My first post

I just found this forum while searching for information on sports photography. I am shooting with a new Nikon D70 and I shoot high school basketball. I have been using the Nikon 50mm 1.4 without a flash with pretty good results. I have uploaded an example shot at 1000 and 1.4 using natural lighting. I look forward to sharing tips and learning. This is a great resource. I have include a link to my basketball site. http://www.perpetualbliss.net

First off...
Welcome to PR.com!
You will find a lot of imitators, but we are the best! You will find a wealth of photographic knowledge and experience here, make sure you check out all the forums.

As for your photo, good first post. I can't say a 50 is the ideal choice for shooting basketball, but I can understand why you used it.

Keep Shooting and posting here!

Good Luck!
Brian

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Originally Posted by mtbbrian

First off...
Welcome to PR.com!
You will find a lot of imitators, but we are the best! You will find a wealth of photographic knowledge and experience here, make sure you check out all the forums.

As for your photo, good first post. I can't say a 50 is the ideal choice for shooting basketball, but I can understand why you used it.

Keep Shooting and posting here!

Good Luck!
Brian

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Thanks for the welcome. I would be happy to receive recommendations for a more idea lens choice. The main advantage of the 50 1.4 is the ability to shoot is pretty dark gym. Can you recommend a another good choice. It is very seldom that I have the option of using flash.

I noticed in your profile that you used a 24mm, would this be a good choice? Does your camera multiple the size of the lens due to the cameras internal chip the way I understand the D70 does?

Can you recommend another forum where these issues have been discussed, or is this a good choice?

Gnosis

Hi Gnosis....

Welcome aboard! Good to see another sports shooter here.

I've just started shooting some basketball - it's very much a new sport to me. On one occasion, I shot with the 85mm f/1.8 and the 135mm f/2L in a very dark gym where I wasn't able to use flash.

Some of the results are here:

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/wp201104/index.html

The longer focal length helps you to isolate the subject matter more effectively from the background - so, I'd recommend going for the 85mm f/1.8 as your next lens choice for hoops.

Good luck with your next shoot!

gmen

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Originally Posted by gmen

Hi Gnosis....

Welcome aboard! Good to see another sports shooter here.

I've just started shooting some basketball - it's very much a new sport to me. On one occasion, I shot with the 85mm f/1.8 and the 135mm f/2L in a very dark gym where I wasn't able to use flash.

Some of the results are here:

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/wp201104/index.html

The longer focal length helps you to isolate the subject matter more effectively from the background - so, I'd recommend going for the 85mm f/1.8 as your next lens choice for hoops.

Good luck with your next shoot!

gmen

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gmen,

Thanks for the suggestions. I would love to have some more distance from the subject. I checked you shots and they looked good. Which of the recommended lenses did you use?

I believe that shooting the 50mm on the Nikon D70 is the same as using a 125mm on another camera due to the size of the chip behind the lens. If that is the case the 85mm you suggested would be about a 200mm. Do you think this would be too long for a gym. I think maybe the 1.8 would gather enough light.

I have been shooting at ISO 1600 and I have been surprised that the resulting photos have not been too grainy. It will be fun to have someone to chat with about getting better shots.

I had visited your site before you posted to me and I like your work. It looks like you have found a nice niche.

Gnosis

I have done some more reading and it looks like the "multiplyer" effect on the D70 is 1.5 so the 50mm is like a 75mm lens. 50*1.5=75. This is very interesting! So if I picked up an 85mm it would act like it was a 127mm lens. 85*1.5=127.5

This seem to throw off the standards for making decision about what is the best focal length for any given situation...

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Originally Posted by Gnosis

gmen,

Thanks for the suggestions. I would love to have some more distance from the subject. I checked you shots and they looked good. Which of the recommended lenses did you use?

I had visited your site before you posted to me and I like your work. It looks like you have found a nice niche.

Gnosis

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Thanks Gnosis!

Most of the shots on the link I posted are with the 85mm f1/1.8. I'm using a Canon EOS 1D MkII, so the crop factor (1.3x) gives a field of view equivalent to a lens of around 110mm. This focal length works well around the basket, giving nice tight images when shooting from near the corner of the court.

A few of the shots are with the 135mm f/2 (4, 5 & 10) - this gives a field of view like that of a 180mm lens - good for work from mid-court. I've not been in a position to use my 70-200mm f/2.8 or 300mm f/2.8 as yet due to the dreadful lighting, so I can't comment on working with these longer focal lengths.

I'd certainly recommend a lens like the 85mm f/1.8 as your next purchase. I'm sure that will allow you to bag some even better shots.

Cheers - gmen

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Originally Posted by gmen

Thanks Gnosis!

Most of the shots on the link I posted are with the 85mm f1/1.8. I'm using a Canon EOS 1D MkII, so the crop factor (1.3x) gives a field of view equivalent to a lens of around 110mm. This focal length works well around the basket, giving nice tight images when shooting from near the corner of the court.

A few of the shots are with the 135mm f/2 (4, 5 & 10) - this gives a field of view like that of a 180mm lens - good for work from mid-court. I've not been in a position to use my 70-200mm f/2.8 or 300mm f/2.8 as yet due to the dreadful lighting, so I can't comment on working with these longer focal lengths.

I'd certainly recommend a lens like the 85mm f/1.8 as your next purchase. I'm sure that will allow you to bag some even better shots.

Cheers - gmen

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I will take your advice. I have added a couple of more photographs that I took last night that I am a little more happy with. I was in a gym with more light and I was able to change my fstop from 1.4 to 2 and still shoot at 1000 with an iso of 1600. I think the increased depth of field helped make it easier to capture good shoots. The photographs have been optimized quite a bit for display here.

I use photoshop cs for after shooting work. Does anyone have any suggestions for making the photographs better? I would gladly appreciate help!

Gnosis

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Originally Posted by Gnosis

I use photoshop cs for after shooting work. Does anyone have any suggestions for making the photographs better? I would gladly appreciate help!
Gnosis

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Here are a couple more shots with the 85mm f/1.8, this time with flash...

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/pf600.jpg

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/pf601.jpg

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/pf602.jpg

With regards to PS work, you may want to look at the following:

Noise reduction, contrast, colour saturation, colour balance (it's always best to set a custom white balance first), sharpness and, above all else, consistency across all your images.

Your workflow will vary, of course, depending on the required end result - web, newspaper, magazine etc. - and your deadlines!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gmen

Here are a couple more shots with the 85mm f/1.8, this time with flash...

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/pf600.jpg

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/pf601.jpg

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/pf602.jpg

With regards to PS work, you may want to look at the following:

Noise reduction, contrast, colour saturation, colour balance (it's always best to set a custom white balance first), sharpness and, above all else, consistency across all your images.

Your workflow will vary, of course, depending on the required end result - web, newspaper, magazine etc. - and your deadlines!

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Can you tell me what speeds you were shooting for these photographs and also the ISO! Thanks

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Originally Posted by Gnosis

Can you tell me what speeds you were shooting for these photographs and also the ISO! Thanks

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I was shooting at 1/250s at f/1.8 at 1000ASA. The flash was set to manual at 1/16 power and diffused slightly with an omnibounce.

gmen

hello
First time in a forum, Can anyone directed me to where I can post a thread on this forum please.

gena945 - Here is the Welcome thread. Tack your intro onto the end. - TF

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Originally Posted by gena945

hello
First time in a forum, Can anyone directed me to where I can post a thread on this forum please.

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If you want to post here in sports just go up to Sports Photography and in the same place where you found the button that says [Post Reply] will be a similar button that says [Post Thread] click that.

I just read both pages of this before realizing that gena945 chose a thread from 2004 to reply to!