I haven't try all the setting yet, but I tried 1/100 f/4.5(had to zoom) and 1250 or sometime 1600(depend of which area of the gym I'm shooting at), it is a very tough sport and place to shoot at (I guess is just that gym). But I do wanna know how....

and you are so right, 18-70 just isn't working, good for protrait...but not enough for indoor sports, or maybe I just don't have enough skills yet...haha

alan'07

 

do they cost alot to rent tho?? and yeah...I say the price, it like 50% extra compare to f/1.8 ...

and just one stupid question of mine...is it only f/0.2 different, should I go with the 105 or 135 with f/2?? I know i know, there is just too many choice...I just wanna find a good lens for indoor sport lens....and only had the money for one, can't waste any ...

or like what you and edy said, just go with the 85mm f/1.8 stop for $350, haha save the other money...


alan'07

 

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...splay.php?f=33
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/R...s-Reviews.aspx
http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/index.html
http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/

 

it's about 30 bucks to rent the 85 1.4 for a day. the 105 and 135 DC are more of a portrait lens than a sports lens. you are basically paying for something you might not need (the defocus control). from f/2.0 to f/1.8 it's about 1/3 of a stop, but a full stop from f/2.0 to f/1.4.

 

If i could only buy 1 lens for indoor sports photography, I'd want IS, USM, reasonably fast glass at a constant aperture. Something like this: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/beta/con...goryNavigation

I assume that Nikon has something similar, but their VR system isn't as nice as Canon and isn't as cheap.

If you dont have 1K to spend, I'd go for a varying aperture equivalent like this:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/beta/con...goryNavigation

 

I have the 28-135 very good sharp lens.. good range.. ideal for walk around.

 

I also use the same lens (in the varying aperture version) for walking around and some close sports photography (martial arts).

 

If you can, borrow someone's 70-200 or 80-200 lens and see which focal length works best for you. Then you'll be able to narrow it down to a prime that's somewhere in the range that you find to be the best. I say prime because you wont find a zoom lens any faster than 2.8.

Also, you can look around on SportsShooter, Flickr, PBase, and any other sites where you can see the focal length, shutter and f-stop used for similar types of pictures that you'll be taking. This should help you figure out which focal length will be the most useful for your task.

 

first thing off the list, go rent some lens...mess with it...
second...choose the one that work the best...then purchase ...
last...practice more...

P.S: of coz, I will try to post one as soon as I got some good pictures...which don't know when will that happen, cause I'm still learning...

alan'07

 

Did you even try the 24-105 b4? that is good walk-around lens but not good for indoor for sure.

get a prime lens, usually they are sharper and have bigger aperture

 

+1 for Prime

Mcowger how do u like the 28-135..

I am planning on getting the nifty fifty next. 50mm f/1.8. Only 70 bux.. brand new.. pretty cool. or should i get the f/1.4 with a better built 4x as much in terms or price thou.

 

Yes, I spent nearly 1 week with pretty much nothing but that lens both walking around Boston as well as shooting some martial arts (low light, no flash). It was GREAT for the low light BECAUSE of the IS and the need in martial arts photography to be able to get a reasonably wide angle. Not sure why you think its not good for indoor sports photography?

While the sharpness of a prime lens and the HUGE aperture can be great, for fast action indoor photography, I would personally disagree that its a good choice. Most prime lenses tend NOT to have features like IS. That means you have to make a choice - you either open up your aperture wide open to get enough light to stop the motion with a reasonably fast shutter speed (at the expense of DoF - with a lens stopped open to f/2 your depth of field is minimal and therefore you have to be GREAT at focusing, because the camera wont do it fast enough) or you keep the aperture down somewhat to get the DoF you need for sharp focus, but you lose the light you need to stop the motion.

 

I LOVE the 28-135. It is by FAR my most used lens. So much flexibility for handholding with the IS.

personally, I wouldn't bother with the f/1.4 over the f/1.8 - not enough difference to justfy 4x the price if you aren't a pro.