Best lens for basketball/wrestling with a rebel T7?

[LuhCowgs]

Just recently got my hands on my own rebel T7. I have been using school provided cameras (R6 with 70-200mm f2.8 on them) for other sports such as soccer and football, but im trying to learn how to do more with less. What would be a good lens preferably under 200 dollars for basketball/wrestling? I have heard the 85 mm f1.8 is decent but not quite sure.

[March411]

For basketball the range on a APS-C of the 70-200mm is darn near perfect. I use the Sigma 70-200mm on my 90D and it produced great frames. Wrestling @ 112mm isn't far off from where wq9nsc was shooting with an 85 mm and his images are clean. It will be a good lens to grow with if he goes MILC and it's a decently fast lens so it offers some versatility. 

[shadowsports]

Greetings,

The replies received are intended to stick within your stated budget and unfortunately. neither the new body and / or pairing it with a $200 lens are going to be that great for sports.  There is a huge disparity between the R6 and T7, and with any lens at this lesser price point.  We're sorry but it's just the case here.

Your budget will need to increase in order to put you at or near the class of hardware you've been shooting with.  

[ebiggs1]

"What would be your shooting location for the each sport?"

Absolutely the most important factor. The second being, know the sport. If you don't know what is going on or about to happen you are not likely to get good shots no matter how much you spend on a lens. If $200 bucks is a set in stone limit a 50mm or 85mm prime in the f1.8 aperture ratio is probably the best you can do. However, only if you are mobile and can get close or far from the action.

BTW, post editing and raw format are the third and fourth most important things.

[wq9nsc]

If you can land a used EF 85 f1.8 in your price range, go for it.  I used one often in very poorly illuminated areas and it is the best low cost low light sports suitable lens out there.  It focuses VERY quickly which is critical for sports, I have many far more expensive and sophisticated Canon lenses but the EF 85 got me through a lot of basketball and indoor soccer under atrociously bad light levels.

Wrestling is NOT my favorite sport to shoot, this was the first time I shot it and I used a 135mm f2 on my 1DX body from just off the mat, basically the same focal equivalent as an EF 85 on your T7 with APS-C size sensor.

Rodger

[ebiggs1]

"I think the 70-200 is too long for shooting indoor sports using a crop sensor."

Keep in mind the OP also mentioned basketball. I bought my Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Sports Lens from a NCAA  basketball photographer. He used it for BB and it  would be nearly the same as a 70-200mm on a Rebel T7. In NCAA games you are pretty much in a fixed spot. You can't obstruct or interfere with the game or the view of any person or fan basically you are sitting along the end zones on the floor. But you are right you will need a much shorted FL lens, too.

[Tintype_18]

I have a T7 but most of my photos are outdoors in daylight. I have a chart that gives general info for setting for various situations. Hope I can dig it up.

[ebiggs1]

"... a lot of basketball and indoor soccer under atrociously bad light levels."

One thing about shooting BB is, although the light may not be ideal, it is usually very stable. i can't ever remember shooting wrestling matches perhaps I did but the dust in that part of my brain is too deep to remove. Anyway I suspect the same for it, "... although the light may not be ideal, it is usually very stable."