orrie smith Loc: Kansas

What is recommended as far as lens, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, when shooting a youth basketball game? Where do you sit/stand, on the floor or somewhere in the bleachers to get a higher advantage point? I just shot my first game and was not pleased with the results. I used a d500 with a 28/120 lens.

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

I'd definitely use a fast shutter. Some blurrede ones showing movement fun to shoot.

Depends what kind of lighting. Are they tungsten?

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

I coached youth basketball for several years. Most of the significant action takes place at or near the basket. If possible, I would be on the floor under the basket. A low angle will accentuate the action and separate the players from the floor. Of course you won't be using a flash-- that would distract or temporarily "blind" the players. Being close to the action, you should be able to get away with a 70-200 f 2.8. The D500 should allow for a higher ISO and some action sequences. A high speed card and shooting ASPC mode should help. I would shoot RAW and correct the white balance in post processing.

JR45 Loc: Montgomery County, TX

Not sure I can be much help here. I haven't shot BBall since I was doing yearbook photos in the early 1960's. Then I was using Tri-x ( ASA 400 pushed to
ASA 1600 and special processed). The best I can recommend is an ISO high enough for a shutter speed of 1/250 or so and an aperture of f/11 or so
for a decent DOF.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Here is another thread that has several basketball shots with a D500. Download the images and check the Exif data for details on camera configuration, lenses, etc.

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-435951-1.html

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

orrie, what was it that you were not pleased with?
Was it technical as in blur, or was it vantage point, as in were you too far or too close?
What are you trying to change?
SS

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

The D500 is APS-C . . .

And if the OP is shooting at shutter speeds shorter than 1/120, he should make use of the anti-flicker setting:

http://nps.nikonimaging.com/technical_solutions/d500_tips/useful/flicker_reduction/

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

First of all, that would be a 24-120 lens and on the D500 it would be a 36-180 mm f4 lens. The D500 can go up to iso 6400 and still do a great job. I would recommend that iso to you. I would, before the game begins, to shoot several shots of the kids warming up, I would shoot A priority about f5.6 or so, this should give you a shutter speed around 1/800 to 1/1200 sec or so. After getting the exposure down prior to the game, keep that setting throughout cause the lighting will not change. Practice before the game on exposure cause the light coming up from the floor should give you correct lighting on the players. If I were you I would get the exposure right before the game and keep that setting on manual once you have it. I would be on the floor out of bounds on the end line 10 feet or so either side of the basket. Since it is a youth basketball game check with the coach as to if it is OK you stand there, check with the ref to.

Archboo3 Loc: Central Florida

I us a couple of different lens shooting youth basketball. It depends on where I can get. most your shorts don't car as long as you don't interfere with the game. I usually will sit on the floor behind the basket of the team that my child is playing for with my Nikon 28-120 F4. to me it is the perfect lens. I can get all the shots at that end of the court. and when they go in for a layup I am under the basket looking up which makes the shot look like they are really high in the area. I also move a lot at that end shooting from the opposite corner as the action catches them drive towards the basket. and again the 28-120 works great. My second lens is my 70-200 2.8. I don't use it a lot, just to get a few pictures of the driving down the court from the far side towards my end. But, for one lens, to do a great job at my end of the court my 24-120 catches all the action their may be a shot I want to crop a little tighter, but for the most part it catches all the action. If shooting form the stands, them my 70-200 2.8.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

A lot of good advice here. Certainly enough to get you started. Most importantly, get out of the stands and stand court-side. I do not get too close to the basket to avoid interfering with the action. Since you never know where the action will be, you need a lot of room for shooting. As others have said, the shorter lens is ideal although you would benefit from a faster zoom such as f/2.8.

I also stand on the sideline to catch the mid-court action and close ups of faces. My Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 is ideal for this and you might go as slow as 1/250. As for white balance, invest in something like ExpoDisc or X-Rite ColorChecker. You cannot correct white balance later in LR if you do not know what it had been.

Exposure. I am a big fan of automatic except for sports. Under the basket, you might need at least 1/500. Aperture is harder to determine because you are using a zoom and the distance is always varying. As a practical matter, none of that matters a lot because the lighting generally stinks and you need that fast lens. I shoot wide-open and set the ISO to auto. I would rather risk being out of focus a tad than have motion blur and noise. PS Shoot at high-speed, multiple exposure, AI focus, area metering and focusing.

Good luck. You might want to join the sports photography group here.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

A lot of blurred photos. I was standing mid court and the shots are too busy and it was hard to capture faces. This was my first attempt at basketball and I was not as satisfied with the shots as I am when I am shooting youth baseball.

photomarkz Loc: parma hts,ohio

Best lens for basketball are f 2.8.need to keep fast shutter speeds.i use to use a 85mm for up close and a 200 mm f 2.8 for down court shots.lighting in different gyms will vary by 2 3 stops.best have fast glass.

PaulR01 Loc: West Texas

Orrie, under the basket I use a 24-70 f 2.8 From the corner I use a 70-200 f 2.8. I try not to let my shutter slip below 640 any thing under 800 you will start seeing motion at the extremities. With younger player you can bind the rules a bit with slower shutter speeds but as they age and the speed of the game increases so will your shutter speed increase. Gyms are notoriously dark so a large aperture is a must. I have a few gyms where I pull the 85 f 1.8 out of my 50 f 1.8. Also get low especially with little kids. Shoot from the sitting position or from your knees. I never leave home without my knee pads. In the really bad gyms I shoot with off camera flash and place a speedlite about 12 to 16 feet high in the stands on a rail, and high speed sync it to lower the ISO. Good luck, post some shots so we can see how your doing.

bugguy Loc: midwest

Good advice. What camera(s) do you use?

photomarkz Loc: parma hts,ohio

Canon 7d