24-70mm F2.8L for Sports?

bsmotril · 23rd of July 2007 (Mon)

I shoot a lot of rollerderby indoors with flash in poorly lit skating rinks. Most of what I shoot is at ISO 1250-1600 with around a 200-250 shutter speed and my 85mm F1.8 prime at F2.8-4. Sometimes that lens is a bit to long on the 30D and I can't fully frame a skater. I'm thinking of getting the 24-70 2.8L, and was wondering if anyone else used it for sports in not ideal lighting. So far my 85mm does pretty good in focusing quickly, and servo tracking. Will the 24-70 perform focusing as fast or as well as the 85mm prime? Also, how is the bokeh compared to the 85 when shooting wide open?

bsmotril · 24th of July 2007 (Tue)

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

angryhampster · 24th of July 2007 (Tue)

It would be fine, however you don't really need to worry about lighting if you're using flash.

SuzyView · 24th of July 2007 (Tue)

Your question is a good one. It's just not something I would use my 24-70 for. I have the 85 1.8 and that is very good, but you cannot use flash with ice skating or gymnastics due to safety, so the larger the aperture, the better. Have you considered the 50 1.4 if the 85 is too long?

ust82gopher · 24th of July 2007 (Tue)

Tried the 24-70, but it is slower to focus than the 85. Had lots of poorly composed pictures.

I would agree with Suzie - maybe 50 1.4 would be better.

bsmotril · 24th of July 2007 (Tue)

Quote:

Originally Posted by angryhampster

It would be fine, however you don't really need to worry about lighting if you're using flash.

I sure do when I'm using Servo AF in lousy light.

bsmotril · 24th of July 2007 (Tue)

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuzyView

Your question is a good one. It's just not something I would use my 24-70 for. I have the 85 1.8 and that is very good, but you cannot use flash with ice skating or gymnastics due to safety, so the larger the aperture, the better. Have you considered the 50 1.4 if the 85 is too long?

I have, and will be trying one in a few weeks at the next event. I would like the versatility of a zoom, but I also love the IQ of my 85mm prime, and I expect the 50 would be as good.

Crossfire · 25th of July 2007 (Wed)

I use the 24-70 a lot for ballroom dance photography, along with the 70-200 2.8 IS. These events are usually held in gymnasiums, where the light is ok, but not great most of the time. I am usually shooting at ISO 1600 wide open, which enables me to freeze action to a reasonable extent without using a flash.

I have also tried using some of the faster prime lenses, but have found that the zoom's provide greater flexibility, especially when trying to track couples around the dance floor.

cdifoto · 25th of July 2007 (Wed)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsmotril

I shoot a lot of rollerderby indoors with flash in poorly lit skating rinks. Most of what I shoot is at ISO 1250-1600 with around a 200-250 shutter speed and my 85mm F1.8 prime at F2.8-4. Sometimes that lens is a bit to long on the 30D and I can't fully frame a skater. I'm thinking of getting the 24-70 2.8L, and was wondering if anyone else used it for sports in not ideal lighting. So far my 85mm does pretty good in focusing quickly, and servo tracking. Will the 24-70 perform focusing as fast or as well as the 85mm prime? Also, how is the bokeh compared to the 85 when shooting wide open?

Why aren't you opening that puppy up!?!?!?

Go to f/2 and you can drop back to ISO800, or you can up your SS to 1/500th!

bsmotril · 26th of July 2007 (Thu)

I stop it down a bit to get enough depth of field to get the whole pack of skaters in focus. With it wide open, I'll get the jammers in front in focus, but all the blockers in the back of the pack will be soft. I have no problems with the quality I get at iso1250, 1600 is a bit iffy, but still usable if I get a good exposure. Shutter Speed of 500 is not workable with the 580 speedlight.

pagnamenta · 26th of July 2007 (Thu)

The 24-70 f2.8 is great for indoor sports. I used it for indoor basketball, badminton, and gymnastics shots. It's great to have that and some primes.

23rd of July 2007 (Mon)	#1
bsmotril Goldmember Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Austin TX Posts: 2,116 IMAGE EDITING OK	24-70mm F2.8L for Sports? I shoot a lot of rollerderby indoors with flash in poorly lit skating rinks. Most of what I shoot is at ISO 1250-1600 with around a 200-250 shutter speed and my 85mm F1.8 prime at F2.8-4. Sometimes that lens is a bit to long on the 30D and I can't fully frame a skater. I'm thinking of getting the 24-70 2.8L, and was wondering if anyone else used it for sports in not ideal lighting. So far my 85mm does pretty good in focusing quickly, and servo tracking. Will the 24-70 perform focusing as fast or as well as the 85mm prime? Also, how is the bokeh compared to the 85 when shooting wide open? __________________ Gear List Galleries: http://www.flickr.com/photos/smopho/

24th of July 2007 (Tue)	#2
bsmotril Goldmember Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Austin TX Posts: 2,116 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: 24-70mm F2.8L for Sports? Anyone have any thoughts on this? __________________ Gear List Galleries: http://www.flickr.com/photos/smopho/

24th of July 2007 (Tue)	#3
angryhampster "Got a thick monopod?" Join Date: May 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 3,846	Re: 24-70mm F2.8L for Sports? It would be fine, however you don't really need to worry about lighting if you're using flash. __________________ Steve Lexa Iowa City Wedding Photography Lights, Cameras, Lenses, Empty pockets.

24th of July 2007 (Tue)	#4
SuzyView Ms Moderator and Grandma Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Northern VA Posts: 31,485 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: 24-70mm F2.8L for Sports? Your question is a good one. It's just not something I would use my 24-70 for. I have the 85 1.8 and that is very good, but you cannot use flash with ice skating or gymnastics due to safety, so the larger the aperture, the better. Have you considered the 50 1.4 if the 85 is too long? __________________ Suzie - Still Speaking Canonese! *5D2* *7D & G12, the new iPad, iPhone 5 , 5 L's & 2 Primes* 23 bags - 4 Domke, 3 Lowepro, 1 Crumpler, 2 Tamrac, 5 Kata, 3 Thinktanks, 1 Pelican, 1 Tenba bag, 1 Epiphanie Paris & 2 Coach Handbag! And no excuses. My children are the reason, but it's the passion that drives me to get the perfect image of everything. My Gear and Wishes

24th of July 2007 (Tue)	#5
ust82gopher Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 243 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: 24-70mm F2.8L for Sports? Tried the 24-70, but it is slower to focus than the 85. Had lots of poorly composed pictures. I would agree with Suzie - maybe 50 1.4 would be better. __________________ Tim Gear List: Canon 5Dmk II and 7D, EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM, EF-S 17-85MM f4-5.6 IS USM, EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS USM, EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM, EF 85 mm f/1.8 USM, EF 135 f/2.0L USM, Extender EF 2x II, Speedlite 580EX and 430EX Last edited by ust82gopher : 24th of July 2007 (Tue) at 15:26. Reason: spelling!

25th of July 2007 (Wed)	#8
Crossfire Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Auckland, NZ Posts: 464	Re: 24-70mm F2.8L for Sports? I use the 24-70 a lot for ballroom dance photography, along with the 70-200 2.8 IS. These events are usually held in gymnasiums, where the light is ok, but not great most of the time. I am usually shooting at ISO 1600 wide open, which enables me to freeze action to a reasonable extent without using a flash. I have also tried using some of the faster prime lenses, but have found that the zoom's provide greater flexibility, especially when trying to track couples around the dance floor.

26th of July 2007 (Thu)	#10
bsmotril Goldmember Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Austin TX Posts: 2,116 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: 24-70mm F2.8L for Sports? I stop it down a bit to get enough depth of field to get the whole pack of skaters in focus. With it wide open, I'll get the jammers in front in focus, but all the blockers in the back of the pack will be soft. I have no problems with the quality I get at iso1250, 1600 is a bit iffy, but still usable if I get a good exposure. Shutter Speed of 500 is not workable with the 580 speedlight. __________________ Gear List Galleries: http://www.flickr.com/photos/smopho/

26th of July 2007 (Thu)	#11
pagnamenta Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 781	Re: 24-70mm F2.8L for Sports? The 24-70 f2.8 is great for indoor sports. I used it for indoor basketball, badminton, and gymnastics shots. It's great to have that and some primes.

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