Best Lens for Sports Photography

I have a Fuji XH2s. I need to take photos for a basketball tournament at my job in January (I work at a high school). I have a lot of Fuji lenses but I don't think I have anything that is amazing for sports. What is the best lens you'd recommend for sports? I have a 90mm f2 but unfortunately I've missed a lot of shots due to the lack of zoom capability (That said when the subjects are at the right distance the shots are great). Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. I tested out the new Fuji f4 18-120mm but I don't think there is enough light there and when I bump up the ISO it's pretty grainy. Hoping someone has a better recommendation! Thanks

dwmcreative wrote:

I have a Fuji XH2s. I need to take photos for a basketball tournament at my job in January (I work at a high school). I have a lot of Fuji lenses but I don't think I have anything that is amazing for sports. What is the best lens you'd recommend for sports? I have a 90mm f2 but unfortunately I've missed a lot of shots due to the lack of zoom capability (That said when the subjects are at the right distance the shots are great). Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. I tested out the new Fuji f4 18-120mm but I don't think there is enough light there and when I bump up the ISO it's pretty grainy. Hoping someone has a better recommendation! Thanks

For sports the best lens is the 50-140 m F2,8.

IMO there is only one lens for that particular job and it's the 50-140, nuff said.

For sports, the photographer (shooting Fuji in this instance) should have at least two lenses - 50-140 and one of the long telephoto zooms - be it the 100-400, 150-600 or even the Tamron 150-500.

The latter three would not be ideally suited to indoors so that leaves 50-140. Luckily it's one hell of a lens!

Indoor sports or low light, definitely 50-140 2.8

longer reach the 100-400 or 70-300

the 50-140 is probably the best option paired with a teleconverter for more reach

Because you work at the HS I suspect you may have court side access. If you are that close the suggested 50-140 may still be too tight if you are shooting from under the basket for example. In that case the 16-55 may work for you.

Depending on budget and how much reach you need:

1. 50-140mm f/2.8 -- Relatively fast lens, fast AF.
2. 200mm f/2.0 prime -- Crisp and sharp, fast AF, but less flexible as it's not a zoomlens

If you're still battling with noise in the images, try DxO for DEEPPrime noise reduction as first step in your image post processing (assuming you shoot in raw format). Otherwise try Topaz Denoise or Topaz Photo AI which can also remove noise from JPEG files.

For basketball (as with many sports) you'll need also need some shorter focal lengths.  For zooms the XF16-55 paired with the 50-140 should work well.

If faster glass is desired, many options exist with primes.

Tim van der Leeuw wrote:

Depending on budget and how much reach you need:

1. 50-140mm f/2.8 -- Relatively fast lens, fast AF.
2. 200mm f/2.0 prime -- Crisp and sharp, fast AF, but less flexible as it's not a zoomlens

If you're still battling with noise in the images, try DxO for DEEPPrime noise reduction as first step in your image post processing (assuming you shoot in raw format). Otherwise try Topaz Denoise or Topaz Photo AI which can also remove noise from JPEG files.

The 200mm f2 would be amazing if it fits the budget.

Are on the sidelines, or below the basket? Do you need to cover both near and far? If yes, you can get a suitable f/2.8 zoom, or a shorter and longer primes.

Fits the budget is a funny comment since the poster said he worked in a high school, If he can afford a $5000 Fuji lens for some high school sports action, well, I would like a job at that high school.

I should clarify that I'm a bit of a hobby photographer and I'll pay for the lens myself

I use the excellent XF 50-140mm f 2.8 with the XH2s with great success

In most locations indoors I use ISO 1600 or 3200, sometime 6400 when light is a bit dim.

I also use my Viltrox 85mm f 1.8 when light is too dim

With the XH2s AF is nor a Ferrari but decent for the job anf 1.8 allows to get enough light at reasonable ISO setting

bobby350z wrote:

Samuraidog wrote:

Tim van der Leeuw wrote:

Depending on budget and how much reach you need:

1. 50-140mm f/2.8 -- Relatively fast lens, fast AF.
2. 200mm f/2.0 prime -- Crisp and sharp, fast AF, but less flexible as it's not a zoomlens

If you're still battling with noise in the images, try DxO for DEEPPrime noise reduction as first step in your image post processing (assuming you shoot in raw format). Otherwise try Topaz Denoise or Topaz Photo AI which can also remove noise from JPEG files.

The 200mm f2 would be amazing if it fits the budget.

For Basketball??

Well I recommended that lens only for fast AF and wide aperture which would allow for lower ISO thus less noise.

Not specifically for this sport.

I guess though that if it'll work for anyone depends on distance to the action and if they can use the lens on a 2nd body or not -- in this case not very likely indeed.

And disclaimer: I do not own this lens myself either.

In my experience for handball or frisbee the FL I most use is around 70 to 80mm plus 100 to 120mm for detailed expression

yes a second body with aWA zoom is an asset to shoot the whole game (16 to 40mm FL)

A lot of good comments. Here's my take. The 50-140 is versatile but if the gym is poorly lit, then I'd rather use the 90 & 50 F2.

I actually like shooting better with my primes as I tend to focus more on just getting the action. The zoom is nice but I find I spend time zooming in and out and I tend to miss some shots.

The 200 F2 is my favorite lens, but it's a little long inside a gym. If the gym has a larger area at each end, then it can be ok. I use it in volleyball but I really concentrate on getting more close-up emotions of the players. I tend to use a monopod if possible with the 200.

The 90f2 is my goto action/sports lens.  I initially got it to shoot my son playing indoor hockey in municipal arenas which can have poor lighting.  I’ve used it to capture hundreds of soccer, water skiing, dog agility and more.  If you can make the focal length work, the 90f2 delivers in spades - it’s one of the best Fuji primes.  Fast focusing, can get a bit wet and  amazing image quality.