Tris,
Thanks for the comments, but this is my third season shooting in this gym.
I sit right on the sidelines, so close I have to be sure my feet aren't over
the line. I use 800 film, as the 1600 is too grainy. I use the 85/2
primarily, as a nice compromise. I've used the 100/2 as well, but it is too
long. It is not a full-size gym, in fact it is pretty small. The 85/2
works when action is at the other end, while the 50/1.2 works great when the
action is at my end. I have a little room to crop, which is ok, since I
have a 5500x3500 pixel image to work with.
Tom
> 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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> > > < Web Page: http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html >
> > >
> >
> >
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>
>
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