Figure Skating Lens

My daughter is now participating in figure skating competitions where the atmosphere is a dark hockey ring with spotlights on her. I think it is similar to concerts but for a faster moving object. I'm trying to determine the correct lens to take her pictures with. I realize zooms have the flexibility for tight shots and I'm considering a 70-200mm f/2.8 but am willing to go with a prime such as a 135mm f/2. I don't know if the floodlights will overexpose either. Is the prime better and then crop/enlarge in PS? Has anyone had experience here?

I did a search on 'figure' but the titles of the threads indicated I struck out there so I'm posting here. I will be using my 20D on a monopod with no flash. I have the money for a lens purchase so I'm just looking for lens suggestions.

Thanks for any feedback.

Dan

The 70-200mm F2.8 should do a good job. The problem I always had with rinks when photographing my sons hockey games, was white balance. Always had a hard time with awful yellow overcast. Of course that was before I bought my DSLR.

Search for Hockey or Rink here and you will get a lot of info.


For all intent and purposes; Hockey and Skating are very similar in photographic terms; and a lot of Northeasters and Canadians here can help with this topic!

I stick to outdoor sports; cause I have to drive to see snow.

Dan:


They are right check out the posts for hockey. It's almost the same idea but really you are trying to do something quite a bit harder.

I don't think that the hockey people appreciate how fast a figure skater moves, and that is before they do any jumps, spins or footwork.

Try and tell them that a hockey skater can't skate and see the look that they give you!!

It really will depend on where you will be shooting from. I did some shooting at an international meet here last fall with a 75-300 f4.0 - 5.6. The lights were full up in the arena and I was sitting 8 rows up a mid ice.

I was using iso1600 and 3200 to try and get enough light with this lens. I knew at the time that it was not really going to do well but it was all I had at the time and did manage to get some shots. They were very noisy though.

I was around 135 mm for a reasonable lenght for the skaters that were in the end closest to me. At 300mm I could not get enough shutter speed to over come camera shake and still get a reasonable exposure.

I have seen posts that Drisley has put up using the 135 f2.0 that are extremely good. It would be a good lens for this but not really flexible depending on where you were positioned in the rink and how much you wanted to fill the frame.

I still think that the 70-200 f2.8 (sigma or Canon) is the perfect lens for this.

Another bonus is the 20D that will allow you to push the iso up (use 1600 and the 3200) as necessary to freeze the action.

I'm not sure how much the monopod will help, I've never used one before.

Try a bunch of practice shots during her practice sessions. That way you will get to know her routines well enough to anticipate where the jumps and spins will take place (if you don't know all ready).

Good luck and lets see some of the pictures please. I am dying to get a fast lens so that I can get pictures inside a rink. Sigh! must have patience...

Thanks to all for the responses.

I understand that during hockey games the lighting can be rather harsh. If I was taking pictures of her practicing the conditions would be identical to that of hockey. The only thing different here is that during her actual show, the rink will be dark with spotlights on her. That is where I am concerned. I agree with everyone that a zoom is required for the flexibility so I'll probably go with the 70-200mm f/2.8 and hope for the best. I do know for sure that I'll like that lens for other photo taking opportunities.

Now all I have to do is find a good spot to take the pictures so that I don't have to shoot through the glass.

Dan

So, how did it go? Would really like to know if you had success.