Fast lenses for night action shots

sifro wrote:

boogisha wrote:

For the framing you`re aiming for (as per two examples you`ve posted, wider than full body shots), even with an f/0.95 lens you should still have plenty of depth of field to keep the whole person in focus (some 50cm) - both, if they`re parallel to you, or at least one if the other is closer (and presumably facing away from you, thus focus is not critical there anyway).

Ok, maybe I should have clarified that those shots are not what I'm aiming for.
I posted them only as an example of the difficult lightning conditions, but they have a way way bigger DOF and wider frame than I need.
Also the perspective in those pics is not ideal: I took them like they are because I had to adapt the shot to the light conditions and available lenses.

An example more similar to what I'd like to really take would be this one (I would totally be fine with a smaller DOF):

Also I wouldn't mind taking shots like this:

The 2nd pic looks to my beginner's eyes like a perfect use case for the Viltrox 56mm 1.4 that many of you suggested (and which I'm quite inclined to buy).
Not sure if this lens could also achieve a pic like the 1st one (what do you people think?)

Truman Prevatt wrote:

Something doesn’t jive here. You state the shots are from close up, but the lenses you list above are long lenses and would require a considerable working distance. I would thing normal to wide angle.

In addition to what I said in the first part of this reply, I'd like to add that by "close distance" I mean anything from 50cm to a few meters.

Your first priority is the lighting, looking for the perfect lens is most probably not the best solution.

I use to photograph lots of martial arts, contest, etc, lighting at these venues was never that great and its a fast paced sport.

I`d always use a lens suitable for getting in close, something between 20 and 28mm and a flash.

Bung a flash on and almost any kit zoom will do, don`t worry to much about getting shallow depth of field, get to know lighting and get to know how the inverse square law can help you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-geS1_5nDhw&ab_channel=EricFloberg