Shooting an 8th grade basket ball game

[Toad]

So,
I've got a friend at work that wants me to shoot his son (LOL!!! never gets old) while he plays basket ball.
So... I'm shooting with a Nikon D2X, and was wondering what lens would be best, as I would just rent it.
Thank you,
Todd

[jcopes]

D2x is horrible with low light. I have one. I do not use it to shoot sports. We use D300 for that. But the only lens I would recommend is a 70-200 2.8 VR. We have shot tons of basketball for years now. That is what we use.

[ldelacruz]

I wouldn't use a 2.8 as my main lens but would rather have a 50 or 85 1.8.

Like Jen said the D2X is going to be noisey at 800 or above. What lenses do you have?

[jcopes]

It only goes up to ISO 800.

You will need the zoom because you can't run up and down the court with them. You will have plenty of light for the 2.8.

[ldelacruz]

Originally Posted by jcopes

It only goes up to ISO 800.

You will need the zoom because you can't run up and down the court with them. You will have plenty of light for the 2.8.

That is funny right there I don't care who you are!

Either you shoot in some amazing gyms or we have 2 different ideas of plenty of light?

[Thomas Campbell]

Get the 85mm 1.8 and use that. By far your best option.

[Toad]

I have a 50mm 1.8, which is my fastest lens. I'm not even considering the 24-120 or the 80-400.
So... 70-200 2.8... or an 85 1.8...
I will look into renting one of those.

[Cajungaltx]

Todd - I've shot basketball games a couple times a week for the last few weeks - and I 100% agree with Lonnie - an 85 1.8 would be your best bet. I shoot a D80 with an 80-200 and go with the position that I would rather have noise than blur - and there are times there is LOTS of noise! ;-)

[Dobick]

There has not been one single gym that I have been in this whole year where I had plenty of light. I primarily shoot with the 24-70 and 70-200 2.8 combo. 2.8 is not fast enough to get me to where I can stop the action. Unlike most of the photographers that I have witnessed, my settings are nearly a full stop slower than everyone elses. This allows me to shoot at 3200 (and here lately 6400) without having to push the exposure at all, thereby keeping the noise somewhat under control. Like Donna, I would rather have noisy than blurry, but sometimes I end up with both!

an 85 1.8 would be a good lens for basketball, and if you can couple it with something in the 28 to 35 range that is fast as well.

[John Godwin]

Do not let anyone tell you that you need fast glass, zooms and high ISO's to shoot in gym's. Granted although this photo was taken with a f2.8 it was stopped down to f4. The shutter speed was clear up to 1/250 and ISO all the way to 400. You just have to wait until the action comes to you!!! For the non believers check the EXIF data.



BTW a couple of AlienBees 1600's at full power bounced of off the ceiling does not hurt either.

[acymc]

I recently aquired a 50mm 1.7 and it seems to be working better for me, but most of our gyms are pretty well lit. Problem with 8th grade games and not getting in the way you are shooting group shots and if you autofocus you may not get as sharp a picture of your intended subject.

[ldelacruz]

Originally Posted by John Godwin

Do not let anyone tell you that you need fast glass, zooms and high ISO's to shoot in gym's. Granted although this photo was taken with a f2.8 it was stopped down to f4. The shutter speed was clear up to 1/250 and ISO all the way to 400. You just have to wait until the action comes to you!!! For the non believers check the EXIF data.

Attachment 120098

BTW a couple of AlienBees 1600's at full power bounced of off the ceiling does not hurt either.

Cheater!

That is just mean! Here I am struggling at 3200 and you rub it in.

[Dobick]

Just to give an idea of the wonderful light that I have been shooting in this year:

Existing light
ISO 6400
shutter - 1/400
Aperture - f/2.8
using 70-200mm
and still a bit under exposed

[Digigeek]

Some of the newer gyms are actually pretty good. They're beginning to use banks of flourescent lights as opposed to cycling lights, and the gyms are much brighter. This shot was taken at ISO 2500, 1/640, 2.8 in a jr. high gym (doesn't look as good here as it does otherwise, probably due to posting about a 5th gen jpeg).

[ParkImaging]

Originally Posted by ldelacruz

I wouldn't use a 2.8 as my main lens but would rather have a 50 or 85 1.8.

Ditto. Those are much faster than the 70-200 and you'll need it for those 8th grade caves.

- Wil

[toverman]

The advantage of just shooting one player is that you can wait for the action to come to you. No need to get shots of the kid standing around on the opposite end of the court. An 85 f/1.8 would be ideal, in my opinion, and if the Nikkor version is as awesome as the Canon one, you'll be set.

For covering a game as a pro, a 70-200 f/2.8 or similar is a good second lens. I have a friend who shoots basketball with a Canon 100 f/2 (a lens that doesn't get much discussion). If there are compatible lenses for your camera, something like a 100 or 135 f/2 would help if you find your shots are too loose from your vantagepoint.