Indoor Sports Lens

[TxPhotoShooter]

Lately there has been some discussion about sports shooting and camera gear. I thought I would share a favorite lens of mine for shooting indoors with the start of volleyball. I have been using the Nikkor 85mm f1.8. Though it is a fixed lens, one can get some great shots with a little practice. And this glass can be had at the lower end of the Nikon price scale. Most likely with a little research, a person could find a very good used one being dumped by a portrait shooter.

I am also going to post these pics with the shooting info in the lens forum since there is no mention about using this lens for sports.

#1 - Iso 1250, Aperture f2.2, Exposure 1/2000, Manual Mode, No Flash



#2 - Iso 1250, Apertuere f2.2, Exposure 1/1600, Manual Mode, No Flash



#3 - Iso 2500, Aperture f2.8, Exposure 1/1000, Manual Mode, No Flash



#4 - Iso 2500, Aperture f2.8, Exposure 1/800, Manual Mode, No Flash




I'll be truthful. I feel indebted to all those who share their shooting information as I continue to learn. Most of the time the Exif data for my photos is available by right clicking on the photo. But if not and someone would to know, please give me a holler.

[MT Stringer]

Nice pis, David.

With lighting like in those pics, every mom and pop can shoot with their cameras. I spent the weekend at ISO 6400 and f/2.8 - 20 VB matches.

That is a nice lens to use. I have a 100 f/2 just for those low light gyms, and there are plenty that I have been to.

[TxPhotoShooter]

Originally Posted by MT Stringer

Nice pis, David.

With lighting like in those pics, every mom and pop can shoot with their cameras. I spent the weekend at ISO 6400 and f/2.8 - 20 VB matches.

That is a nice lens to use. I have a 100 f/2 just for those low light gyms, and there are plenty that I have been to.

On the volleyball pics, I had an advantage over mom and pop. The match was early that day with some sun coming in from the east through a couple of windows. There was only one set of stands and it was facing the incoming light. All I had to do was avoid the dark areas of the court.

The basketball shots were at the Berry Center.

[robert t]

Wow great shots! I think I would have called #2 a lift. lol. I must admit I have been thinking about the 135mm F2 or the 85mm 1.2 myself.

[TxPhotoShooter]

Thanks Robert. The 135mm may be an interesting selection. After shooting with an 85mm, I think the 135mm may have too much reach for my use. A lot of the gyms just don't give you much space on the baseline. But maybe I have just become very comfortable with the 85mm.

[timbertoes]

I have a question, please.

What setting are you using for in-camera noise reduction ?

thanks kindly.

[TxPhotoShooter]

Originally Posted by timbertoes

I have a question, please.

What setting are you using for in-camera noise reduction ?

thanks kindly.

I have the in-camera noise reduction turned off (but the camera settings note that some noise reduction is performed at Hi 0.3 or greater anyway). I use either photoshop or a noise reduction program if I think the shot needs to be touched up.

[Comanche]

I couldn't agree more with using the 85 f1.8. I am a Canon shooter, and I use the 85 f 1.8 and the 135 f2. If the gym has enough room, you can shoot the 135 from the end of the court and get some good shots of the blockers and/or outside hitters. Also, the lens is long enough to allow you to get some different perspectives by getting into the bleachers. Its a very good angle for getting rebounds in basketball.

I'm glad somebody else wondered about being able to use ISO 1250 with a 1/2000 shutter speed. Most of the HS gyms I shoot in require ISO 3200, f 2, 1/500. Last night I was in one of the better gyms and could bump the shutter speed to 1/800.

Also, another poster asked about in-camera noise reduction. I shoot RAW and process in Lightroom. I think you can get a crisper image that way rather than shooting JPGs and using noise reduction software. YMMV.

Robert - if you are considering buying an 85, the f 1.2 is way too slow to focus to be used for sports. The 85 f 1.8 is actually a better lens for sports.

Very nice pix, by the way, David.

[timbertoes]

thanks on the NR :)

[TxPhotoShooter]

Originally Posted by Comanche

I'm glad somebody else wondered about being able to use ISO 1250 with a 1/2000 shutter speed. Most of the HS gyms I shoot in require ISO 3200, f 2, 1/500. Last night I was in one of the better gyms and could bump the shutter speed to 1/800.

Very nice pix, by the way, David.

Thanks Doug. Normally the gym I shot the VB pics has very poor lighting since it is mostly for practice but I was getting some strong East sun that morning. I went to another gym after taking the VB shots above. It is the main competition gym and it has pretty good lighting.

Pic 1 - Iso 1600, 1/800 at f2



Pic 2 - Iso 3200, 1/1250 at f2 (I think I could have gone a little lower on the ISO but it was the first shoot of the year in that gym so I was trying different settings.)

[dmcantrell]

The D700 is a workhorse for high-ISO stuff, and you have done great with it here.

The Nikkor 85/1.8 is an AF (not AF-S) lens, correct? Do you experience any focus issues (slow, inaccurate, etc), or do you preset the focus when shooting sports?

[TxPhotoShooter]

Originally Posted by dmcantrell

The D700 is a workhorse for high-ISO stuff, and you have done great with it here.

The Nikkor 85/1.8 is an AF (not AF-S) lens, correct? Do you experience any focus issues (slow, inaccurate, etc), or do you preset the focus when shooting sports?

David, You are correct it is an AF lens. I can't say that I have had any problems shooting with this lens.

Sometimes I preset the focus when I am looking for a certain shot like below.




Other times I pan with the player looking for a shot like this:




And sometimes I just shoot the action like the net shots in the VB picture. I guess I found this lens to be like others in sports. As long as your camera setting are good then it tends to be a matter of anticipation and positioning.

[David Alaniz]

These are pretty good shots with this lens. Didn't realize it would perform that good. Or perhaps it's the "photographer".:-)

[TxPhotoShooter]

Originally Posted by dda

These are pretty good shots with this lens. Didn't realize it would perform that good. Or perhaps it's the "photographer".:-)

Thanks David. I got the lens for low light gyms and it hasn't disappointed. That said, I am going to take the 70-200 tonight to see have far I can push some shots.

[LSCSN.com]

Personally I have never liked the 85 1.8. I've owned two different ones and sold both of them, because of the slow focus speed. I felt I spent more time frustrated because I wasn't getting the shots I wanted than shooting. That's when I went to strobes :-) and the 70-200.

No with the D700 I just crank up the ISO and still shoot the 70-200 :-).

There are a number of folks that like the 85 1.8, but I just never could get it to work for me :-(.

I would LOVE to be able to have a gym where I could shoot 3200 ISO for volleyball much less 3200 and get 1250 shutter speed.

Last week I was at H3 on the D700 and 6400 and didn't get higher than 500 shutter speed.

Tonight I was at 5000 again I believe it was at 400. And then the lights were cycling so bad it was awful. Red one, Dark one, Yellow one, Okay one, Red One, Red one, Yellow one, Okay one :-).