Any lens for indoor sports/low light (under S$1,500)

[altis72]

Hello all,

I am currently using a d70s. was looking for f2.8 zoom lens (or faster) below S$1,500, to be used for indoor sports photography (eg. badminton) with low light conditions. The closest I could find was a AF 80-200mm f/2.8D ED. A friend of mine suggested primes instead.

Would appreciate your input. Thanks.

[ExplorerZ]

Originally Posted by altis72 Hello all, I am currently using a d70s. was looking for f2.8 zoom lens (or faster) below S$1,500, to be used for indoor sports photography (eg. badminton) with low light conditions. The closest I could find was a AF 80-200mm f/2.8D ED. A friend of mine suggested primes instead. Would appreciate your input. Thanks.

AFD 80-200, Sigma 70-200... both are the best around.

[jeanie]

Originally Posted by altis72 Hello all, I am currently using a d70s. was looking for f2.8 zoom lens (or faster) below S$1,500, to be used for indoor sports photography (eg. badminton) with low light conditions. The closest I could find was a AF 80-200mm f/2.8D ED. A friend of mine suggested primes instead. Would appreciate your input. Thanks.

300 f4?
(yes i know u want 2.8, but just a stop and further reach, just another option.)

[looka]

Originally Posted by altis72 Hello all, I am currently using a d70s. was looking for f2.8 zoom lens (or faster) below S$1,500, to be used for indoor sports photography (eg. badminton) with low light conditions. The closest I could find was a AF 80-200mm f/2.8D ED. A friend of mine suggested primes instead. Would appreciate your input. Thanks.

Within you budget:
Sigma APO 50-150mm f/2.8 DC HSM
Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 Marco HSM

Slightly above your budget:
Nikon AFD 80-200 f/2.8ED
Sigma 100-300 f/4 HSM

100mm can cover up to 7 meters full body length shoot,
200mm can cover up to 12 meters full body length shoot,
300mm can cover up to 20 meters full body length shoot.
Base on DX vertical shooting.

So where will you be shooting from? What Lens do you have now? I susgest you use f/2.8 Lens for action stopping under low light even with high ISO you will still need the 2.8.

[altis72]

Originally Posted by looka So where will you be shooting from? What Lens do you have now? I susgest you use f/2.8 Lens for action stopping under low light even with high ISO you will still need the 2.8.

Say from the spectators stand in a badminton hall which has dim lighting. Currently using 18-70 kit lens at ISO1600. Found it too slow for badminton action photography and I get blurry pics. Was advised to get f2 lens which I believe will exceed my budget

[Eric Lee]

I believe for indoor sports you would prefer a zoom..... than running around with a prime... because of some closeup shots.....and for a budget of less than 1,500.... the Nikon AFD 80-200.

[wildstallion]

Originally Posted by jeanie 300 f4? (yes i know u want 2.8, but just a stop and further reach, just another option.)

The 300 f/4 isnt that great for sports apparently

Id say go with the 80-200, but focusing wont be great for sports right? In low light aswell?

[looka]

Originally Posted by altis72 Say from the spectators stand in a badminton hall which has dim lighting. Currently using 18-70 kit lens at ISO1600. Found it too slow for badminton action photography and I get blurry pics. Was advised to get f2 lens which I believe will exceed my budget

Nikon AFD 80-200/2.8 maybe the Lens for your current system. For $200-300 less you may consider Sigma 70-200/2.8HSM. Go test out both Lenses from a shop any shopping lighting will do and AF on passby people to know how the AF work. If on low budget I suggest a good 2nd Nikon AFD 80-200/2.8 from the B&S section.

[Yatlapball]

yep. 300/4 is still a little too slow for indoor sports. for outdoor sports its more than fine.

looka, drop me a PM if you're interested in 2nd hand glass. I may have something within your budget.

[Yatlapball]

[nemo]

stretch a bit and go for the 70-200vr? can get in b&s for 2.2-2.3k

[scandisk]

depending on how close u can get to the courts....50mm or 85mm f/1.8 maybe another option...

[westwest1]

Originally Posted by Yatlapball yep. 300/4 is still a little too slow for indoor sports. for outdoor sports its more than fine. looka, drop me a PM if you're interested in 2nd hand glass. I may have something within your budget.

200 f2 confirm fast enough...

[kcuf2]

for ur budget and for low light, sports, actually no need to think anymore, just go and get the AF-D 80-200.. cost abt $1,650..

thats the best lens u can get at ur level currently

[Zaknafein]

i tried the 80-200 afd in a shop recently, and found that sometimes it hunts a bit, and sometimes it does focus wrongly... i thought this lens has a reputation for fast focus. issit just that copy of lens, or was i expecting too much from the lens? corusing was a bit noisy too from the motor but not a problem to me.

[kcuf2]

Originally Posted by Zaknafein i tried the 80-200 afd in a shop recently, and found that sometimes it hunts a bit, and sometimes it does focus wrongly... i thought this lens has a reputation for fast focus. issit just that copy of lens, or was i expecting too much from the lens? corusing was a bit noisy too from the motor but not a problem to me.

mmm...when i played with the afd 80-200, mine test copy seemed ok, maybe u focus on dark areas? or areas with no distinctive levels of colours?

The colour and contrast is really very good with this lens...

The focusing noise cannot avoid one... because its a non-AFS lens, it focuses using the motor inside the camera, which is noisy when its running..

[Zaknafein]

i was focusing on subjects that are outdoor actually. and i notice sometimes it does hunt or cant focus when its at minimum focusing distance and i focus on a far object...
now im considering between this and 70-300, tho 70-300 cant compare in low light i think. have not tried the 70-300 yet tho :P

[ExplorerZ]

Originally Posted by Zaknafein i was focusing on subjects that are outdoor actually. and i notice sometimes it does hunt or cant focus when its at minimum focusing distance and i focus on a far object... now im considering between this and 70-300, tho 70-300 cant compare in low light i think. have not tried the 70-300 yet tho :P

mine was pretty alright even with a d50 @ indoor lighting. maybe its becos my expectation is lower.

[raven]

Min 2.8
Min 640 preferably 800 shutter speed
ISO 1250 maybe 1600
Monopod
watch the WB

AF 80 to 200MM ED - $1525 to $1650, best bet
Bring along 50MM 1.8, fast as well

[Zaknafein]

seems like maybe that copy i tried has some problems since so many ppl still recommends it.
its is a heavy and rather big lens, thats another point i need to re-consider lol!