Need a prime for basketball. But which?

I'll be needing a prime Canon lens for the upcoming basketball season. Currently, I have a 7D and 1D MarkIII. I have a 20mm f2.8 and a 70-200 2.8 IS.

I'd like something in between the above two lenses and am thinking about the EF 50mm 1.4 USM. I had a Canon 50mm 1.8 but it was so slow to focus. I'd be using this under the basket.

Anyone use the 50 1.4 for sports???

Thanks!!

Whats wrong with the 70 end of your 70-200?

Regardless, 85 1.8 is a popular lens for basketball, but again, 85mm is covered by your 70-200 so Iw ant to hear your reasoning =)

Depends what sort of shots you like to take. I'd go for a 135L, but that's just a personal choice - I like close-ups. Actually, I wouldn't use a prime at all unless I needed very good low-light capability.

You're so quick to answer. I went back and added that this would be for use under the basket. I think the 20 is going to be too wide and the 70 end of the zoom too tight.

Some of these gyms are pretty light-insufficient so I thought a 1.4 would be helpful in those cases.

The 85mm takes better pictures though, it beats my 17-55 which is very good easily.
It's extremley sharp and the edge to edge sharpness if phenomenal, not to mention the clear image because it's a prime.

I see you have two camera, what camera do you want this "in between" lens to be on?

There are NO 50's in Canon mount that I know of that can keep up with HS or higher levels of bball...

One more thing, this would be used in conjunction with the 70-200 on my other camera body.

I just used an 85 1.8 from 5 rows up at a college basketball game and got great captures, would have liked them to be a little tighter. I can imagine how putting the 85 1.8 on one body and something between 30mm and 50mm on the other body would be a great combination.

I have heard good things about the 50 1.4...
Not a prime but how about the 24-70 2.8.. one body with a 24-70 the other with 70-200 you got it all covered...

I'd love a 24-70 but out of my price range at this time.

I was thinking for the price of the 24-70 instead going with a Sigma 30 1.4 and the Canon 135 f2.. I know what you mean by not having the $$$ I just picked up the 7D last month..

OP,

No offense meant, but in sports the mantra is "shoot tight, crop tighter". I use an 85mm f/1.8 on my 7d (136mm AoV) right under the basket and it is not too tight, so I can't imagine how the 70-200 on your 1DmkIII is too tight...

Hank E wrote in post #11385421
One more thing, this would be used in conjunction with the 70-200 on my other camera body.

Which camera will have the 70-200 and which one will have this "in between" lens? Since your cameras are not the same sensor size, this makes a difference.