My retirement gift (to myself) was purchasing the Nikon D500. I wanted something that I could photograph high school sports. It has been superb! I am presently using the Nikkor 70-20 mm f/2.8 ED VR II lens for my sporting events. My problem is that when shooting indoor basketball competition, even 70 mm is too strong for some of the shots taken directly under the hoop. What would your readers recommend for an alternate lens? I've heard that Tamron has some lenses that might fit the bill, but I need the help of hard core photographers. Any suggestions would be welcome! While I rarely comment on UH, I love reading the comments in your forum. So many quality photographers!
My retirement gift (to myself) was purchasing the ... (show quote)
Back in the film days, Tamron made the SP 35-105 2.8 - a GREAT lens but I am sure the AF could not keep up with your application 8-( .
NIkkor 24~70mm f/2.8 would do very nicely for you. --Bob
Maddigan2 wrote:
My retirement gift (to myself) was purchasing the Nikon D500. I wanted something that I could photograph high school sports. It has been superb! I am presently using the Nikkor 70-20 mm f/2.8 ED VR II lens for my sporting events. My problem is that when shooting indoor basketball competition, even 70 mm is too strong for some of the shots taken directly under the hoop. What would your readers recommend for an alternate lens? I've heard that Tamron has some lenses that might fit the bill, but I need the help of hard core photographers. Any suggestions would be welcome! While I rarely comment on UH, I love reading the comments in your forum. So many quality photographers!
My retirement gift (to myself) was purchasing the ... (show quote)
Ninon 24-70 f/2.8. Yes, use BBF. Read Steve Perry regarding the Nikon focus system. Back Country Gallery. He is my Nikon Guru.
So, Steve Perry tells you to jump off a wall, you do it???? Steve is a very good photographer with a great following. But he is not the end-all. The standard shutter button on the Nikon is capable of doing any sport invented.
So, Steve Perry tells you to jump off a wall, you do it???? Steve is a very good photographer with a great following. But he is not the end-all. The standard shutter button on the Nikon is capable of doing any sport invented.
I graduated from D7100 to a D500 couple years ago. I always had shot in shutter mode to stop action. My buddy had been shooting in Aperature mode and I tried it and never went back. Fast action in sports may not be as sharp as u would like, for all other conditions I always get a good exposure to conditions. My lens favorite is a Sigma 17-50 with 2.8 lens. I tried for Grandsons basketball games the Sigma 70-200 2.8 lens was not wide enough unless a person wanted only one player in pic. I had rather have more players in pic that showed the action
For inside high school photos, where light is less than desirable, I use a Nikon 85mm 1.8 which I got used from ebay for about $250. https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/85AF.htm It does the job nicely. Here is one photo taken with it at 2.8, 1/800 and iso 4000.
I used the D500 for Basketball and Volleyball for several years. My favorite lens was the Nikon 85 f1.8 stopped down to 2.2 or 2.5. Mainly stayed in the corners in basketball so was good for shots outside the key. The D500 has become my secondary since I got the D4s. I also agree to use BBF. Once you get use to it you will never go back. Paul Read Miller has some great YouTube vids on shooting sports. All of the photographers I know who shoots sports use BBF.
I shoot an average of 3-4 high school basketball games each week—sometimes as many as 8. The 50mm lens is my go-to lens for under the basket. You would need the 35mm equivalent for the D500. Make sure it is at least f/1.8—1.4 is better
For shots from the opposite corners I use either the Nikon 85 or Sigma 135
My retirement gift (to myself) was purchasing the Nikon D500. I wanted something that I could photograph high school sports. It has been superb! I am presently using the Nikkor 70-20 mm f/2.8 ED VR II lens for my sporting events. My problem is that when shooting indoor basketball competition, even 70 mm is too strong for some of the shots taken directly under the hoop. What would your readers recommend for an alternate lens? I've heard that Tamron has some lenses that might fit the bill, but I need the help of hard core photographers. Any suggestions would be welcome! While I rarely comment on UH, I love reading the comments in your forum. So many quality photographers!
My retirement gift (to myself) was purchasing the ... (show quote)
...go to the sports photography section...look up Jules Karney and his “More Basketball” topic and you will see the performance of each of the lenses he uses for basketball...it’s a wonderful thing he did for us by contributing this valuable information to this sight...then it is only a matter of which lens you want to buy first...
My retirement gift (to myself) was purchasing the Nikon D500. I wanted something that I could photograph high school sports. It has been superb! I am presently using the Nikkor 70-20 mm f/2.8 ED VR II lens for my sporting events. My problem is that when shooting indoor basketball competition, even 70 mm is too strong for some of the shots taken directly under the hoop. What would your readers recommend for an alternate lens? I've heard that Tamron has some lenses that might fit the bill, but I need the help of hard core photographers. Any suggestions would be welcome! While I rarely comment on UH, I love reading the comments in your forum. So many quality photographers!
My retirement gift (to myself) was purchasing the ... (show quote)
After all these wonderful comments I will chime in with what I use. I shoot with a D500. I use a 70-200 2.8 vr for shooting a little more than half way down the court. For under the basket I use 50mm 1.8--85 1.8--and 24-70 2.8. I find all these lenses work for me. If you have any doubt rent a lens for a game, see how it works for you before buying. Although the 50mm 1.8 was only 135.00 approx. heck of a lens for the price.
I used the D500 for Basketball and Volleyball for several years. My favorite lens was the Nikon 85 f1.8 stopped down to 2.2 or 2.5. Mainly stayed in the corners in basketball so was good for shots outside the key. The D500 has become my secondary since I got the D4s. I also agree to use BBF. Once you get use to it you will never go back. Paul Read Miller has some great YouTube vids on shooting sports. All of the photographers I know who shoots sports use BBF.
I met a NFL pro photographer, who was using the Canon 1DX Mark 1, 4 years ago, who mentioned Paul Read Miller. I looked up Miller's name on Google. He has a respected reputation as an NFL pro photographer. Miller has the Canon pro gear too, as the one I met. Their lenses were virtually identical. 24-70mm, 70-200mm, and the 400mm prime. All lenses were f2.8. The photographer I met had another zoom lens. I forgot what it was. I'm guessing that shorter lens, was a wide angle zoom. All the lenses were "L" type.