rickberns Loc: Conroe, Texas

body/settings: Canon R6, ISO 8000-12800, ss 1/1000, f2.8, custom white balance with expodisc lens:70-200mm f2.8mk3.
First ever basketball game in a poorly lit gym covering 2 local high school basketball teams. Iso was nearly 12800 on every picture, LR/CanonR6-incamera noise reduction did a good job at cleaning things up a bit.

Rick

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jim quist Loc: Missouri

Nice. Making me rethinking adding a mirrorless camera to my gear.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Very nice. Modern cameras handle high ISO very well. You might get by with 1/500 and half the ISO, but I don’t see objectionable noise in these.

tshift Loc: Overland Park, KS.

WOW!! Is all I can say. Rick these are excellent, and to be shot at 8000-12800 is awesome. I think with my D800 or D810 I wouldn't have anywhere close to these. Would have so much noise that I would delete! Thanks and post some more. BE SAFE!!

Tom

rickberns Loc: Conroe, Texas

Jim,
Thanks! My Canon 1dx2 has been sitting in my bag lately since purchasing the Canon R6 for the night sports and poorly lighted gyms.

Rick

rickberns Loc: Conroe, Texas

Thanks TriX, I thought about lowering my ss many times to reduce my ISO but many of these players can accelerate in such a short time frame causing a slight motion blur (in the eyes) on those pictures you want as keepers, plus I'm not the most stable person holding my camera body/lens combo.

Rick

rickberns Loc: Conroe, Texas

Thanks Tom,
It seems with my volleyball, football and now basketball, the R6 has been doing fantastic as 6400 to 12800 ISO, I prefer 5000 but I don't want to sacrifice my 1/1000 or even 1/1250(volleyball) speed.
This game I shot under the basket, probably 10 - 12 ft away from the baseline. I think the ref was amused when players where falling all around me and at times I had legs or arms on top of me, it made for some exciting captures no less.

Be safe,
Rick

pnittoly Loc: Mountainside, New Jersey

All of these are awesome Rick. Thanks again for sharing . Paul

Jules Karney Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

Unbelievable Rick. This is some great work here. Nothing like sitting under the basket or close to it to get exciting in your face shots. Love it. Man the modern cameras these days wow is all I can say. Iso that high and to get the quality is great, just great. Keep up the good work and like Tom says post more.
We have the Tarkanian Classic starting this week. Thurs I will shoot three games, and the 21st I will shoot at the Orleans Hotel. Love that place with the lcd lighting.

rickberns Loc: Conroe, Texas

Thanks Paul. It wasn't crazy fast like volleyball but enough to frustrate you on those photos that weren't keepers.

Rick

rickberns Loc: Conroe, Texas

Jules thanks for your comments as always.
Yeah I was sitting under the basket the whole time (nice and low), as you said, and at one point it was a dog pile where I was at the bottom of the stack protecting my gear. Everyone was okay and I kept on taking pictures. One thing I noticed, the refs stayed clear of the area underneath the basket which made it easier to capture pictures with out getting the backside of the ref.

The R6 has been so good under low light with great AF at high iso. I now own two R6's paired with my older EF glass. For that basketball game that day, I did use a 85mm f1.2, now I see why people use the 85mm f1.8, faster AF. I also used a 50mm f1.2 which was decently fast. The 85mm & 50mm did produce some keepers, but I didn't use it as much as the 70-200mm. The 70-200mm @200mm was good about 20yds out, which was pushing it at mid-court. So nearly half of the game time I just waited for the action to come to me. Along those lines, I saw plenty of defensive action at the opposite side of the court so I'm going to take my 300mm (paired with R6) next time and get some longer shots (the court is like 92' long so I should be good for my 300mm).

Good luck with your upcoming games, sounds exciting, wish I lived in Vegas at times.
I've been preparing all my gear/lighting for my annual player/team portraits for a local high school soccer program (actually tomorrow) as soccer season is about ready to kick off in South Texas. Maybe I'll be hitting the basketball court later this week and get a few more games and experience under my belt.

Rick

Jules Karney Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

Rick:
Thanks for all the info. Your doing very well indeed. Be proud and be focused.

jim quist Loc: Missouri

I bought the 1DX3 earlier this year. I would really hate to retire it so soon. I told myself I would not consider buying mirrorless unless it came out in the 1d body. Wouldn't you know it, they did it with the R3.

Jules Karney Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

Rick: A few years ago I was sitting under the basket during a girls bb game. This girl crashes into me and cut her head on my lens hood on the 70-200 2.8. I was a bit uneasy after that. Still sitting as close as I can without going into the free throw area. I just looked at your latest gallery, good stuff.
What is your email, mine is jfkvegas@yahoo.com

rickberns Loc: Conroe, Texas

R1 will probably be hitting the scene soon that'll mix it up again for you. I'll try to get the most out of my R6's and refine my photography skill set before making that next leap to the R3.

Rick