Best Lens for Sports Photography

N8G wrote:

JNR wrote:

Bill Ferris wrote:

JNR wrote:

If you aren't already experienced with shooting heavy lenses extensively (such as the 50-140), then you don't really have enough time to learn how to do so proficiently. I think your best bet is the 70-300, or possibly the 55-200 if you don't expect to be doing much longer shooting (football and soccer especially require longer focal lengths). Down the line, the 50-140 would be best for basketball in a close H.S. environment, but you would want far more time to learn how to properly shoot it.

The 70-300 and 55-200 are too slow for sports photography. The 50-140 is the obvious best option for basketball, assuming the OP will have courtside access and the freedom to roam.

Likely true for some rural and olden days gyms, but not true for the majority of situations now. You aren't respecting the OP's explanation that he is a hobbyist, and the timing of the situation.

I strongly disagree. I have been dozens and dozens of high school gyms, including many built in the last 5-10 years, where anything over 2.8 isn't ideal and I definitely prefer the extra stop of an f2. I wouldn't ever use the 70-300 in a high school gym. You may be able to get away with the 55-200 if you don't mind going over iso 6400.

Feel free, but as you say you're an extremely experienced indoor sports shooter, and this thread isn't about you or any shooter like you. You're not listening, and you aren't taking into account what the challenges are for a hobbyist who has to get the shot. He'll have some wriggle room at reasonable apertures.

The speed differences comparing the 70-300 to the 55-200 are negligible. At the common focal lengths they are the same at the wide end and on the long end the 70-300 shows f/5 (but probably is closer to f/5.2) at 200mm... so less than one-third of a stop slower.

So, the following shots were taken with the 50-230 using a X-T2 in a 95-year-old college gym - a dim place, for sure. The typical high school gym is not more than one stop slower than this place. But the college guys are at least one-third of a stop quicker as athletes, the H2S is at least one-third of a stop better than the T2, and the two XF zooms I mentioned are nearly a full stop faster than the XC lens... And I was stuck in my seat far from the action shooting at f/6.4 or 6.7 because that lens was what was handy at the moment...

The hobbyist will have an easier time because he can shoot with a short focal length at wider aperture, and presumably can move around. Obviously, f/2.8 would be much better, but not if you don't shoot sports regularly and aren't familiar shooting with a heavy lens. Admittedly, a monopod would help, though.