Lens for Leica Digilux3 for indoor sport Photography

[Rene Janssen]

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I have a Leica Digilux3 camera with the standard lens (14-50 f/2.8-3.5) and I am very satisfied with the photos taken so far.

 

But recently I am shooting volleybal picture in combination with a Leica 50mm f/2 lens and find out that in these low light circumstances it is very difficult to shoot good pictures. Especially with manual focus I find it difficult to get sharp photos. I have the feeling that the Leica Digilux 3 need much light to perform well. So I was thinking to buy the Olympus 50-200m SWD f/2.8-3.5 or the Olympus 150mm f/2.0.

 

Does anyone has experience with those lenses for indoor sport (or other lenses).

What is the best way to shoot volleybal pictures, autofocus or manual focus.

 

Thanks in andvance.

 

René

[Paolo.Battista]

The zoom 50-200 SWD works well only with Olympus bodies that can benefit of the improved aufocus system, So I would not reccomend it for your case, if autofocus is what you want to use.

 

For the price of a 150 f:2, you can find a Nikon D7000 plus a 80.200 f:2,8 Nikkor zoom, which is much better for indoor sport photography (vastly better behaviour at high ISO, advanced autofocus system).

 

Paolo

[Rene Janssen]

Paolo, thanks for your advice.

 

The problem is that I am used to handle the leica Digilux. I bought it in 2008 for Wild safari and it did a good job. But now for low light condition, where the camera is not at his best, I need something else. Maybe a whole new camera and body as you suggest.

 

But I have to think it over and look further into the Nikon body and lens.

 

 

René

[jaapv]

The zoom 50-200 SWD works well only with Olympus bodies that can benefit of the improved aufocus system, So I would not reccomend it for your case, if autofocus is what you want to use.

 

For the price of a 150 f:2, you can find a Nikon D7000 plus a 80.200 f:2,8 Nikkor zoom, which is much better for indoor sport photography (vastly better behaviour at high ISO, advanced autofocus system).

 

Paolo

On the inside the Digilux3 is an Olympus E 330....

[Paolo.Battista]

On the inside the Digilux3 is an Olympus E 330....

 

Didn't tried the E-330, but tried Digilux 3 and E-3 with the same 50-200 SWD.

Different story though the Nikon D7000 (and Canon D60 or 7D, I suppose) are still much better (not to mention an old machine like Nikon D2x).

In good light and relatively slow subjects, differences are not so huge. But in low light and with fast moving subjects....

[jaapv]

The Digilux3 is a nice enough camera, and functions well for the purpose I keep it for (oral photography aka medical macro), but for landscape I am less happy. It tends to turn foliage into abstract aquarels.

[Paolo.Battista]

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For sure the Digilux3 tends to render more paint-like photos, but that's not a bad thing to me, at least when I can complement it with another type of sensor.

I found the Digilux 3 great for people shots, it's some time that I'm not using it for landscapes, I will try it soon again.

Which type of lens are you using for landscapes? The Elmarit zoom? For sure it works more than OK on the Olympus E-3 body.

If you're trying some old R lenses like the Emarit 19 (II version), forget about it. Without microlenses on sensor and some software correction (like in the Ricoh M-Module), no way.

 

Paolo