D40 vs S90 vs S4000 for Finals Game @Staples Center

Hi All,

Brand new to the forums. Wanted to solicit opinions on which camera would work out best for shooting some photos at the Staples Center for the NBA Finals this weekend. It will be my first time at the Staples Center, and from the looks of it on TV, it seems pretty dark (compared to other arenas).

I've brought my D40 with the 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED and 35mm f/1.8 lens to basketball games in the past (TD Garden) and have had a lot of success, but I'm thinking of leaving the SLR at home so I won't have so much baggage...

So on to the compacts.. Do you think the S90 would even come close to the D40 with the slower 55-200mm lens? I'll be sitting in the 300s, so I know off the bat I wont be getting Sports Illustrated shots, but just want to get decent low-light indoor shots. I know the S90 is notorious for this.

It may be a bit early to tell, but should I even be considering the SD4000?

Thanks in advance to all!

SLR. Unless you just want the experience of shooting with the s90..

My experiences with p/s cameras at staples have never been too good. Takes too long to focus, lots of blur, etc. Tried with the g9 a few months ago at a Clippers game, with minimal results.

But why not take both? If you're packing a SLR, won't hurt to just take the s90 along for the trip.

fotofanatic__ said:

SLR. Unless you just want the experience of shooting with the s90..

My experiences with p/s cameras at staples have never been too good. Takes too long to focus, lots of blur, etc. Tried with the g9 a few months ago at a Clippers game, with minimal results.

But why not take both? If you're packing a SLR, won't hurt to just take the s90 along for the trip.

Click to expand...

Thanks fotofanatic! I plan to bring both.. Was just wondering if it would be worth leaving the SLR at home, but I guess not! Do you have experience with small camera bags being allowed in? I have this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Caselogic-SLRC-202-Medium-Camera-Black/dp/B001TZWNF0

Wasn't questioned at TD Garden, but I'm not sure how strict Staples Center is...

No experience with camera bags... that's a good point. You may want to call.

Have a great time. I envy those tickets!

How close are those tickets? If you are close enough to use the 35mm lens then that is your best choice. If you are too close for the 35mm then maybe the SD4000 would work. The S90 is probably your safest bet if portability is your biggest concern.

Hope you get some great pictures(and video please) with whatever option you bring.

--
GF1 & ZS3 Sample movies
http://www.youtube.com/user/mpgxsvcd#play/uploads
GF1 Pictures
http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/4222674355/albums

Stake it all on the s90: It's in your pocket; and it's capable !

Vjim

fyi, the s90's maximum zoom is 105mm equivalent and at that zoom level the best aperture it does is F4.9.

I like the s90 a lot, just wanted to point that out. Would suggest you take both the first time out.

Unless the reviews show something amazing, there's no reason to consider the sd4000 - same zoom range. Aperture appears to be worse at F5.3 at the long end of the zoom. No one's been saying it takes better low light photos than the s90 so far, so I don't think it would have any advantage.

If you were going to consider something else, I've read that the G11 zooms more and has slightly better aperture settings when zoomed (don't think it's a huge difference though).

I would think the G11 might be slightly better than the S90. Slightly faster at full zoom and optical viewfinder lets you follow action especially in low light much better. The G11 does a fantastic job in low light for what it is, but is no match for the D40.

Well hopefully they have made the decision as to what camera to take as the game is on now! Too late for Game 1.

Shows how much I know about pro basketball doesn't it.

Oh thats ok! It's a camera forum anyway! It's all good!

Thanks again for all the replies! I'm actually going to game 2, so I'm planning on bringing both for now.. Hopefully they'll allow me in with the D40.. Now just contemplating which lens to leave on (55-200mm or the 35mm?)

Use the 35mm. The zoom will be too slow. Who cares if you can get super close to the action. If the picture is blurred by the slow shutter speed and the motion it will be useless.

jimbohead said:

Thanks again for all the replies! I'm actually going to game 2, so I'm planning on bringing both for now.. Hopefully they'll allow me in with the D40.. Now just contemplating which lens to leave on (55-200mm or the 35mm?)

Click to expand...

--
GF1 & ZS3 Sample movies
http://www.youtube.com/user/mpgxsvcd#play/uploads
GF1 Pictures
http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/4222674355/albums

My pics in the same arena with a g9 (better zoom) were about 60% blur, and a few great pics. If you've got the equipment to make better shots, may as well use it.

mpgxsvcd said:

Use the 35mm. The zoom will be too slow. Who cares if you can get super close to the action. If the picture is blurred by the slow shutter speed and the motion it will be useless.

jimbohead said:

Thanks again for all the replies! I'm actually going to game 2, so I'm planning on bringing both for now.. Hopefully they'll allow me in with the D40.. Now just contemplating which lens to leave on (55-200mm or the 35mm?)

Click to expand...

--
GF1 & ZS3 Sample movies
http://www.youtube.com/user/mpgxsvcd#play/uploads
GF1 Pictures
http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/4222674355/albums

Click to expand...