5D-III + 70-200 f/2.8 or 7D-III + 3 primes?

Shooting indoor basketball in a mediocre gym. Lighting isn't great or terrible. Which of these 2 would you choose and why?

1. 5D-III with 70-200 f/2.8 II: ISO 12,800 1/800 f/2.8.
2. 7D-II with 50, 85, 135 primes: ISO 6,400 1/800 f/2.0.

DOF between the two would be the same. SS is the same, ISO is lower on the 7D-2, colors are better on the 5D-3. AF is a wash, FPS is better on the 7D-2.

What say ye POTN?

Heya,

5D3 + F2.8L II zoom.

The ISO will be equivalent to your contender camera at a stop lower, and you get the flexibility of the zoom, rather than fixed focal length just to gain a single stop of ISO.

Very best,

Tough call on this one. Normally, if I have to shoot basketball with ambient light, I am all about primes to keep shutter speeds up. IMO the 50 prime is not needed if you could go with the 5DIII. So I might suggest 5DIII an only the 85 and 135 primes. Dunno if that is in the budget, or what else you may plan to shoot with your setup.

rdalrt wrote in post #17816811
Tough call on this one. Normally, if I have to shoot basketball with ambient light, I am all about primes to keep shutter speeds up. IMO the 50 prime is not needed if you could go with the 5DIII. So I might suggest 5DIII an only the 85 and 135 primes. Dunno if that is in the budget, or what else you may plan to shoot with your setup.

I would agree. I love the quick focus of both the 135 and the 85(1.8) those paired with a 5D3 i think would give you some fantastic results

I have most of the gear already; 5D-III, 7D-II, 85 f/1.8, 135L & 200 f/2.8L primes and 70-200 II zoom.

I did shoot with the 135L last night with the 5D-III. Dropped ISO to 6400 and shot at f/2. DOF was so shallow that it was tougher to keep the faces in focus. I ended up switching back to the zoom

In that case, if you are looking to spend some money, might I suggest a pair of strobes? A couple of Einsteins do wonders for bball photos.

I already have a pair of AB 400's. The schools I have access to have no place to mount strobes.

n1as wrote in post #17816883
I already have a pair of AB 400's. The schools I have access to have no place to mount strobes.

Not even room on lightstands in the corners somewhere? Though 400's may be a bit small for a gym.

Why not both if you have the gear already?

My personal preference would be to have the 5DIII and 70-200 as the main body, and throw the 200/2.8 on the 7DII for cross-court & coach shots.

abruckse wrote in post #17816975
Why not both if you have the gear already?

My personal preference would be to have the 5DIII and 70-200 as the main body, and throw the 200/2.8 on the 7DII for cross-court & coach shots.

Sounds good to me.

Well, yea I have both but am not sure I want to carry both all the time. Too much weight. Yes, I'm a wimp. More importantly, I need to sell some stuff to recoup money spent on the 70-200. That means I can keep the zoom or the 3 primes (85 / 135 / 200) but not both.

5D3 + 70-200 + 85 f/1.8. The 85 f/1.8 is probably one of the best values in the Canon lineup.