My Favorite lenses and cameras for basketball???

[pm-r]

Each time I head out to shoot a game, I usually take slightly different lenses.  Sony offers so many lenses at this point, that I can use different gear to cover the same sport each time I head out.  Today, I was working in a smaller DIII school near where I live and I got to shoot them playing for their conference championship, which they ended up winning.  I grabbed two a1 bodies, the 70-200mm f/2.8GMII, the 135mm f/1.8GM, and an a7C with the 40mm f/2.5 compact prime attached to it.  The gym is pretty well lit but dark.  Gyms and arenas can be tricky in that some have low light levels but great light quality.  Others can have great light levels but poor quality.  This gym is an example of one that has low light and pretty poor quality so this means the ISO has to get up there to stop things.  I chose 1/1250th shutter speed for everything today and shot each lens wide open.  Here are the results:

This one player (#2) seemed like he could only hit his shots.  One after another, even under pressure, he just sunk them.  He ended up with 24 points in the game and won the MVP Award for the tournament.  Once I saw what was happening, I just worked him pretty hard.  The coach is also someone you have to hammer on all the time.  Players come and go but coaches can keep their jobs for years, and they are always important to telling the story of the game.  I selected just a few images from those I kept from today's game.  Next time I shoot hoops, I may grab different gear... but I'll always have the a1's with me for any sporting assignment, and the a7C makes a killer remote camera on the floor, too.

 

I'm really looking forward to a year from now, in hopes of getting my hands on the new Sony FE300mm f/2.8GM lens.  It is THE perfect length for shooting hoops and it will be nice shooting my 70-200GMII only on the close side of the court next year:)

[alpha-jessica-a]

Loving the emotion and action in these shots!

[pm-r]

Loving the emotion and action in these shots!

There is nothing like college hoops to get the emotions going!!!  Only sport better would be any volleyball game anywhere 😉

[LensBrew]

It's the best thing to shoot. I got one college basketball game to shoot this season. I'll shoot swimming and tennis for the first time after spring break.

I agree regarding the light. We got good light, mixed temperature and quality, and the court is yellow-ish. I wish everyone would copy the Brooklyn Nets' court.

[pm-r]

It's the best thing to shoot. I got one college basketball game to shoot this season. I'll shoot swimming and tennis for the first time after spring break.

I agree regarding the light. We got good light, mixed temperature and quality, and the court is yellow-ish. I wish everyone would copy the Brooklyn Nets' court.

every arena and gym is different and presents different challenges for sure!

[DonSmith]

Was a contract photographer for the NBA for 16 years PMR. It was 300mm f/2.8 down court and a 24-70mm near court. Always shot on strobes - started back in the film days

[LensBrew]

Was a contract photographer for the NBA for 16 years PMR. It was 300mm f/2.8 down court and a 24-70mm near court. Always shot on strobes - started back in the film days

I don't think my wife would like that I'm reading and discussing what lenses are needed for basketball 😅.

Those 2 lenses are the ones that I don't have and would love to get.

[JDedmonPhoto]

Always enjoy your posts PM-R, I picked up the 24-70 2.8ii and found I liked  what I saw over my favorite 24-105, so that along with the 70-200 2.8ii with a 1.4 teleconverter for downcourt have been my kit thus far. But thanks to your comment I'm packing the 135 1.8 for my trip this week to the Women's NCAA in Greenville. I actually used the 135 yesterday for an NCAA indoor tennis match and was impressed with the results. **bleep** that lens is sharp!

[pm-r]

Always enjoy your posts PM-R, I picked up the 24-70 2.8ii and found I liked  what I saw over my favorite 24-105, so that along with the 70-200 2.8ii with a 1.4 teleconverter for downcourt have been my kit thus far. But thanks to your comment I'm packing the 135 1.8 for my trip this week to the Women's NCAA in Greenville. I actually used the 135 yesterday for an NCAA indoor tennis match and was impressed with the results. **bleep** that lens is sharp!

That 135GM continues to wow me even after owning it for the last four years!!!!  It's 4th anniversary is next month btw...

[IraBlock]

That 135GM continues to wow me even after owning it for the last four years!!!!  It's 4th anniversary is next month btw...

YUP, the 135mm 1.8 is one of my favorites. Nice images !!!