HS BB 24-105 f/4; Need feedback

Shot some Basketball last night with the 24-105 f/4 lens. The focal lengths are versatile and I've got enough strobed light for f/4 but I'm concerned about sharpness. These are certainly not the equal of a 135 f/2 but what do you guys think? Adequate or not?

1. 1/250, f/5.6, ISO 800, 105mm

They look sharp enough to me. Can't you sharpen them in post if they look a little soft to you? If they were my images, I would've tried a bit of 'local contrast enhancement.'

They look OK at this size but appear to have softness due to some processing or shrinking maybe.

The ones at f/5.6 seem a bit sharper than the ones at f/4 but kinda hard to really tell here. Have you tried shooting anything stationary in good light at f/4 with that lens to see what it does under ideal conditions?

I need to do that under controlled conditions. Typically, I just use this lens as a 'walk-around' lens where I'm not as critical as I am with sports images. Micro adjusting would be a good thing as well.

Phil I shot my f4 lens last night too. But I ramped up the ISO a bit more and got to f5.6 on some shots. It would be nice to shoot at ISO 400, but for me that's just not going to happen.

Some look sharper than others, but they are pretty close.

Thanks for the feedback guys. Back to the drawing board.

FWIW, here are two shots with the 70-200, f/2.8 IS lens at the same game.

1. 1/250, f/4.0, ISO 400, 200mm My daughter.

More than 'adequate' Phil - but your past work demonstrates a high standard, so maybe your usage is large prints and such. But there is something to be said for that zoom range. It's a great lens - if only f/2.8 for the same price.

Thanks Terry.

My day job is drilling teeth (DDS). On the walls of the office are 50 prints of my best sports images. They are all 8 x 10 (a few larger standouts), framed and printed on metallic paper. The images are rotated as new seasons, good shots, and athletes appear. It is jokingly referred to as the 'Wall of Fame.' If images don't have a chance of appearing on that wall, I'm not interested in shooting it. When my quality goes down, it is immediately apparent, so it is a good, if relentless, motivator to improve.

Phil

They look fine Phil. I use my 24-105 all the time for cycling and really like the results.

what were your strobes and how did you have your strobes set up for this?

I'd be interested in the answer to the questions posted above?

prerunnerboy27 wrote in post #9415150
what were your strobes and how did you have your strobes set up for this?

Here is the set up at my home gym. There are four Alien Bee B800s all triggered with Pocket Wizard +2s. There is good outlet availability so I need just two extension cords. A Sekonic 358 light meter is used to balance the light within 1/3 stop in the near court from the top of the key to the hoop. Hope that helps.

Typically, I would only use two Bees but the girders cut down on the reflected light and the ceiling is perforated so that makes the extra 2 Bees really helpful.

Thanks!

Phil,

those are rippin' sharp for the most part. Not sure what body you're shooting with, but that initial move a ball handler makes is sometimes quicker than the camera can record. Usually leave you an OOF face like on # 5 & 7.

The two in your second post (daughter and coach perhaps) are stellar!

dave