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Lens for basketball


r._a._haentzler

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<p>A 50/1.8 on my 7D lets me shoot with the camera vertical, and both eyes open. This a great help with fast action, basketball is a vertical game. But my favorite is the 70-200/2.8. At 70mm on a Mark III, it's the same one-to-one, both eyes open kind of shooting, but you have so many more possibilities with the extra reach.</p>
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<p>I don't shoot a lot of BBall, but I do shoot a lot of indoor sports.<br />If it were me, I would consider the 35/2 for about half the price of the 28/1.8.<br />I agree with Steve Hopkins, 28 will work fine, but the extra 7mm wide is unlikely necessary under or near the basket. At 15ft SD (Shooting Distance) you have near 10ft FoV (Field of View) on the long side - I expect it will be unlikely that you would be close than 15ft to the play when shooting "down under the basket".<br />I have used both lenses. I own the 35/2.</p>

<p>WW</p>

<p> </p>

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<p>I would agree with William about the 35 f2.0. Another choice depending on lighting would be a 24 f2.8. Lose a whole stop but you get a realistic focal length of 38 with crop factor. Considering for years I shot a 50 1.8 with tri-x pushed to 800 or even 1600 being able to shoot digitally these days is a wonder.<br>

If you go with a longer lens I suggest you zoom using your feet. Move to corner of court and shoot cross court to the rim vertically. Remember you are going to need to have a shutter speed of at least 350 to stop action.</p>

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<p>I use the 70-200 under the basket, and it gives quite dramatic results. Our gym has more room than usual off the end line, probably 12' or more. I occasionally use the 17-55 2.8IS under the basket as well. I don't find much interest in shots that include "everything", so I'm not much concerned about a lens being too "long". Besides, as soon as they get out of the paint, I can get all that I want in the shot. <br>

Seems like I regret it every time I switch lenses...</p>

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<p>I've tried to switch between two bodies, one with a 50mm and the other with a 70-200mm, but b-ball is so fast paced that its hard to switch back and forth. I find that a 70-200mm can cover both ends of the floor if you get at one of the corners instead of right under the basket. Its a little wider on the short end on a 1D, but I've managed just fine with a 40D (1.6x)</p>
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  • 4 months later...

<p>I use several lenses including a Canon 50mm f/1.4, a 85mm f/1.8 and a 70-200mm f/2.8 and a Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8. The Tamron and the Canon 70-200mm lens are the most used unless its a dark gym, then I use the higher speed lenses. I have a Canon 1D Mark III and a 40D. There is no question that the Mark III's faster 10fps is way better than the 40D's 6fps. As I shoot for a local paper, I'm looking for emotion in action, or somthing that can tell a story with just one photo. These lenses get me there, most of the time.</p>

<p><a href="../photo/10949901&size=lg"><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/10949901-md.jpg" border="0" alt="2010 VHSL State Basketball Championships-9" width="463" height="680" /></a><br>

VHSL Championship game. Copyright @2009 Marcus J. Wilson Sr.</p>

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