Lens for indoor basketball?

Basketball images from a non-stabilized Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 lens.

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Hi everyone!
Thank you very much for your tips and advice. As I said, I'll try to rent a 70-200 f/2.8L and will bring my 85mm also. I'll see which one works better for me.
Hope I can have some good shots to show you.

You can also get a way with an 85mm f/1.8 if you're on a budget.

bikfoto wrote in post #15617563
You can also get a way with an 85mm f/1.8 if you're on a budget.

I have one already. I will try the 70-200L just to see which one I'm the most comfortable with.

TSchrief wrote in post #15616748
I have shot volleyball from court-side and my 70-200 was too long, even on a 5D.

I never knew that.

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1091324

Craign wrote in post #15616792
I use Canon 50D with Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 IS. Our gym has really good lighting for a high school gym. The only problem is the poor lighting in the end zones.

Correct settings for shots out in the court are: ISO 6400 f/2.8 SS 1/800
Baseline is ISO 6400 f/2.8 SS 1/500
I compromise by using ISO 6400 f/2.8 1/640 sec.
I get motion blur with any SS below 1/500 sec.

An fast 85mm lens is very good if you are comfortable using a prime. You need room to back off the end line or shoot from near the corner if using an 85mm lens on a crop camera. I prefer the versatility of a zoom. The Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 looks like an interesting lens for basketball but I can't justify spending nearly $1,000 for another lens.

Good info

Different venues will have different lighting, both in quantity and quality. Knowing settings at one will not necessarily be valid at another.

I sit on the sidelines and use a 24-70 f2.8 and 300 f2.8 on 1D series bodies.

I've experimented with the 85mm f1.8 and it gives pleasing results but it's too long for anything other than about 1/3 to 1/2 court shots.

I shoot *alot* of indoor basketball, mostly special rec, high school and older. I am generally able to get down on the court, behind the baskets, or on the sidelines. depends on the gym and the Ref. I am shooting a 7D, so a crop sensor.

Besides the lighting issues (another whole story on quantity and quality/color of light), i have found the following:

My 3 lenses that see use are: (in order)
50mm 1.4 (mine is a siggy)
30mm 1.4 (again sigma)
85mm 1.8 (canon)

Every once in a while, I pull out my 20mm 1.8, or my 70-200 2.8. Not often.

Your results may vary. I have found the lighting is some venues to be so poor, you really need the extra stop or two you can get from a prime. the color balancing is always custom.

Jim

Thanks SuzyView for those inputs.
jbrand, could you post some shots (or a link) for us to view your work?

Thanks guys for participating and helping me.

http://dukechronicle.p​hotoshelter.com …B-vs-UVA/G0000C3NhOHLPVgc

The first sixteen of these are mine. I used a 24-70mm, 85mm, and 300mm. Can you guess which lens was used for which?

Personally, I'd say skip the 70-200 rental and use what you have. The 7D and 85mm f/1.8 lens will get you lots of good shots. It's great from the 3-point line in but will be kind of tight for the post-play action unless you're far enough away.

Settings: Set lens to f/2, shutter speed to 1/640 and raise ISO until you have proper exposures. Set it and forget it then concentrate on shooting the action. Standard gym lighting means ISO setting will be
`4000. Do a manual white balance if you can. If not, fluorescent setting will get you close. Shoot RAW files so you can correct later.

Where to setup: With the 7D + 85mm lens, setting up about 5' behind the baseline and 5' inside the sideline will get you really good results. Don't go under the basket ... this is referee space and they'll happily stand between your lens the action at every opportunity.

7D setup: Make sure to do a search here on sports settings for the 7D. Using the centerpoint only with no supporting focus points is a must; setting the focus release to slow are a couple I recall. Don't feel bad about shooting off a burst of 2-3 high-speed frames on guys making layups and dunks to get peak action shots.

Good luck and post some shots when you have them.

dave

Very nice shots, very dynamic! Which Camera do you use?

Thanks for sharing your experience and your advice Dave. Much appreciated.

blackjack999 wrote in post #15626480
Very nice shots, very dynamic! Which Camera do you use?

Thanks for sharing your experience and your advice Dave. Much appreciated.

I believe it was a 1D Mark III and my 1D Mark II N. I was using a 50D before but that didn't cut it. I've also used a 7D but didn't like it much....can't beat the 1D AF.