Looking for more reach shooting indoor events, budget of $1000 or less

Title explains it all I thinks. 24-70ii has become my primary lens, but I want some more reach at times. I am looking at 3 primary options:

(1) Sell my 85mm 1.8 and get the 135L

(2) Get the 70-200 f/4 IS

(3) Just use my 85mm 1.8 on my backup body (SL1) for when I want more reach.

Thoughts and suggestions?

The Dark Knight wrote in post #17321006
Title explains it all I thinks. 24-70ii has become my primary lens, but I want some more reach at times. I am looking at 3 primary options:

(1) Sell my 85mm 1.8 and get the 135L

(2) Get the 70-200 f/4 IS

(3) Just use my 85mm 1.8 on my backup body (SL1) for when I want more reach.

Thoughts and suggestions?

Heya,

70 and 85 are not that different. But F2.8 isn't very fast for indoors. In my house, F1.4 with ISO 1600 sometimes barely nets 1/50s shutter. So it really depends on what kind of event you're talking about and how fast you need it to be, while keeping what kind of depth of field. This is why wider angles are great for events, because you can get more depth of field for the aperture than telephoto, so you get light and sharp focus, instead of half a face in focus. Anyhow, you get the idea, again it depends on what event you're doing and what field of view you need for it.

The 135 seems really long for indoor events. I'd probably stick to 70/85 for that. Unless you're in a huge auditorium or big stage area where you actually need telephoto. So it depends. But it's a good event lens because it has reach and fast aperture. Ideally though, I'd rather have the 70-200 F4L IS for this, because I'd rather have more reach, and really good IS and the versatility in case you get closer.

So really it comes down to what events you're talking about and whether you need IS or not.

Also, with the 6D, you shouldn't have to worry too much about needing the fastest aperture for the focal length, you can just shoot ISO 6400/12800 and ETTR by 1/3rd to 2/3rd stop EC and do some minor noise clean up and get wonderful, printable, results. This makes the 70-200 F4L IS even more attractive for weight and optics.

Very best,

Thanks!

So the 24-70 does the job for me for probably 80% of the shots I need. For the events I shoot and my style, I don't need to really "run and gun" a lot, I can kind of set up the shot. So maybe that augurs in favor of a prime over a zoom?

Of your options the 135L makes the most sense. I love the 70-200f4 IS, but its a bit slow inside. The 135L is an incredible lrns and a 1.4x extender pairs with it nicely to give you 200 2.8.

The Dark Knight wrote in post #17321006
Title explains it all I thinks. 24-70ii has become my primary lens, but I want some more reach at times. I am looking at 3 primary options:

(1) Sell my 85mm 1.8 and get the 135L

(2) Get the 70-200 f/4 IS

(3) Just use my 85mm 1.8 on my backup body (SL1) for when I want more reach.

Thoughts and suggestions?

The industry standard short to medium telephoto lens for artificially illuminated indoor events is a 70-200mm f/2.8 unit. This has been the case dating back to the days of 35mm film and even the FD mount. There's no reason to reinvent the wheel, especially when there are good 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses from Canon and Tamron. You'll find a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens in use at every basketball game of importance anywhere. There is no mystery here.

For my daughters indoor soccer this winter, I'm using my 6D & 70-200 2.8 non-IS. Picked up the 70-200 2.8 non-IS for around $800-$850. As I need the shutter speed to be up around 1/500-1/640, IS wasn't necessary for me.

The only improvement I'd make is switching out my 6D for a 5D3 for the FPS and autofocus. Going to stick it out through this winter with the 6D and decide in the spring what to upgrade to, as I'm guessing we'll see a new DSLR sometime in the next 6 months. I want a 7D2 for racetrack and zoo stuff, however you just can't beat the high ISO's of the full framers for difficult indoor stuff.

I'de get the tamron 70-200 F2.8 VC second hand. Occasionally, you can find it for 1K, and it's a zoom, you'll be more comfortable with it. Canon 70-200F2.8 IS mk1 is another option but you give up some optical quality and HAVE to get it second hand.

#1. would be the easy choice for me.

The Dark Knight wrote in post #17321033
Thanks!

So the 24-70 does the job for me for probably 80% of the shots I need. For the events I shoot and my style, I don't need to really "run and gun" a lot, I can kind of set up the shot. So maybe that augurs in favor of a prime over a zoom?

Swapping to a prime may possibly work for you then.

What percentage of these photos require bounced flash????

For the sake of convenience and to be more professional you should have 2 bodies at an event. You always need a backup body. If your shooting with flash I'd rather have your small SL1 with 85 f/1.8 as a secondary body. If your using fill flash you'd get great image quality.

If you truly have all the time in the world you can always put a prime on the 6d.

For my events work I use a spider holster to hold my second body. It sits on my hip and NO straps!!! My primary sits around my neck using an op/tech cps strap (or pro loop) and that usually is comfortable and disperses the weight of the camera. The belt has a thinktank lens bag so I can change my UWA/zoom/primes for my primary camera. This comb setup works fantastic for me for stressful run gun situations.

I wouldn't bother with a 70-200 f/4 is for indoor events unless it's for casual usage.

the 135L is a killer lens but you must look at your application. If your in a smaller room shooting an event you'd be scoping up the noses of the longer prime lens. Close tight head shots is not story telling.