shooting volleyball indoors

[jess1e]

Please can any help I have a canon 30d and shooting for the first time with a 70-200 2.8 is lense . My setting is on sports mode so i can get 3-5 frames but i get some focused okay but others not so well plus stop action seemed to be blured can any one help me maybe a different setting shutter speed flash maybe Thank you Jacques

[liza]

For starters, don't use sports mode. The lens you're using may also be too slow for gym sports, depending on the lighting. I use fast primes for volleyball with the camera set at ISO 1600, 1/500 shutter, and aperture set two 1/3 stop clicks from wide open. With the lens you're using, however, you'll have to keep in set on f/2.8 to let in more light. You can adjust your shutter speed accordingly to obtain proper exposure, and shoot in RAW to address WB and exposure issues in post.

[Croasdail]

All of Liza's advice is good. I would add though is what you have is what you have, and you need to figure out how to get it done with the given circumstances. There is a very good chance your not going to be able to get 1/500 at f2.8 in the gym. knowing that, your going to have to make a decision to either bump up to iso 3200 and know your going to get some digital noise in your shots, or let the shutter speed fall. Even at ISO 3200, you may end up with some slow shutter speeds. To deal with this, you can use some strategies to help. Simply forget about getting the big spike shot. There is way too much motion when shooting from the side. Which bring up another point - shooting from the side shows effects from motion more then shooting straight at your subject. If you can't get dead center facing your subject, then the stronger the angle, the better. Back to shot selection, also pick shots which have less motion like the bump or the set. The ball for an instant will not be moving much right as the player strikes it..... it takes great timing, but can be pulled off. Also move around. Those vapor lamps fade with time and you can often find spots on the floor that are +/- up to a stop or more from other locations. Just meter the floor and see if you can find the better lit spots out there. And then when your done.... start paying to who ever you pray to for a 200 f1.8. It is the ultimate volleyball lens. Good luck with it.... and have fun regardless of the shooting locations. If it is really dark, just concentrate on player reaction shots... they can be quit rewarding too. Cheers.