Dont know what to get...

jazman444

Senior Member
I am looking to get a speedlight mostly for the basketball seasons, and i just need one in general. I have no idea what to look for in a light, so i turn to you guys. I am using the D3100 if that makes a difference.
 

Browncoat

Senior Member
The Nikon SB600 is in your price range, but for a bit more, you could upgrade to the SB700 (about $329). I use the LumoPro LP160, which rivals the SB900 in function at less than half the price.

Honestly, I don't know why people use anything else. For $160, you get a $400 flash unit that is built by photographers, for photographers. It's 100% manual, so it doesn't have TTL function (which is why it's so cheap). If you're the auto-pilot type, stick with TTL flash units. But if you want the most bang for your buck, get the LP160.
 

Eduard

Super Mod
Staff member
Super Mod
I am looking to get a speedlight mostly for the basketball seasons, and i just need one in general. I have no idea what to look for in a light, so i turn to you guys. I am using the D3100 if that makes a difference.

Will you be allowed to use flash at the games? One idea might be to look at the Nikon Store or B&H for refurbished flashes.
 

Joseph Bautsch

New member
If you are going to shoot basketball games in a Gym and you are allowed to use flash then you will need something with kick. As Eduard says look for a referb SB600 or SB800. You can also go with Anthony's suggestion and go manuel with a LumoPro LP160. The only lens you list in your profile is a 70-300mm f/3.5-5.6. Without flash that lens will be to slow and won't give you enough shutter speed for stop action shots. Even using it with flash you will get a shadow cast from the front edge of the lens without using a flash bracket. For basketball I would suggest using a Nikkor 50mm D, f1.8. It's not very expensive. If you can get on the sidelines that lens will give all the close up shots you want. The D3100 will give excellent performance at higher ISO levels. So the 50mm at f1.8 at a high ISO should give you enough shutter speed for stop action you can live with without the flash.
 
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Ruidoso Bill

Senior Member
I agree with Eduard, most of the time flash photography is not allowed near the floor, safety for players. Faster glass and higher ISO is the method used by most. Having a good speed light is handy so I would still pursue one, just not for basketball photography. From the stands a speedlight will have little to no effect.
 
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jazman444

Senior Member
If you are going to shoot basketball games in a Gym and you are allowed to use flash then you will need something with kick. As Eduard says look for a referb SB600 or SB800. You can also go with Anthony's suggestion and go manuel with a LumoPro LP160. The only lens you list in your profile is a 70-300mm f/3.5-5.6. Without flash that lens will be to slow and won't give you enough shutter speed for stop action shots. Even using it with flash you will get a shadow cast from the front edge of the lens without using a flash bracket. For basketball I would suggest using a Nikkor 50mm D, f1.8. It's not very expensive. If you can get on the sidelines that lens will give all the close up shots you want. The D3100 will give excellent performance at higher ISO levels. So the 50mm at f1.8 at a high ISO should give you enough shutter speed for stop action you can live with without the flash.

I also have the stock lens that it came with.

With the Nikkor 50mm D, f1.8 lens. wouldnt i have to get the AF-S version because i have the D3100?
http://www.adorama.com/NK5018AFD.html#rec

and also, i asked the athletic director at our school and he said i could use flash, just as long as im not right under the hoop during a free throw.
 
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Browncoat

Senior Member
Given the distance of your subjects from where you'll be shooting combined with being in a gymnasium, flash isn't going to work for you in that environment. Using on-camera flash w/ a 50mm prime is going to blow out the top of your images because the lens isn't long enough. You'd have to go with off-camera flash, which isn't really ideal for sports photography.

The 50mm f/1.8 is fast enough for you without flash. I use it for MMA photography all the time, because it's a great lens for sports and for solving lighting issues. Be sure your WB is set on auto and be prepared for some post-editing to alter the yellow tone cast by the gymnasium lighting.
 

jazman444

Senior Member
Pic107.jpg


Pic091.jpg


here are some pics i had from the volleyball season.
both of these were with my 70-300mm f/3.5-5.6 MF. both were at 70mm. No Flash and in the sports setting.
 

Joseph Bautsch

New member
OK, you can't use flash. Using the gym light is the only way to go. The shots you posted of the volleyball game are good even shooting at 70mm and f/3.5. Basketball is a little faster at times than volleyball. The 50mm f/1.8 will give you close to the same focal distance but is a much faster lens. That will give you additional shutter speed for improved stop action. I'm not that familiar with the specifications for the D3100 so I don't which lens type is needed but I'm sure it's available. I would recommend using an 18% gray card to set the white balance at the gym. Any further WB correction can be done in post processing.
 

jazman444

Senior Member
ok, ik for a fact that i will have to use a AF-S lens, and i have been lookin at the 50mm f/1.8 af-s lenses and there over the 400 price, which is alittle pricey for me at the time. I know how the saying goes "you gotta pay to play" but is there a possibility that there is a different lens that would work better than my stock lens???

what about this on?
http://www.adorama.com/NK3518G.html
I know that it has a shorter focal length, but it is a better price for me at the moment.

and this is the one you are suggesting to me:
http://www.adorama.com/NK5014AFG.html
 
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Joseph Bautsch

New member
Unfortunately Nikon did not put an auto focus drive in the camera. If it had you could have used the D lenses that are less expensive. The 35mm AFG f/1.8 will work fine you just won't have the advantage of a little longer 50mm lens. You should still get good actions with the 35mm. You will just have to wait for the action to come a little closer.

If you can't take flash shots at the basketball games are you still looking at getting a flash?
 
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jazman444

Senior Member
Unfortunately Nikon did not put an auto focus drive in the camera. If it had you could have used the D lenses that are less expensive. The 35mm AFG f/1.8 will work fine you just won't have the advantage of a little longer 50mm lens. You should still get good actions with the 35mm. You will just have to wait for the action to come a little closer.

If you can't take flash shots at the basketball games are you still looking at getting a flash?

Yeah ill probably get the 35mm lens cause ill be under the hoop most of the time anyways so it should still be a good lens.

And yes I will still be lookin to get a flash. Im just not that big into the off-camera flashes and umberella stuff, and doubt i ever will. I absolutly hate indoor photography like that. I like being outside and working with natural light---the way it should be. lol
 

Joseph Bautsch

New member
Flash works great outdoors. Use it as a second light to the sun. It can fill in deep shadows caused by harsh sun light. The flash power can be reduced for just a light fill or used full power to take out all shadows. You would be surprised at the improvement in your daylight shooting using it that way. Nikon has a range of flash units depending on your needs and pocket book. The new SB700 is a good one to have. It's not expensive, $330 at B&H.
 

jazman444

Senior Member
Thanks a bunch. This is really helping me out alot. I still dont understand the whole comment about setting the WB
I would recommend using an 18% gray card to set the white balance at the gym. Any further WB correction can be done in post processing.
there.
 

Joseph Bautsch

New member
There is a section in the D3100 operators manual, starting on page 87, on white balance, how to set it and correct it in the camera. When shooting in artificial light the colors of the shot may be off. Whites can appear as yellow or blue depending on the color of the light you are shooting in. The other colors will be off as well but is more noticeable in the white areas. There are white balance adjustments in the camera to correct the off color. So that the shot will record whites as white and not as yellow, orange or some shade of blue. The 18% gray card is a neutral color, see page 90 of the manual, that the camera can use to correct the white balance of the light you are shooting in. Since you don't have a lot of experience with white balance you probably should use the Auto WB setting. Correcting the white balance is an important skill to learn both in the camera and in post processing.
 

jazman444

Senior Member
thank you, I will probably go with the SB700 whenever i get some money. Lens is my number 1 priority right now cause winter sports season is starting next week.

Thanks for all the help. I got 2 questions answered in one thread :D
 

ZakSaenzPhotography

Senior Member
The Nikon SB600 is in your price range, but for a bit more, you could upgrade to the SB700 (about $329). I use the LumoPro LP160, which rivals the SB900 in function at less than half the price.

Honestly, I don't know why people use anything else. For $160, you get a $400 flash unit that is built by photographers, for photographers. It's 100% manual, so it doesn't have TTL function (which is why it's so cheap). If you're the auto-pilot type, stick with TTL flash units. But if you want the most bang for your buck, get the LP160.

I just ordered two. They are on back order right now but for the price with optical slave built in you can't go wrong.

Zak
 
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