Advice needed for indoor sports lens

PhotoScout · 9th of September 2006 (Sat)

Hi,

I’m having a hard time deciding which lens I should get for shooting indoor youth sporting events such as karate matches, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, fencing, etc. Some of the event locations will not allow flash so I’m leaning towards a lens with an 2.8 f-stop. With the 1.6 crop factor, I’m worried about being able to be wide enough when the action comes up close and to have enough zoom to reach out as well.

I’m looking at the:
Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM or the
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM.

Any thoughts I should consider?

Thanks!

vetkrazy · 9th of September 2006 (Sat)

Light, light, light. Gyms are famous for their horrid lighting. Low light, color cast, changing light freq's. Speed is your friend. I rarely bother to take a f/2.8 lens with me. The 85mm f/1.8 is your best friend. Followed closely by the 50 f1.8 and the 135 f/2. Unless your gym has pro quality lights you will need something faster than 2.8. Also you want to shot a grey card for your white balance and do everything in Raw. Basketball might be the only event that will allow flash, depends on the officals and the AD. I shoot in California also and the high school and small college gyms and fields in my area are real caves! Best of luck and I would love to see some fencing photos.

volleybrad · 9th of September 2006 (Sat)

I agree. You'll want f/2 or faster. I shoot volleyball with the 85 f/1.8 and the 135 f/2

liza · 9th of September 2006 (Sat)

I typically use three primes when shooting indoor sports, namely the 50mm f/1.8, the 85mm f/1.8, and the 100mm f/2. With the poor lighting present in most indoor venues, I wouldn't use an f/2.8 lens.

steve5454 · 30th of September 2006 (Sat)

Hi would anyone mind posting a link of some of their indoors sports like wrestling shot with the 85mm 1.8. I am looking at that lens too primarily for wrestling and would like to see some examples. I am concerned about the quick drop off on the low end and how that would work in a wrestling situation.
thanks

gauce · 1st of October 2006 (Sun)

Quote:

Originally Posted by volleybrad

I agree. You'll want f/2 or faster. I shoot volleyball with the 85 f/1.8 and the 135 f/2

Hi,

Just a begginer at this and was wondering if the attached link is the f1.8 85mm lens as mentioned. My son plays volleyball and I would like to get some reliable action shots.

http://www.camerastore.com.au/Canon+...SM-details.htm

Thanks

Gauce

liza · 1st of October 2006 (Sun)

I like the 100mm f/2 for volleyball. Check my Smugmug site (link below) for examples.

9th of September 2006 (Sat)	#1
PhotoScout Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: California Posts: 887 IMAGE EDITING OK	Advice needed for indoor sports lens Hi, I’m having a hard time deciding which lens I should get for shooting indoor youth sporting events such as karate matches, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, fencing, etc. Some of the event locations will not allow flash so I’m leaning towards a lens with an 2.8 f-stop. With the 1.6 crop factor, I’m worried about being able to be wide enough when the action comes up close and to have enough zoom to reach out as well. I’m looking at the: Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM or the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM. Any thoughts I should consider? Thanks! __________________ 5D 20D * XHA1S * HF11* EF 35mm f/1.4L USM * EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro EF 85mm f/1.8 USM EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM* EF-S 17-85MM f/4-5.6 IS USM EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM* EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM * Ext EF 1.4x ll * Ext EF 2x ll * 580EX Flash

9th of September 2006 (Sat)	#2
vetkrazy Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Just North of South, next to the Joshua tree Posts: 1,019 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Advice needed for indoor sports lens Light, light, light. Gyms are famous for their horrid lighting. Low light, color cast, changing light freq's. Speed is your friend. I rarely bother to take a f/2.8 lens with me. The 85mm f/1.8 is your best friend. Followed closely by the 50 f1.8 and the 135 f/2. Unless your gym has pro quality lights you will need something faster than 2.8. Also you want to shot a grey card for your white balance and do everything in Raw. Basketball might be the only event that will allow flash, depends on the officals and the AD. I shoot in California also and the high school and small college gyms and fields in my area are real caves! Best of luck and I would love to see some fencing photos. __________________ Wrap your ass in fiberglass.... You're only young once but you can be immature the rest of your life http://vetkrazy.exposuremanager.com/ Gear List

9th of September 2006 (Sat)	#3
volleybrad Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Detroit Area Posts: 595 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Advice needed for indoor sports lens I agree. You'll want f/2 or faster. I shoot volleyball with the 85 f/1.8 and the 135 f/2 __________________ Brad

9th of September 2006 (Sat)	#4
liza User is banned from forums Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Mayberry Posts: 11,386	Re: Advice needed for indoor sports lens I typically use three primes when shooting indoor sports, namely the 50mm f/1.8, the 85mm f/1.8, and the 100mm f/2. With the poor lighting present in most indoor venues, I wouldn't use an f/2.8 lens.

30th of September 2006 (Sat)	#5
steve5454 Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 51	Re: Advice needed for indoor sports lens Hi would anyone mind posting a link of some of their indoors sports like wrestling shot with the 85mm 1.8. I am looking at that lens too primarily for wrestling and would like to see some examples. I am concerned about the quick drop off on the low end and how that would work in a wrestling situation. thanks

1st of October 2006 (Sun)	#7
liza User is banned from forums Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Mayberry Posts: 11,386	Re: Advice needed for indoor sports lens I like the 100mm f/2 for volleyball. Check my Smugmug site (link below) for examples.

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