85m F/1.8 for sport?

I'm looking at an 85mm F/1.8 as a fast lense to compliment my 70-200 F4IS.

As I've got a 40D I'd only use this lense outdoors or large poorly lit venues. I'd like to know if this lense can focus fast enough for the odd low-light sport event?

I'm curious about this as well... I recently bought the 70-200 f4 and was thinking of picking this lens up (or the 100mm f2.0) to use when it started to get too dark.

I've used mine for basketball and have gotten some pretty good results. Alot of people use this lens for basketball.

I also used it a few times for a dance recital when I didn't feel like using my 70-200, but i stopped it down to about 2.2 or so for better DoF. It was plenty fast for those two applications.

It has excellent and fast AF. The more expensive 85mm 1.2 would be more dodgy for fast sports.

picturecrazy wrote in post #6045094
It has excellent and fast AF. The more expensive 85mm 1.2 would be more dodgy for fast sports.

I'll seccond that - but a great lens though - the bokeh is sublime.

The 1.8 is the way to go for sports - AF is much faster.

Mark

It is a great lens for sports and my go to lens for indoor basketball. Be careful shooting at f/1.8, the DOF is so thin it can make things look out of focus. As with the above I like to shoot at around f/2.2.

The 85/1.8 is very good for indoor sports. The 100/2.0 is also in the same performance and price league. It takes a lot of practice get good shots in dimly lit gyms, so be patient and keep on shooting.

Just to reiterate what others have said. The 85 1.8 is one of the speedier focusers in the Canon lineup. My 135L is fast and the 85 1.8 is right there with it. It's outstanding for lower-light indoor action of any kind.

85mm 1.8 (F1.8 3200 ISO 1/400th)

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I have both 85mm lenses.... The 85 f1.2 is pretty slow but usable in some very specific situations.

The 85 f1.8 is the best lens buy in the entire Canon line up....period. Buy one.

85 f 1.2 wide open

I have the 85mm 1.8 and 100mm 2.0, using for indoor basketball and recently at an indoor rodeo. Very happy with them both and can be picked up for a reasonable price

You can't shoot indoor sports without one. I have the 85/1.8...the AF is fast. I have heard the 85/1.2 AF is slow and better suited to studio type work.

The other primes to consider are 100/2 and 135L/2. Some folks use a wider angle prime under the basketball hoop or near the net for volleyball (think 24, 35, or 50).

A gallery of basketball test shots with the 85mm f/1.8 lens: http://twsp.zenfolio.c​om/p791692541/
Some with flash, some without.
Example:

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I do have to point out that all of the sports shots used have been close range shots/small courts. I am not sure the 85 would do any good for football, soccer or baseball. You need the reach for those. I would think the 24-105 L or 24-70 L would be choice for complementing the 70-200.

OP wrote:

I found that most of my indoor shots with a 70-200 were between 70 and 100 on my 40D. The 85mm fits in that nicely. I have to back up a little more with 85 mm compared to the zoom lens, but I think that since the 85mm is light and compact it is much easier to follow the ball and player.