Indoor basketball - settings?

[PoohJen]

Last year y'all gave me great advice (i.e. really simple instructions!) for taking indoor school play shots.

What settings would you recommend for an indoor youth basketball game using my Rebel XT (no flash shots, obviously)?

Thanks!

 

[ukcatfan]

What lenses do you have?

Kevin

 

[PoohJen]

ah. I think my best bet today is my broken Sigma 18-125 1:3.5-5.6. Broken in the sense that it is stuck somewhere in the middle with very little adjustable range. about 35-55

I have a Canon 50mm 1:1.8 and a Sigma 70-300 1:4-5.6. The bleachers are immediately behind one of the baskets, so you are sitting at one end of the court looking down to the other end. I figured my best bet would be when the team is at the bleacher end of the courts, which would probably rule out the 70-300 lens. Hmm, maybe 70 would be wide enough.

 

[NostalgicDad]

I've been shooting my son's basketball games lately and struggling to say the least. Bottom line, I just need faster glass. My 18-50mm f/2.8 actually does pretty good at ISO 1600 and using spot metering. But, you just can't get a tight enough shot at that length. So, I'll swap for my 70-300mm 4.5-5.6 VR to get those tighter shots but the fastest shutter speed I can really achieve is around 1/125sec. and that's if I'm lucky. It usually hovers between 1/60 and 1/80 or so and that ain't gong to cut it by a long shot. The VR set for active mode definitely helps me since I'm mainly trying to get some panning shots as they're running the court. It's just those shots when the players are in the paint and I want to get in tight that really suffer the most. Until I'm authorized to drop more money at B&H, I'm stuck with high ISO and wide shots.

 

[handicap18]

I would use the 50mm f/1.8 and get as close to the court as you can. Start with ISO 1600 at f/1.8 in aperture priority and see what you get for shutter speeds. You'd probably want 1/250 for the stop action. If your getting fast speeds then lower the ISO to 800 or use a smaller aperture.

I would think the ideal zoom lens in this situation is the 70-200 f/2.8 VR/IS. However, we all know how expensive it is.

Another option is a small telephoto prime lens like the 85mm f/1.8 or something like the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 or Canon 100mm f/2 or Nikon's 105mm f/2.8. They are obviously longer than the 50 and a lot less costly than the 70-200. You can get some good deals on used lenses too. I got a 90mm f/2.8 Macro used for $100 less than new.

 

[LMarge]

Kyle,
where is a good source for used lens? I would love to pick up a used 85mm/1.8! I have a heck of a time with the gymnastics shots and that one would be fast enough to stop her in mid flight! I tend to walk the perimeter of the meet area anyway - just can't stand sitting for that long! Thanks for your help!
Blessings,

 

[PoohJen]

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I had to shoot w/o access to your advice, and although I played with various settings, the pics didn't turn out too well. I will re-adjust per your advice next weekend! - and, duh, maybe remember to bring my monopod this time!

Marge, I know it can be risky, but I was VERY happy with the Sigma I bought used off eBay. It worked perfectly for a year and a half; its current state of disrepair has nothing to do with its eBay origins.

Kyle, what does "VR" mean in a lens?

 

[Gdad]

Kyle,
where is a good source for used lens? I would love to pick up a used 85mm/1.8! I have a heck of a time with the gymnastics shots and that one would be fast enough to stop her in mid flight! I tend to walk the perimeter of the meet area anyway - just can't stand sitting for that long! Thanks for your help!
Blessings,

Aside from the obvious Ebay most of the online camera stores have sections for used and/or factory refurbished cameras and lenses. I have had good luck with both. Some photography forums also have a section for used equipment sales. Nikon Cafe has a lot of stuff for sale- but I think you have to be a member for 30 Days and have 30 posts to view it.

 

[Geoff_M]

For used stuff, I'd recommend KEH. Google them. I used to buy from them back in the days of film and they are VERY conservative at grading equipment wear.

As for "VR" that's "Vibration Reduction" (AKA "Image Stabilization"). In most cases it's built into the lens. However, VR is no substitute for faster glass. VR only helps with motion blur due to camera movement. It doesn't help with subject motion. If you can't get the shutter speed up high enough to freeze the action, VR will only help you get photos of a "crisp" floor and stands with blurry players and ball.

When I shoot HS BB, I use two off-camera flash units mounted in the stands triggered with PocketWizards, and use my 80-200 f2.8, 28 f2.8, and 50 f1.4 from under the basket. If I didn't have the flashes, I just stick with the 50mm f1.4.

Here's what the two-flash results looks like:

 

[PoohJen]

Great pic Geoff! Mine look just like that...except for all the blurring and low light and....

 

[handicap18]

Kyle,
where is a good source for used lens? I would love to pick up a used 85mm/1.8! I have a heck of a time with the gymnastics shots and that one would be fast enough to stop her in mid flight! I tend to walk the perimeter of the meet area anyway - just can't stand sitting for that long! Thanks for your help!
Blessings,

keh.com is great. Excellent reputation and more than very fair with their ratings and prices.

For non DX lenses you want to find the Nikon Auto Focus under 35MM (for Canon, choose Canon Auto Focus in the same area). Then then in the box below choose Fixed Focal Length for all Nikon lenses (or Canon if thats what you have). Obviously choose Non-Mfg Fixed Focal Length for Sigma, Tamron and other makers.

Right now they have a Nikon 85mm 1.8 new at $399 and a used one for $339.

They also have a bunch of Tamron 90mm f/2.8's in a Nikon mount for between $325 and $399 depending on its grade and when it was manufactured. Also a few Sigma 105mm f/2.8's for $310-344.

For Canon they have a new 85mm f/1.8 for $314.

A used Canon 100 f/2 for $349. The Tamron 90mm f/2.8 in a Canon mount used for $250 and a Sigma 105mm f/2.8 from $265-325.

This stuff doesn't last long, but they do get items in all the time.

That probably more info than I should include, so if Jeff's see fit, he can remove it or ask me to.

 

[LMarge]

Thanks guys - I'll check out the websites later today. The kids are home this morning with a snow delay - it's just a dusting, but you'd think we had a blizzard the way the news portrays it!!!
Blessings,

 

[NJDad18]

LMarge,

I bought my 85 1.8 from my local camera shop. It was remanufactured by Canon and it carried a 1 year warranty and it was $275. I'm very happy with the lens. I use it for my daughter's gymnastics.

Here's a shot with the 85 1.8

 

[LMarge]

NJDad! Great shot! I've got the 85mm also on my short list of "wants"!! Did you go in and ask for a "remanufactered" lens or did they just happen to have one in stock. That price is very much in my current spending zone (aka - money's in the bank!) Unfortunately, Cincinnati is not the best for camera stores - I'm limited to Cord and Ritz pretty much. On a side note, my dd11 is also a gymnast - currently a level 5 - yet another reason, besides basketball to get that fast lens!!!