring baseball and football. What should I purchase or do differently in this situation? Thanks.

[dwarrenr]

Originally Posted by five0.4tluv

... I've been thinking about getting either a 50d or 7d (better/faster focusing) to replace my 40d or getting new glass (EF 85 1.8 or 70-200 f2.8-I). I will be needing longer reach anyway for spring baseball and football. What should I purchase or do differently in this situation? Thanks.

How much do you want to spend? You can't go wrong with a 70-200 f/2.8. You'll use that lens for every sport you'll shoot. As far as a body goes, for about the same money as a 7D you can look for a used 1DMkIII. Since basketball is close to being over, maybe upgrade to the 70-200 then look to upgrade your body next fall before basketball. Personally, I'd upgrade the lens before the body.

[five0.4tluv]

I'm looking about $1k. I'm not wanting to go to FF cause I've got the 17-55 that I like and just recently bought. My main question is ISO difference in the 50d/7d vs the 40d. Is ISO equal regardless of camera? IE. Would ISO 1600 be equal 3200 on the 40d and thus be "better".

[dwarrenr]

The 50D and 7D will both handle high ISO better then the 40D. And the 7D will handle high ISO better then the 50D. The 7D does have more pixels which does generate more noise then smaller pixel bodies and some have experienced problems when trying to clean it up. For more on that you will want to read THIS THREAD. If your choice comes down to a 50D vs the 7D, the 7D would get my vote. But keep in mind it will take some time to get the shots to turn out the way you like. I do have a 7D as a backup, but it gets very little use due to having a MkIII and MkIV as well.

[ZXDrew]

I shoot mainly with my pair of 7D's. I keep a 50D for remotes and a backup. They are both great cameras. I like the focusing better on the 7D. Honestly I don't really use the higher frame rate that often, but I do shoot at ISO4000+ often. I prefer the 7D over the 1D series for the extra reach 1.6x factor over the 1.3x factor of the 1D series.

[Sam6644]

If I could only have one lens to work with for sports it would be a 70-200 f/2.8. Save your money and don't bother with the IS. With the money you'll save by buying the non-IS 70-200, you could buy another lens or even another body.

I'd upgrade your lenses before your bodies. The 40D isn't as good as it gets, but it's an entirely capable body.

A 70-200 and a 50 can take you a long way in sports shooting without entirely breaking the bank.

[burnet44]

great replies
I have a 40D and a 2.8 70-200 IS II
and I am wondering the same things
mine are always dark
soft
not sharp

not as good as pic 1 here

and help aqppreciated ty

[gordholio]

Canon 85mm 1.8. A wonderful basketball lens for typically dark gyms - much better than the 2.8 of the 70-200. And far less heavy.

[burnet44]

agreed
I gotta get one
start saving

[kenjancef]

Originally Posted by gordholio

Canon 85mm 1.8. A wonderful basketball lens for typically dark gyms - much better than the 2.8 of the 70-200. And far less heavy.

I agree. The 85 1.8 is typically the only lens I take out of my bag for high school basketball.

[Adam Sofa]

was the gym you were shooting in really dark to use a iso that high? it may have been needed for the faster shutter speed but both just seem too high

[kenjancef]

I rarely go BELOW 3200. That's the minimum for me, and I even go to 6400 at times. High school gyms suck...

[Adam Sofa]

I've never shot in one but i guess its due to the lighting being so high up

[dwarrenr]

High School Gyms do 'suck' when it comes to lighting. Best gym I have is iso 3200 f/2.8 with ss of 1/640. Worse place I've shot at was ISO 10,000 1/500, f/2.8.

Also shot a HS game at Bankers Life Field house which was part of the Super Bowl festivities. If you don't know that is where the Indiana Pacers play. So this NBA venue had me at ISO 1250, f/2.8 at 1/640. So in reality ISO 3200 is pretty awesome for shooting basketball.

[five0.4tluv]

here is one using my EF50 "nifty fifty" in the same gym during practice. I'm having a hard time with focusing using the back button. Are you suppose to keep it held down when pressing the shutter or let go once focus is achieved.

With this lens I am able to drop down to ISO1600. I've cropped it a bit and sharpened and removed some noise. Maybe I too will go ahead and buy an EF 85 1.8. But I need a 70-200