Night Sports w/o Hot Shoe Flash?

[JABACo]

Will this work?

1. Canon 10D set at f/8.0, 60 sync, 400 ISO
2. Sigma 70-200 f/2.8l HSM APO
3. Using the Camera Flash (no hotshoe flash)
4. Low lit football stadium
5. Monopod

FYI, I don't have a hot-shoe flash.

Will this work in your opinion? Give me a better idea.

Bradley

[slin100]

The built-in flash is pretty weak. The guide number on the built-in flash is 172 @ ISO 400. If you shoot at f/8, the subject distance works out to 172/8 = 21 1/2 ft. That's an optimistic calculation. You should look at the table on page 97 of the manual. The table lists the effective flash range at various ISO level.

You're likely not going to get any good shots except for plays near the sidelines or in the end zone taken from field level. If you're in the bleachers, forget it. Invest in a hotshoe flash or push the ISO up to 1600 or even 3200 and shoot without flash. The 10D exhibits amazingly low noise, even at those ISO levels.

[RGorrill]

I will second what has already been stated. Your effective flash range of 3.3 to 24.3 feet at 400 ISO is valid for an average sized room with no more than 10' high white ceilings and light walls.

As you are shooting outdoors where there is NOTHING to reflect light your effective flash range now would extend to no more than 8-10 feet at best and that would not be using the camera in aperture priority mode but in fully automatic Program mode. If you force the f/8 setting then you are going to find that your true range is now about 6 to 8 feet or less.

Bob

[scottbergerphoto]

slin100 wrote:
The built-in flash is pretty weak. The guide number on the built-in flash is 172 @ ISO 400. If you shoot at f/8, the subject distance works out to 172/8 = 21 1/2 ft. That's an optimistic calculation. You should look at the table on page 97 of the manual. The table lists the effective flash range at various ISO level.

You're likely not going to get any good shots except for plays near the sidelines or in the end zone taken from field level. If you're in the bleachers, forget it. Invest in a hotshoe flash or push the ISO up to 1600 or even 3200 and shoot without flash. The 10D exhibits amazingly low noise, even at those ISO levels.

Sorry but your math is off. The Guide Number of the built in flash is 43 ft. at Iso 100. Doubling the Iso to 200 would increase the GN by 1.4, and then to 400 would increase it by a factor of 2.0. So at ISO 400 the flash would have a guide number of 2 X 43 = 86 ft. At f/8 that translates to a distance of just over 10ft. (reference: Nikon Flash Guide)
Scott

[fotog]

Shoot @ 2.8. Don't try to reach the center of the field and keep increasing the asa to where it works. Or buy a flash. I'm gonna guess 2.8 and 1600 asa will get you some shots. That is for typical high school lightning. If your shooting at 200mm and have a full frame shot you should be fine. There is also some good side line shots of players and coaches. Good luck.
Bill

[GPR1]

The likely truth is, even if you buy a hot shoe flash you're unlikely to have enough power to grab many of the shots more than 30 feet away -- not much distance on a football field. Under some scenarios you may get a bit farther, but you won't reach across the field, in my experience.

I think you'll get more shots if you buy a monopod, raise the ISO, and drop the shutter speed. You'll have some motion in the pictures, but that may enhance rather than detract from them.

Experiment, and you'll learn quickly what works for you and what doesn't.

[JABACo]

Ok guys. Thanks for the tips and opinions. I've just finished shooting a junior high game and I will post my results (exif). I tried almost everything supplied by you guys and what I initially asked.

Check back tomorrow.

Thanks for all your help.

[Vegas Poboy]

I've tried what you're doing for drag races & then lens itself might block out the part of the flash. It sits to low on the camera. Best bet is to get at least the 420 ex.

[JABACo]

I "think" everyone who contributed to this question was right, in a way. I see, since I've gradutated up to the amature level from a novice, photography is a practice. Very much like a physician. Some things are tried and true while others are hit and miss.

Thanks for all of your input.