HS basketball shots, C&C please for a new sport shooter

Well I've shot at maybe 4 or 5 basketball games so far. I really enjoy it but it is not easy stuff! My biggest problem, by far, is getting my shots in focus! I'm always off by a hair. Here are my favorite shots so far, hopefully I can get some feedback.

Canon 100mm Macro

2nd one (the dunk) would be a nice one if the ball were there...and speaking of hair.. the person in the background makes him look like he has a mohawk!

I heard the 100 marco is slow to focus as well ( but one of Canon's sharpest lens ). The 85 L shots
are worthy of the "L" name, but I would say the 85 and the 100 usm's are very capable and
considering your keeping rate would be more than twice what is is now, should out weigh the
difference in image quality. Think of all the really good actions shots you've missed. These two
lens are relatively cheap in comparison.

Joemt.

The XTi is not the best for fast action.
1/200 is way too slow so there is motion blur and OOF mixed in.
You might be able to fix a bit of sharpness issues with USM, just don't over do it.

It's hard to offer any advice since the pics have the exif data stripped out.

MT Stringer wrote in post #9455158
It's hard to offer any advice since the pics have the exif data stripped out.

Sorry about that. I added the EXIF data to my original post.

In most of the gyms I shoot in, the lighting is worse than where you were. Last night I shot a few pics while my buddy was covering the game. He shoots Nikon and had his settings at ISO 5000, f/2.8, 1/400 on manual with a D700 and 70-200 f/2.8. I shot a few at ISO 6400, f/2.8, 1/400 w/Sigma 120-300 f/2.8 lens on a 1D MK III. I had been at the football field covering soccer.

I have used the Canon 85 f/1.8, 100 f/2 and the 135L f/2 for volleyball and some basketball. They all worked real well, even though I got a few OOF like you have. Fast action and low light just flat makes things difficult.

Now I shoot with two strobes at f/3.5 are thereabouts and ISO 320-500 depending on the type, size and ceiling color of the gym itself.

Good luck.
MIke

I was wondering how the 100mm macro would fair for basketball...looks pretty darn good to me! Great shots

10megapixel wrote in post #9455485
I was wondering how the 100mm macro would fair for basketball...looks pretty darn good to me! Great shots

On a 1.6 crop I think it would be too long by itself. Now, with a 24-70 or a wide prime on another body would be great.

10megapixel wrote in post #9455485
I was wondering how the 100mm macro would fair for basketball...looks pretty darn good to me! Great shots

Thanks! To be honest, I think the focus speed is great. DoF isolation could be better but it definitely works. On my 1.6 crop though, it is pretty tight. I found the 85 to be a nicer frame, but it is easier to shoot with the 100 macro. Though, from a light point of view, the 85 is MUCH easier to shoot with. It's much more lenient on the ISO of the sensor.

While the discussion is on wide angle lenses, I have used a Tamron 28-75 and a Canon 17-40 on a 40D as a second body. The 17-40 worked the best because I had prefocused on an area just in front of the basket, switched to manual and taped the focus ring with gaffers tape. So there is no lag, just point and shoot!

Note: I normally use a 70-200 f/2.8L IS on a 1D MKIII as the main camera combo for basketball (using strobes).

Your shots look pretty good with regard to exposure, color saturation and white balance. Saw the exif data you posted. 1/200 and 1/320 are too slow shutter speeds for HS boys basketball.

A good starting point with your lens are: wide open; 1/640 and ISO cranked up high enough to get the 1/640. I suspect that most of your shots WERE in focus, but the slow shutter speeds introduced motion blur more than a misfocus.

The slower shutter speeds are fine for the standing around stuff, but dribble drives by the ball handlers, dunks, rebounds and shots require 1/640 to freeze action at the high school level.

dave

I agree,the shutter speed is too slow.

snyderman wrote in post #9459907
A good starting point with your lens are: wide open

Related to DoF, is that the smartest choice with the 85L? 1.2 is scarily thin, DoF wise.