The problem with shots from alongside the court for basketball games isn't
so much "access" as access, in the practical sense. In other words, the
rolling stands as a rule come quite close to the play area, plus they're
occupied by people who don't want someone in front of them shooting
pictures. That was my thinking, anyway.
If the kids are at a grade-school facility then there may well be no stands
to begin with and I don't know how much space between the court and wall
(I'd presume). In any event, a 50mm won't give you much reach for that sort
of action and I'd warmly recommend that you go into a gym and check that
aspect of the work out for yourself. An 85mm through 135mm as I stated is
more like what's called for. I used to use a 200mm lens as a rule when I
was still in the field, though that was for major (I know that sounds
strange within the context, but in Chicago that's exactly what it is
nevertheless for many games--hell, it's like that up in Wisconsin)
high-school games as my shoot position was as often as not some distance
from the action. From either end area of the gym I'd think the 135mm would
suffice, or shorter telephotos for action within either half-court area.
As for speed: you'll need 1600 film or thereabouts (or the equivalent re
push) to stop the most furious action while dealing with the bad light. For
instance, with Tri-X in my camera I always went in figuring the film would
be pushed two stops. Of course that, too, could be better in a gym with 1)
windows and 2) games played during daylight hours.
My salient point is that a 50mm is all but useless for this work. Sure,
you'll have "group shots" of your daughters but nothing likely to jazz you
long term. (Having said that, I often save stuff with my daughter in it
that otherwise I'd have consigned to the circular file immediately. A
fairly typical condition of doting fathers, I imagine. <g>)
Tris
Tris,
These are just 8 year olds, so I do have side-line access.
Tom
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tris Schuler" <tristanjohn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, September 09, 2001 8:54 AM
Subject: Re: [OM] Oh no, will the Zuikoholic defect?
> You might find a use for the 50mm in a gym, though I hardly ever did over
> the years. Do keep in mind that with basketball there's no shooting along
> the sidelines, only from the stands or from either end of the gym under
one
> of the baskets--or worse, from one of auxiliary gyms up stairs which
> usually have wells at either end of the gym for someone to look down from.
> In any event, depending on distance the 85mm would serve you I suppose,
> better still a 100mm or 135mm if they're available for the Canon system.
> I've no idea.
>
> Question: what "mistakes" are there to make with the 50-250? (I assume you
> referred to focus.)
>
> Tris
>
> >All good points, and don't worry, even if I made an investment in an
'other'
> >system, I'd still be a Zuikoholic at heart. Just sell a few of the
lesser
> >used items and.....
> >
> >I did a little homework, based on Bruce Hamm's posts (come on people,
> >haven't you played with these things) and came up with this 'sports kit':
> >
> >EOS 7E Body - $460
> >75-300 f/4-5.6 Image Stablized EF - $490
> >50/1.4 USM - $365
> >85/1.8 USM - $390
> >
> >Total = $1705
> >
> >Prices new at B&H. E*bay prices are about the same, which seems silly.
> >
> >Not a trivial spend, but could be covered by selling some things. Seems
> >like the 50 and 80 cover Basketball and the 75-300 covers soccer. You
can't
> >say they're that expensive, compared to even good used OM. The Image
> >Stablization combined with Autofocus appeals to the gadget freak in me.
> >
> >I'm going to follow Bruce's advice and see if I can rent a setup for one
> >weekend.
> >
> >One thing has me back on the fence. I just got back the rolls shot today.
> >The stuff with the 4T/50-250 all came out perfect. With 400 speed film,
I
> >was shooting 1/250-1/500 at f/8-f/11, so the depth of field covers my
> >mistakes.
>
>
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