football action focus problems

[LA Flash]

I've been trying to shoot high school football action shots. I'm using a 20d with an 80-200 2.8 canon lens set at ISO 1600 1/200 at 2.8 on a monopod. I still have focus problems on quite a few pictures. What is the best AF setting to use for action sports?

[MazerRakhm]

AI-Servo.

I'm assuming you're shooting night football, are you sure it's a focus problem and not a shutter speed problem? Anything lower than 1/300 is going to give a deffinite blur on stop action.

IMO 1/200 is way to slow, you should probably try to get to the 300-350 range minimum. Either bump your ISO to 3200 or try under exposing by a stop or so.

[LA Flash]

Thanks for the info. Yes it is night football. Unfortunately the 20d tops out at 1600. If I underexpose the images by shooting at 1/300 is there an easy way to adjust the files later? Photoshop action?

[MazerRakhm]

The 20D will go to ISO 3200. In the custom functions area, I believe it is #8, will enable ISO expansion. The meter will say H I think, but it is ISO 3200.

You can brighted the pics in PS, but that only helps so much so don't underexpose a lot.

[LA Flash]

Kevin,
I checked out your photos on smug. You really do a great job. Are you a full time photographer? Are you making any $$ at $2.50-$5??
Your work is much better than that!!! Are parents buying tons of photos from you? They should be.

[LA Flash]

Thanks for the help!! I guess I should've read the manual. I've owned the camera for a year and cursed the fact I couldn't go 3200. Do you have a lot of noise at that iso?

[Crashoran]

ISO 3200 is awesome when using Noise Ninja

[MazerRakhm]

Yeah, you're going to want to get a noise cleaner, either Noise Ninja or I use Neat Image. Either one will make ISO 3200 look a lot better.