Which lens? EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM or EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM - for indoor volleyball...

[lilh]

Or perhaps something else?

I'm looking for recommendations for the best lens option for indoor volleyball, typically shot in poorly-lit high school gyms. I'd also use it for indoor flag football, but this is not as critical as the volleyball. I hate noise!  I recently upgraded from an 80D (still own) to a 5D Mk 4. I own the Canon 24-70 2.8L II. (also own the 100-400L IS II for outdoor baseball, softball, and football).  While the 24-70 is a great lens, I do a lot of cropping (I prefer the close-ups).  Even at ISO 3200 (or 600!), cropped images are just too noisy for my preference.  I'm wondering if adding another lens will remedy this, and I'm considering one of the following:

EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM  (I've heard the III is not worth the additional cost)

EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM

Will the f2.8 at the longer focal length where I don't have to crop as much, give me enough light to limit the noise?  Or should I go with the faster f1.4 and sacfrifice the 86-200 length and the zoom factor? I'm aware with this lens I'd need to watch the DOF at the faster fstop.

I also shoot in RAW and process (including noise reduction) w/LR and ocassionally PS.

I know I can rent to try, but an overwhelming consensus one way or the other might remedy the need for that.

Thanks in advance for recommendations!

[ebiggs1]

"... for the most part, I can get pretty close to the courts,..."

What does this mean?  It is exactly why you want a zoom.  But if you are shooting very far from courtside your shots will not be very good. If you are just after a parent shooting their kid in a sport, they may be OK. If you are that varied in your shooting location you need everything from 24 to 200mm. Courtside, 50mm is long enough!

About your settings, it is best to set your camera with certain fixed settings.  I typically used Av mode and let the camera select the fastest SS it can. All lighting will be different.  It is just the way it is. I always avoid using Auto ISO. 

[lilh]

Waddizzle - 

"...That was the 6D2 and the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM.  Yes, the shot has been cropped."

Now I'm even more thrilled. Since I already own that lens, I'm thinking I'll be able to get better shots with the 5D than I could with the 80D (although it's a very nice crop frame, just not as good in low light).  Maybe not at our night baseball games, as those lights are horrible, and it's hard to get close to the action. But with the tips you've provided, I'm certainly going to try!  Much appreciated!

[lilh]

ebiggs1 -   "... for the most part, I can get pretty close to the courts,..."    

"What does this mean?"

It means there are some tournaments where I can stand right on the court boundaries, but some where I have to stay further back.  I like to experiment with location - I've even climbed up to the top of the un-open bleachers in order to shoot down on the girls as they look up at the ball. Definitely need a better zoom for that...

As far as settings -  I've used both Av mode and Tv mode depending on whether I wanted to focus on background blur or movement.  I just started experimenting with Manual mode and capped Auto ISO which, so far, is turning out to be a nice alternative.  One of the joys of photography - always more to learn!

Thanks again!

[ebiggs1]

" I can stand right on the court boundaries,..."

If you are right at court side 70mm will probably be too long. And, not able to zoom shorter you need to consider the ef 24-70mm f2.8L also or a similar lens. The ef 50mm f1.2L could be that alternative too. Oh, wait, did I just suggest a prime? Yes in certain instances they make sense.

[lilh]

Hi ebiggs1,

"And, not able to zoom shorter you need to consider the ef 24-70mm f2.8L also or a similar lens."

Fortunately, I already own that lens and it is wonderful.  I expect to get even better results with it now that I have the 5D. I just know there will be venues that won't afford the opportunitly to get that close. With 3 grandkids all on some type of traveling team, the number of volleyball tournaments I can get to may be limited. And with my luck, the ones I get to will be the ones where I can't get close enough!  I think I'm just trying to convince myself that I 'need' the 70-200.  🙂  Everybody  raves about it!

Thanks so much for you advice.  I really appreciate it! 

[ebiggs1]

"I'm just trying to convince myself that I 'need' the 70-200."

Oh, OK, ah,hum, here is my recommendation. In order to shoot *insert name* sports you absolutely need the  EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM Lens. It is not possible without that lens. In fact it should be a law that all photographers have one. Go buy it today.

My best advice is get as close as you can. Close always wins out over everything else. Use Raw format and post edit in PS/LR. Those are fixed for best results. Mandatory! Do not deviate.  I use Av so the fastest SS can be used which is usually, but not always, best. I like to fix my ISO and have never been a fan of Auto ISO. Just a hold over from the olden days of film. I want to know what the camera is doing.

[lilh]

"In order to shoot *insert name* sports you absolutely need the  EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM Lens. It is not possible without that lens. In fact it should be a law that all photographers have one. Go buy it today."

Now that's a law I could get behind! The 100-400L IS II gets amazing shots on the football field (real, not flag), and baseball and softball diamonds.  Especially when I have to shoot from the outfield. When I get the 70-200, pairing it with that lens and the 24-70 should give me the complete package!  

Thanks again!

[wq9nsc]

Another vote for the 70-200 2.8 🙂

I have so far avoided volleyball but I shoot a lot of basketball and also indoor soccer (with truly abysmal lighting).  

For basketball I keep the 70-200 2.8 on the 1DX 2 and the 24-70 2.8 on the 1DX.  Probably 80% of the shots I use will be from the 70-200 but there will be some where 70 is still too long.

For indoor soccer the best setup for me is the 300 2.8 prime on the 1DX 2 and with the 70-200 on the 1DX and for outdoor depending upon field I will use either a 300 or 400 prime backed by the 70-200.  The 70-200 is indepsensible for me.

No matter which lens you have mounted it won't be perfect all of the time but odds are the 70-200 2.8 will be an excellent choice for the majority of situations. It will be your first choice for most indoor sports events.

Indoor soccer at ISO 10,000 is a challenge, basketball at 4,000 is much nicer.

Rodger

[lilh]

Thanks Roger!   Sounds like you have an amazing set-up. I'd have to hit the lottery to afford those lenses!

The basketball shot is nice considering it was at 4000 ISO.   I'm also impressed with the color.  That's the next area I need to improve. I can recognize good color when I see it in other photos, but I have a hard time 'seeing' it in my own and I'm constantly adjusting the WB and HSL sliders.   So much to learn!!

[wq9nsc]

Thanks and I am far from great at color adjustment.  The indoor soccer arena is the worst because the lighting is insufficient and they use a mixture of mercury vapor and sodium vapor lighting, those sources have very different color temperatures not enhanced by the green hue from the turf.  Some of the lights are aimed directly at the field and others bounce off the dirty white of the dome roof.

Depending upon where the action takes place it is common to have two players in a shot with the same skin tone but with very different rendition depending upon which light predominates in their small section of the playing field.

Volleyball should be intertesting to photograph.  I got pulled into sports when I started coaching my daughter's soccer team when she was very young and continued through middle schoo and I started doing some game photography while coaching.  I did a few of the girl's high school games and then some of the boys I had coached earlier wanted good quality photos also and somehow that morphed into football and basketball 🙂  Football is the easiest to shoot because the plays are more predictable and you do get a chance to setup between plays, with basketball I still have an uncanny ability to get a great shot of a scene just after the ball has exited.

Rodger