Another question about apertures and indoor action captures

[DoleWhipDVC]

Since a large aperture is best for low light conditions, and gyms, convention centers, etc. tend to be low light, the advice I've gotten is to use fast glass like a f/1.4 or 1.8 or something close to that. I read online that the 50mm 1.8 would be a good choice for indoor sports photography without breaking the bank. I have a Canon 50mm 1.8 prime so I could use that. However, here is my question: I also have the Canon 70-300 zoom which has an f/1.4 at 70mm and can be locked at that length.

Wouldn't I be better off to shoot at 70mm with the f/1.4 than the 50mm with f/1.8? That way I can capture more light, shoot faster shutter speeds and use a lower ISO. I'm covering a martial arts tournament this weekend and can get on the floor or shoot from the stands, so distance to my subject won't be an issue. I could use a flash in some cases, but would rather not.

Any thoughts or insight would be appreciated.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I also have the Canon 70-300 zoom which has an f/1.4 at 70mm and can be locked at that length.

Are you sure about that? All the Canon 70-300mm lenses I'm aware of are f/4 at the wide end and f/5.6 at the long end. I've never heard of a zoom that is f/1.4 at any point of the range. In fact, zooms wider than f/2.8 are rare.

 

[DoleWhipDVC]

Are you sure about that? All the Canon 70-300mm lenses I'm aware of are f/4 at the wide end and f/5.6 at the long end. I've never heard of a zoom that is f/1.4 at any point of the range. In fact, zooms wider than f/2.8 are rare.

WOW, am I even dumber than I thought. You are absolutely correct. I read the number on the lens wrong and maybe I wished it was f/1.4 but it is a "4" all by itself. Soooooo... I'm an idiot. Thanks for waking me up, it must have been wishful thinking on my part to have a lens with that capability! No one else needs to reply here....I think my 50mm prime will do most of the work this weekend.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Your logic was correct. It was just your facts that were wrong. That indicates that you were smart but misinformed.