Lens Choice: Hi Folks, Just recently posted a question in main photography section and it was suggested I bring it here for comments and suggestions. Looking to purchase a 70-200 f2.8...

Mondolinni Loc: Long Island, New York

Hi Folks,
Just recently posted a question in main photography section and it was suggested I bring it here for comments and suggestions.
Looking to purchase a 70-200 f2.8, either Nikon or Tamron to shoot school gym basketball games for my 2 grandkids.

Would this be a good choice of lens, and is there an opinion on the Tamron being a "good" choice to save a fairly good amount of money.
Would I be giving up a substantial amount of quality.

Thanks and much appreciate any input I can get. I do plan on renting the Tamron for this weekend games.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

A 70-200 is very useful for sports and many other things. Decide what you want to spend and go from there. The Nikon is more expensive, but better in many ways. If you're using a Nikon DSLR consider a refurbished directly from Nikon or a used. Personally, for Basketball I use a fixed focal length, fast lens, such as an 85-1.8 or even wider. Best of luck.

tramsey Loc: Texas

I don't know anything about Tamron or other third party lens. I have all Nikon and bought it used at KEH. They have a Nikon 70-200 F/2 for 1500 dollars

Mondolinni Loc: Long Island, New York

cjc2 wrote:

A 70-200 is very useful for sports and many other things. Decide what you want to spend and go from there. The Nikon is more expensive, but better in many ways. If you're using a Nikon DSLR consider a refurbished directly from Nikon or a used. Personally, for Basketball I use a fixed focal length, fast lens, such as an 85-1.8 or even wider. Best of luck.

Thanks much for your reply, I do have an 85 1.8 also. I guess I will give that a shot , even though I’m not the steadiest hand held. Mono pod time.

Mondolinni Loc: Long Island, New York

tramsey wrote:

I don't know anything about Tamron or other third party lens. I have all Nikon and bought it used at KEH. They have a Nikon 70-200 F/2 for 1500 dollars

I appreciate your reply, and thank you! I will look into refurb or used.
Thanks.

rcorne001 Loc: Cary, NC

I have used Tamron 70-200 and 24-70 f2.8 lenses for years. Spent many hours researching Tamron vs Nikon comparisons. Bottom line - I was happy with my Tamrons. They produced excellent photos. If not for a total move to Nikon's mirrorless system and "Z" lenses, I would still be using them. They actually did work very well on the mirrorless, I just didn't want to carry the extra piece of hardware (FTZ adapter). They should serve you long and well!

mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

Mondolinni wrote:

Thanks much for your reply, I do have an 85 1.8 also. I guess I will give that a shot , even though I’m not the steadiest hand held. Mono pod time.

No offense, but if you’re not steady with an 85mm, how would you hold steady a 70-200? btw, any sort of mono or tripod court side will be frowned upon. Too many bodies flying around and could become dangerous to you and the players.

btbg

Mondolinni wrote:

Hi Folks, br Just recently posted a question in ma... (show quote)

Yes, a 70-200 f2.8 is a perfect lens for shooting basketball. I would not get the Tamron lens. I have had two of them because I could not afford a Nikon lens at the time. Both of them broke about six months after the warranty ended. On the other hand all of the Sigma lenses I have purchased have held up very well. I would recommend either purchasing the Nikon lens or a Sigma. I would not purchase another Tamron.

Shooter41 Loc: Wichita, KS

After switching from Canon to Sony A7R4 camera, I bought Sony's best 70-200mm zoom telephoto lens to go with the new camera. It all depends upon how much quality of image you are going to be happy with and how much light there is where you take your pictures. Canon products were great in general but not nearly as good as the Sony setup with a huge 61MG sensor. (IE...THE BIGGER THE SENSOR, THE BETTER THE LOW LIGHT IMAGES.) Hope that helps you make your decision. Shooter41 (Wichita Wings Indoor high action sports photographer for 43 years.)

(Download)

Shooter41 Loc: Wichita, KS

Buy a Sony A7R4 camera body and their best 70-200mm Zoom telephoto and never look back. The 61 MG sensor in the camera makes taking amazing low light images child's play. Shooter41

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joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Shooter41 wrote:

Buy a Sony A7R4 camera body and their best 70-200mm Zoom telephoto and never look back. The 61 MG sensor in the camera makes taking amazing low light images child's play. Shooter41

Beautiful action freeze 💙🟠💙🟠💙

Mondolinni Loc: Long Island, New York

mikeroetex wrote:

No offense, but if you’re not steady with an 85mm, how would you hold steady a 70-200? btw, any sort of mono or tripod court side will be frowned upon. Too many bodies flying around and could become dangerous to you and the players.

No offense taken. Well, I guess I would say that with (VR on) the 70-200, I thought I Would be able to handle it.
I can get good shots with the 85, just wanted to have some flexibility with that zoom range. Wasn’t intending to use A mono or tripod. Thanks for your reply.

btbg

mikeroetex wrote:

No offense, but if you’re not steady with an 85mm, how would you hold steady a 70-200? btw, any sort of mono or tripod court side will be frowned upon. Too many bodies flying around and could become dangerous to you and the players.

Actually 70-200s balance very well and are easier to hold than most 85s. Larger lenses tend to be more forgiving when it comes to lens shake than smaller lenses.

Jules Karney Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

Mondolinni wrote:

Hi Folks, br Just recently posted a question in ma... (show quote)

I bought my 70-200 2.8 used from B and H Camera. Great buy and saved quite a bit of money. Wonderful lens for sports.

keeth Loc: Maryland

I have a Sigma 70-200 2.8 sports lens for my Nikon d750. I like it, it`s a little on the heavy side but I manage ok.