Anyone here use the 50mm f1.4 for basketball?

I know the perferred BB lens is the 85mm f1.8, but I am using a 40D with it's wonderful 1.6 x crop factor. I'm thinking the 85mm will be a bit too tight for me under the basket. I have been shooting with a nasty (really old) 50mm f1.8 plastic POS. It's a fine lens if the subject isn't moving and you want that OOF feel, but...

I was wondering if the 1.4 version with it's USM will be fine? I imaging it can't be any worse than what I have now, only better. And having a really fast lens can only help out with other things too. I plan on using radio controlled flashes at the next game so lighting is taken care of. In the past I've used OCF with some success, but I'll be moving away from that now. Maybe I'll be able to stand off in the corner using the 70-200 f4 if I'm lucky. But I like the look of the under the basket shots.

So, does anyone use it and if so, can you post some examples please.

I would like to see some too. I have used the 85mm/f1.8 and same body, and only beyond the key seems to be decent.. nothing near the net unless I am off to the side and get lucky drive coming towards the net (and me). I recently bought the 50mm/f1.4 and would hope that would help under the basket

wilzdezign wrote in post #9283514
I would like to see some too. I have used the 85mm/f1.8 and same body, and only beyond the key seems to be decent.. nothing near the net unless I am off to the side and get lucky drive coming towards the net (and me). I recently bought the 50mm/f1.4 and would hope that would help under the basket

How do you like the lens so far? Is it as fast to the focus as other USM's? And how sharp is it?

Canon Digital Photography Forums > 'Photo Sharing' section > Sports
> Anyone here use the 50mm f1.4 for basketball?

My limited time at basketball, i was using the 135mm on full frame, and it was almost perfect at the corner of the baseline.

Yes, I use the 50mm 1.4 for basketball at my local gym because there is very limited space between the baseline and the wall - 8-10'. It works fine, faster than I thought on focus, but subjectively not as fast as a 70-200. Expect to have to crop if you like faces filling the frame. It's also a life saver if you have no lights. I used bounced strobes in the two cases recently since I bought the lens.

Sorry, just realized my "Gear list" link is hosed - I'm using it on a 1D Mk3.

Terry, If you're using it on a FF body then the 50mm is pretty wide. I'm using it on a 40D with the 1.6 x crop so in effect it'll be a 80mm lens. So far some of my shots taken with my 50 1.8 have been pretty good framing wise so I'm happy with the length on my body.

Here's what I have so far:
http://www.flickr.com …g/sets/72157622​984324510/

Thanks.

The Mk III has a 1.3 x crop, so I'm somewhere in the middle. I paced it off tonight and I have 8.5 feet from baseline to wall, and the strobes are on the end of the stands about 1 foot behind the backboard. So if I shoot from the corner, I get the lights in there.

Your framing looks fine - not sure if they are cropped or not. What lighting are you using?

Here's a sample photo from the 1DIII and 50mm f/1.4 from tonight.
No strobes. ISO 1600 1/500 f/2

Terry Healy wrote in post #9286445
The Mk III has a 1.3 x crop, so I'm somewhere in the middle. I paced it off tonight and I have 8.5 feet from baseline to wall, and the strobes are on the end of the stands about 1 foot behind the backboard. So if I shoot from the corner, I get the lights in there.

Your framing looks fine - not sure if they are cropped or not. What lighting are you using?

That's right! I forgot that the MK III has 1.3 x crop sensor.

You get the lights in if you use the 50mm 1.4 right? I would imagine so. If I were to shoot from the corners, I'd be using a longer lens for sure.

As for my BB shots: yes, some were cropped, but not a lot and some were not cropped at all. I guess that is the benifit of the 1.6 x crop body and a 50mm lens. I like shooting from the under the basket, it seems to be where most of the action is. But I haven't tried shooting from the corners yet. A week from this Friday I'll try shooting from the corners as well as under the net again. But this time I'll have my strobes and RF-602 triggers. All the images in that Flickr set were taken with OCF bounced straight up into the rafters. Only once or twice did I get a marginal shadow on an opposite wall. It seemed to work out. Once I even tried using an opticle slave to trigger another strobe not far away, but it was inconsistant and it kept leaving me with either too much light or too little as I was readjusting all the time. I just turned it off after a few tries. But I could see the difference when it did work out. One strobe is enough to stop the action and fill a bit of the shadowy eyes, but two is the ticket for sure. I can't wait to give the triggers, super clamps and strobes a try in a week and a half. Let there be Light!
and maybe a new lens...

Justin, thanks for posting that image. Nice action and expressions! So do you find the USM in the f1.4 to be fast enough to get to the focus and stay with it? It seems from your image it does, but I'd love to hear about your experiences with it.

Yeah, I didn't find it having difficulties obtaining focus and keeping it. I get about as many OOF shots from that lens as I do when using the 85mm 1.8, 24-70mm, or 70-200mm. It's a little tight for under the goal with any crop camera, though that shot was taken from the baseline just left of the paint.

jacuff wrote in post #9288518
It's a little tight for under the goal with any crop camera, though that shot was taken from the baseline just left of the paint.

That's usually where I like to set up, either left or right of the paint.

Thanks for the input. I might try renting one from a local camera rental house here in Denver first to see if I like it. But I can't imagine that I wouldn't like a f1.4 lens.

@ChasWG -- Again it is decent, but the 85 on 40D body doesn't give me much room, so most of the OOF shots are trying to rush where the ball is. A little slowness on focus, but I can't really compare it to others until I try them. I am hoping to get out and try the 50/1.4.