Steve'sDigicams

Trojansoc · Dec 30, 2007, 7:58 PM

This week I had a chance to put the DA*50-135 through its paces with six basketball games in three days in a beautifully-lit civic arena. I felt fairly confident that the f2.8 would be plenty fast in good lighting, but I wasn't sure the first night, so I shot Av mode with custom WB. Most of the time, the camera metered at about 1/640. From the first night (75, 123, & 80mm)

The second night, I went to manual mode and worked at either 1/500 or 1/640 (55 & 135mm)

Finally, the last night I started with the same settings (135mm)

But, I decided to see how far I could push the lens by dropping the ISO to 1000 while keeping the shutter at 1/640. I had bring levels up a little in post-processing, but I was pleasantly surprised at how clear the shots turned out. (65& 85mm)

We won the boys side of the tournament....leading our coach to credit his chief assistant

This lens continues to surprise and impress me with its clarity and versatility

robar · Dec 30, 2007, 10:34 PM

paul,
these are great. that lens is really shining.. looks like it's perfect for this situation.. the shot of the two looking up at the ball is marvelous..

roy

kenyee · Dec 30, 2007, 11:08 PM

Was this image pushed a lot in PP?
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2146/...602c40f1b1.jpg

Looks like it has VPN.

Rest of the images look great. I'm surprised you did that well at f/2.8...

mtngal · Dec 30, 2007, 11:27 PM

Lovely shots - it's nice to know that the lens is so capable with indoor sports (I never get a chance to take indoor sports shots).

NonEntity1 · Dec 30, 2007, 11:31 PM

Thanks for the report on this lens, it certainlylooks like it delivered for you, nice shots.

Tim

Trojansoc · Dec 30, 2007, 11:38 PM

kenyee, not sure what you mean by VPN. The image did not have real heavy processing. Below is the original image (resized for the forum--no other processing). Original workflow was crop, slight levels, noise reduction, and USM (probably at R7-S45-C0, settings I used on most of these shots).

lesmore49 · Dec 31, 2007, 12:33 AM

This last shot of the two girls looking intently, at what I assume to be the basketball is phenomenal. You gotta get that one in each school's yearbook. I think there parent's would appreciate a copy, each.

Great expression- the same on both girl's faces.

Different school teams-same expression.

philneast · Dec 31, 2007, 3:52 AM

I think you did the lens justice.

bilybianca · Dec 31, 2007, 4:21 AM

A good lens in good hands.

Kjell

Dal1970 · Dec 31, 2007, 9:35 AM

Lovely clean shots. That lens must now go on my wish list.

Didn't really appreciate the point of it when it was launched, but this just shows why it is needed......

Dal

Dec 30, 2007, 11:38 PM	#6
Trojansoc Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hot Springs, AR Posts: 3,076	kenyee, not sure what you mean by VPN. The image did not have real heavy processing. Below is the original image (resized for the forum--no other processing). Original workflow was crop, slight levels, noise reduction, and USM (probably at R7-S45-C0, settings I used on most of these shots). Attached Images

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Dec 30, 2007, 7:58 PM	#1
Trojansoc Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hot Springs, AR Posts: 3,076	This week I had a chance to put the DA*50-135 through its paces with six basketball games in three days in a beautifully-lit civic arena. I felt fairly confident that the f2.8 would be plenty fast in good lighting, but I wasn't sure the first night, so I shot Av mode with custom WB. Most of the time, the camera metered at about 1/640. From the first night (75, 123, & 80mm) The second night, I went to manual mode and worked at either 1/500 or 1/640 (55 & 135mm) Finally, the last night I started with the same settings (135mm) But, I decided to see how far I could push the lens by dropping the ISO to 1000 while keeping the shutter at 1/640. I had bring levels up a little in post-processing, but I was pleasantly surprised at how clear the shots turned out. (65& 85mm) We won the boys side of the tournament....leading our coach to credit his chief assistant This lens continues to surprise and impress me with its clarity and versatility

Dec 30, 2007, 10:34 PM	#2
robar Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: D/FW area Texas Posts: 7,512	paul, these are great. that lens is really shining.. looks like it's perfect for this situation.. the shot of the two looking up at the ball is marvelous.. roy

Dec 30, 2007, 11:08 PM	#3
kenyee Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 26	Was this image pushed a lot in PP? http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2146/...602c40f1b1.jpg Looks like it has VPN. Rest of the images look great. I'm surprised you did that well at f/2.8...

Dec 30, 2007, 11:27 PM	#4
mtngal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Frazier Park, CA Posts: 9,193	Lovely shots - it's nice to know that the lens is so capable with indoor sports (I never get a chance to take indoor sports shots).

Dec 30, 2007, 11:31 PM	#5
NonEntity1 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Lake Placid Florida USA Posts: 2,686	Thanks for the report on this lens, it certainlylooks like it delivered for you, nice shots. Tim

Dec 31, 2007, 12:33 AM	#7
lesmore49 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Western Canada Posts: 1,129	This last shot of the two girls looking intently, at what I assume to be the basketball is phenomenal. You gotta get that one in each school's yearbook. I think there parent's would appreciate a copy, each. Great expression- the same on both girl's faces. Different school teams-same expression.

Dec 31, 2007, 3:52 AM	#8
philneast Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 450	I think you did the lens justice.

Dec 31, 2007, 4:21 AM	#9
bilybianca Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Hassleholm, Sweden Posts: 3,112	A good lens in good hands. Kjell

Dec 31, 2007, 9:35 AM	#10
Dal1970 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Essex, UK Posts: 1,852	Lovely clean shots. That lens must now go on my wish list. Didn't really appreciate the point of it when it was launched, but this just shows why it is needed...... Dal