70-200 f4 + 5D for indoor basketball?

would this setup be ok for an indoor basketball game? i also have a 50mm 1.4 but am not sure if it will be long enough.

this would be my first basketball game.

Should work, bump up the Ido and shoot

Depending on the lighting in the gym, I'd say f4 probably won't allow enough light in to get your shutter speed fast enough to stop the action. The 50mm 1.4 would work if you can sit on the baseline and only shoot when the action gets close enough. Your other problem will be the 5D. Not sure if the AF will be fast enough. Disregard if you're shooting with strobes.

I would not know where to begin on lighting a court with strobes so I plan on going all ambient light on this one.

On FF the 50 won't be long enough but the f/4 is what is going to kill you with the other lens unless you shoot at a crazy high ISO. I shoot a lot of basketball with a 7D and I'm typically at f/2.0 and ISO 1600 or higher (usually higher) to get a shutter speed of 1/500th. Using what you have, I would prefer to use the 50 and crop versus the zoom and have shots with severe motion blur. You really want to keep that shutter speed at 1/500th with 1/640th being even better for older, faster players.

I forgot to mention I have the IS version of the f4 lens, but this may be a negligible difference.

I may have to rent some equipment, what the most cost effective solution be in your opinion?

renting an 85 1.8 maybe?

oceanbeast wrote in post #14474454
I forgot to mention I have the IS version of the f4 lens, but this may be a negligible difference.

I may have to rent some equipment, what the most cost effective solution be in your opinion?

renting an 85 1.8 maybe?

The 85 is my go-to lens for indoor sports, as it is with many others, and that would be a great lens to try out. I shoot on a crop body though, so something like the 135L might be better if you find 85mm too short. The IS version of the f/4, while a very good lens, will not help you unfortunately. IS only helps with camera shake, not motion blur. At the shutter speeds you need for indoor sports camera shake is not an issue. The general rule for hand-holding to avoid camera shake is 1/FL so even at the long end of the zoom you would only need 1/200th to avoid it. You will be shooting at speeds much higher than that.

oceanbeast wrote in post #14474454
I forgot to mention I have the IS version of the f4 lens, but this may be a negligible difference.

I may have to rent some equipment, what the most cost effective solution be in your opinion?

renting an 85 1.8 maybe?

IS is not going to help with freezing action.

I've seen great shots on the forum on crop with the 85/1.8. Since you're on FF the 135/2 might be a better option?

I've got the f4, although not IS, but I doubt you will get fast enough shutter speeds in a gym. Not sure what body you have but it would probably require a pretty high ISO which may or may not give you acceptable images.

I dont think f4 will get you where you need to be in most gyms. Your better option is the 50 and hope you can crop.

I shot a BB game recently with a t3i and the f4 70-200. I had my ISO up to 3200, which gave decent shutter speeds. You simply have to adjust your expectations a little for the type of shots you want. You might not get that shot of the players running the court, or the dunk shots. But freethrows, and other (slower) actions were just fine.

John37 wrote in post #14474557
I shot a BB game recently with a t3i and the f4 70-200. I had my ISO up to 3200, which gave decent shutter speeds. You simply have to adjust your expectations a little for the type of shots you want. You might not get that shot of the players running the court, or the dunk shots. But freethrows, and other (slower) actions were just fine.

So none of the exciting parts?

in order to get a good variety of tight shots and action full body shots do you guys feel the 135 will not be too long?

i guess if it is i can switch out with the 50mm and do it that way with greater focal variety.

oceanbeast wrote in post #14474959
in order to get a good variety of tight shots and action full body shots do you guys feel the 135 will not be too long?

i guess if it is i can switch out with the 50mm and do it that way with greater focal variety.

Where are you shooting from? If you can get down near the baseline (pretty much the only place you can see faces) you dont need much. Most gyms dont have much room to work so you dont need much.

oceanbeast wrote in post #14474959
in order to get a good variety of tight shots and action full body shots do you guys feel the 135 will not be too long?

i guess if it is i can switch out with the 50mm and do it that way with greater focal variety.

My 7D with the 85 gives an equivalent FL of 136mm and I typically shoot from 5 to 10 feet behind the baseline. Yes, there are times that the action is a little too close but that's just part of shooting with a prime. Like gonzogolf said it all depends on exactly where you are located. If you are going to be right on top of the action the 85 would work or if you know you will be a little farther back (lower rows of the stands) then the 135 would be a good choice.