rookie33 Loc: Oklahoma

First of all I am very new to photography and I am very ignorant when it comes to lenses (really everything to do with photography). I have a Nikon D3200 with the 18-55mm and the 55-200mm lenses that came with the package deal. I wish I had came to this site before I bought a camera not knowing what I was doing, but nothing I can do now. I can't afford to change. My problem is that I take a ton of sports action shots and I need advice for what lens would be best for basketball? I got my camera at the end of last season and I have asked before on here, but I couldn't buy then. Now I am wanting more opinions of which lens and where to possibly buy online. The suggestions I got before were a 50mm and 35mm. Please help me remember the specifics and thanks for any advice. My pictures from last season were too dark or blurry. I am currently taking football pictures and they are also a bit blurry. Do I need to have my VR on or off? Will that make a difference? I'm sure I need a faster lens as well, but I do not even know how to tell. Is it the f number on the lens? Or does that have to do with how much light it lets in? 😁 As you can read, I am in need of major help! Thank you in advance!

Mary

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

You really need a better sports quality, fast lens, no need to upgrade your camera as it is quite capable, the lenses are another story though. I would recommend any of the 70-200mm F2.8 offerings as a good choice. Another idea may be the Sigma 50-150mm F2.8, but it is more limited in reach than the 200mm models. I also would recommend getting a monopod and attaching it to the lens tripod collar for added stability, and upping your ISO to gain faster shutter speeds, your D3200 is very capable of using ISO 3200 with excellent results.

djenrette Loc: Philadelphia

Although you may get advice to get longer and faster lenses, I suggest you stay with what you have for now. Set your ISO to a higher number (such as 1000) to compensate for lack of lens speed. And, yes, you want the VR turned on; and try and shoot at the peak of action --where things are still for a moment-- and try to get the ball and at least on player in every photo.

BermBuster Loc: Hi Desert S.Cal

Yes the ƒ/stop lets more light in..shutter speed can be increased to stop blur=Faster lens;
BTW, here is your old post, if you were looking to read over it again.

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-165495-1.html

rookie33 Loc: Oklahoma

Thank all of you for the advice and thank you for the link to my old post! I will take any advice I can get.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Yes, as mentioned you will have to up your shutter speed to at least 1/500 and up your ISO. A 50mm lens will be the cheapest way to help you. I would also recommend at least a 1.4 X teleconverter to go with it. ( and/or a 2X). Somewhat more expensive will be the Tamron SP 60mm F2 macro ( $400 most places new) - slightly longer than 50 and will give more utility than a 50 - still using 1.4X or 2X TC's. The best and more expensive solution is a 70-200 f4 zoom......

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

The Sigma 50-150 is also a great suggestion ! - but I would only recommend the older( non-current) verion as it is much lighter/smaller and cheaper (used only) from some where like KEH camera. The older version used is around $500 - the "new" one is $1000. The old one does not have a tripod collar. Again, you could use this lens with a 1.4X TC for more "reach" .

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

The "old" version is a very poor choice for the OP, it has no HSM motor in the lens and will not autofocus with her camera. Shooting sports pretty much requires autofocus for good, reliable results.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Please forgive me, ......I keep forgeting about all the Nikon compatibility issues ..... it will still work for Canon/Sony users who may also be reading this though.....The last version is a great lens also - just heavy and expensive ( relatively) - but still slightly cheaper than most 70 200 2.8 solutions.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

Hi Mary... First of all.. love the scarf on the dog.. I graduated from OU and follow most of the sports religiously. (hard to do down here in Florida) and I grew up in Oklahoma.
As for your camera and lenses, the camera is fine and should be a good beginning camera for what you are wanting to do. For auto focus, it does require lenses with the focus motor built into the lenses (Nikon calls it SWM or silent wave, other manufacturers call it other things) and fairly fast f/stop. Of the 2 lenses that came with the camera 18-55 is a 3.5-5.6 f/stop meaning that at 18 mm its aperture can open to 3.5 and at 55mm it will only open to 5.6 which is a little too slow for shooting basketball in a gym without a good strobe. (also the lens is too short). Your 55-200 lens is a 4 - 5.6 f/stop meaning that at 55 mm your widest aperture is 4 and at 200 your widest aperture is 5.6 (note both lenses will change the wide open as you zoom out (meaning that the 18 starts at 3.5 at 18 and if you zoom to wide open would shrink as you zoom to the 5.6 at the far end.. I hope I explained that okay.) Again with the longer lens you will need a decent strobe to reach anything out on the floor (much more than the pop on the camera can do). So, your choices are (and these are the same choices for any camera body, the one you have will do fine.) better lenses (meaning faster) shooting at higher ISO meaning more noise in your photos, or a strobe meaning a Nikon SB910 or equivalent after market strobe. Outdoors shooting football, track, or soccer you need a long lens and decent speed, the strobe won't help much. You could try renting a couple of lenses before spending the money to buy and see what works best for you. I am not very familiar with the non-Nikon lenses other than the Tamron 10-24mm zoom so others here will have to help you with that. If you have a friend that has compatible lenses that can loan that is a good thing.. otherwise rent. I don't know what part of Oklahoma you are in, but the people that bought Epperson Photo (someone out of Ark or Mo I think) might be able to point you.. Just remember, they are trying to sell and not always giving the correct answers.. take your camera and try their lenses in the store if they will let you. Good luck and enjoy the OU football this season, it looks like it is going to be a good one.

rookie33 Loc: Oklahoma

Thank you Mr Campbell for the excellent explanation I can understand! I am not yet savvy to the terms and lingo that most people on here uses. I am working at getting better. I really appreciate all the help. I am from NE Oklahoma and I have been a fan all my life. I have had and currently have cousins going to school there. I have had season tickets to women's basketball & softball and always make some men's basketball games as well as a football game. My baby girl (in the picture) Bailey, says BOOMER SOONER!

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

LOL BOOMER SOONER to you and Bailey.. I lived in Tulsa for a while and have gone to Lake Tenkiller and Eufaula all of my life.. Used to go to Muskogee and especially to Krebbs for the chalk beer and steaks... I have to watch everything now on TV or the internet unless they get down here close for a game... Enjoyed spending time with the OU Football players that got to play in the Shrine Game in St Petersburg last year... They were staying at the same hotel we had a time share at. Had a blast with Gabe Ikard and company and have an autographed football that they signed for us.
The Hedgehog is a great place full of helpful people so don't hesitate to ask. (Looking forward to Saturdays game against Tenn) And its great to have another Sooner on here.

stan0301 Loc: Colorado

For basketball I find the 135 f2 very useful
Stan

rookie33 Loc: Oklahoma

Can you be more specific please?