Tennessee basketball with new (to me) Sigma 70-200

This is my second game shooting on the floor. This is for my school paper (which isn't printing, so this was basically a free practice session). Also my second time out with the Sigma 70-200 2.8 (Version I HSM macro). Overall, I'm pleased with the lens. Focus seems soft every now and then though. Maybe I'm the problem though. I know I need to work getting more landscape orientation shots.

C&C welcome.

There's some good shots in there, a few might be a bit underexposed but that's fixable. Maybe a tighter crop on a few of them would improve them. 4, 5 and 7 are my favorites

Thanks for the input. I was curious about exposure... looks like you confirmed my suspicions. Although the lighting is good overall in the arena, I've noticed that those lcd advertisement banners that go around the whole arena and below the main scoreboard can affect exposure a 1/2 stop or so in either direction.

Shots look good are these f2.8, care to share your settings.. SS, iso F Stop.
thanks
Joe

abruckse wrote in post #13525275
Although the lighting is good overall in the arena, I've noticed that those lcd advertisement banners that go around the whole arena and below the main scoreboard can affect exposure a 1/2 stop or so in either direction.

Don't let the lights/your camera do that to you. If the light is even across the court go manual with the correct exposure. Also, I wouldn't worry to much about horizontal photos. For me BB is at least 85% a vertical or almost square sport.

Overall your pics look good. As you get used to the lens more you will be able to shoot tighter requiring less cropping but early on when you shoot tight it is tough to keep the important stuff in the frame. More experience is the only way to get better. Keep at it and get courtside every chance you have.

Joe300 wrote in post #13525525
Shots look good are these f2.8, care to share your settings.. SS, iso F Stop.
thanks
Joe

Joe, I was shooting at 2.8, 1/640, ISO2400 (on an XTi with hacked firmware to get >1600 ISO) for most of the game.

bpalermini wrote in post #13526463
Don't let the lights/your camera do that to you. If the light is even across the court go manual with the correct exposure. Also, I wouldn't worry to much about horizontal photos. For me BB is at least 85% a vertical or almost square sport.

Overall your pics look good. As you get used to the lens more you will be able to shoot tighter requiring less cropping but early on when you shoot tight it is tough to keep the important stuff in the frame. More experience is the only way to get better. Keep at it and get courtside every chance you have.

Thanks. I was in manual. It's just when those advertisements show something dark, I lose 1/2 stop or more, and when they show something really high key, exposure jumps up when using my typical settings. It's no big deal though... that's why I shoot in RAW after all. Light is still even/good in there, so I can't complain. I definitely hear what you're saying on shooting tight... it's taking some getting used to.

I just got my sigma 70-200 HSM and I'm hoping it performs like yours for sure. Got my first hockey game with it this Thursday. These are good shots though I like them.

These look good!
I've thought about a Sigma 70-200 for basketball myself, looks like it does real well!