Newbie looking for advice on indoor sports shots

[Wader55901]

Hi All,

I am a newbie to DSLR's moved from a Canon G3 to a Rebel Xti. I am wondering if I can get some feedback on these shots as to how to make them better. I was using the Canon 85mm 1.8 lens......shutter speed 1/250 at 1.8...Iso 800....

The second picture the focus seems to have been on the spectators.......I thought I was centered on my subject.....any AF tips?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. This forum is awesome for newbies like me!!!

Thanks,

Wade

[BrandonSi]

I'm showing ISO 400 on both of those, so that would be the first place to start.. The action in the first still doesn't look that sharp to me, so I would go with a faster shutter speed.. Are you shooting in RAW? This will give you the ability to underexpose and then adjust your exposure in post processing. You are right on the second one, the camera focused on the bleachers, and not the players.

[Palladium]

according to the exif the data of the 1st image is below

Camera Make: Canon
Camera Model: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi
Image Date: 2007:01:12 23:49:30
Flash Used: No
Focal Length: 50.0mm
CCD Width: 3.67mm
Exposure Time: 0.0040 s (1/250)
Aperture: f/1.8
ISO equiv: 400
White Balance: Auto
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: Action program (based towards fast shutter speed)

and for the second

Camera Make: Canon
Camera Model: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi
Image Date: 2007:01:13 23:58:34
Flash Used: No
Focal Length: 85.0mm
CCD Width: 3.67mm
Exposure Time: 0.0063 s (1/160)
Aperture: f/1.8
ISO equiv: 400
White Balance: Auto
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: Action program (based towards fast shutter speed)

[Wader55901]

Whoops you are right......these were taken in the sports mode......sorry about that....I have some others that I can post.....

Any thoughts on how to better focus on the subject instead of the bleachers? Is it better to use Multiple focus points or Center focus.

[Jon]

I think you're going to need to get out of the "Basic" (pictures on the dial) zone and use one of the "Creative" zone settings so you can set a higher ISO and control your exposure better. Try ISO 1600 and Av or M at f/1.8 to get a shutter speed that's faster than 1/250 if possible.

[Jon]

Whoops you are right......these were taken in the sports mode......sorry about that....I have some others that I can post.....

Any thoughts on how to better focus on the subject instead of the bleachers? Is it better to use Multiple focus points or Center focus.
If you use multiple focus points, the camera's going to grab whatever it gets the most contrast from as the preferred focus point. If you choose the center focus point you'll end up with some cases (like your second example would have) where the action didn't match the focus point so you missed focus. It's not something I use, because I don't shoot sports, but this is where CF 4-1 (putting the focus on the "*' button) may be a good idea. There are several threads on the whys, wherefores and how-tos of this on POTn, so I won't go into any details, but essentially it allows you to use the "ael' buton as the focussing button instead, so you cna control the focus independently of the exposure.

[chris clements]

Freezing the action (high shutter speed) is your key objective here, followed by greater depth of field. Bump the ISO up to the max , so you can get combinations like 1/500 @ f4 or f5.6. If you have to, underexpose and retreive the image in post-processing (so RAW will be best)

[Wader55901]

Here are a couple more shots that I got. I don't think these are in the "Sports Mode"

Jon, Thank you, I will look into the Cf 4-1 function.

I have so so much to learn and appreciate the help.

On a side note are there any sites anyone would recommmend that allow the posting of full resolution images?

Thank you.

[canoflan]

I don't see any suggestions on focusing. You need to have the camera on AI Servo mode and choose the focus point you want to use (I use center). Then, put your camera on ISO 1600 (or max that it will go), then put your aperture setting on 2 or 2.8 in Av mode. That way, your shutter will be the highest possible. Also, meter using partial metering (the one just short of spot metering, if you have that ability). Shoot RAW in case you miss the exposure a bit. I also usually use exposure compensation of +1/3 to help the shadows a bit.

Ditch the auto mode settings. They limit what that camera can really do too much.

I used these exact settings shooting my wife finishing the marathon and not a hitch using my 30D. I had a zoom on set to 2.8 on Av with 800 ISO in bright overcast conditions to ensure crisp shots of her. I also shoot for our church.

Let us know how it goes.

[Crashoran]

Crank that ISO up to 1600

[Palladium]

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=143435&stc=1&d=1170260956

Below is the exif for the above image

Camera Make: Canon
Camera Model: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi
Image Date: 2007:01:14 00:11:45
Flash Used: No
Focal Length: 85.0mm
CCD Width: 3.67mm
Exposure Time: 0.0063 s (1/160)
Aperture: f/1.8
ISO equiv: 800
White Balance: Auto
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: shutter priority (semi-auto)

[canoflan]

Exposure: shutter priority (semi-auto)

There's the problem, shutter priority. Additionally, it doesn't state what focus mode the camera was set on.

[superdiver]

You have the right lens, now all you need is practice...here is how I set mine up...note, there are many different opinions on how to do this best...

1)set to ISO 1600, or 3200 if you can
2)do a CWB
3)I shoot in Av mode, cuz the light changes from area of the gyn to area and I let the camera adjust the shutter speed as needed. I try to get a shutter speed of at least 1/500
4)Some people shoot in M and set all the settings to what they found on a "good shot"...I found I missed alot of shots this way as the conditions tend to change in my opinion from area of the floor to different area of the floor.
5)I shoot at the base line off to the side of the basket a little ways. Sometimes I will shoot from half court to get deffensive shots
6)get down on the floor on one knee or on your butt and shoot up at the players.
7)I find the 85 too short to shoot all the way down to the other end of the court so when the play is at the other end I usually chimp and get rid of the obviously bad shots. anything that looks remotely decent I leave and check in PPing...
8)OH, and I shoot RAW, gives me more control of the pictures in the end...

[Wader55901]

Thank you all for the feedback and ideas.......I will be using this info this weekend! I'll let you know how it turns out!

I am so happy that I found this forum......

[superdiver]

Also, another thing that really helped me was getting the battery grip and shooting in portrait view and trying to fill the view with only the subject or subjects I want in the final shot...

[ksgeag]

Hi,
Focusing with your xt and fast moving subjects is tough. Something that is worth trying and works for me is one shot mode(single point) and prefocus. If you see them heading for the net pre focus on the net and wait for them to get there. On the jump ball prefocus before they jump and click when they get there. servo mode gets flakey sometimes when people move erratically. Av and M work well for me. If the light is good M is more consistant. Many schools have multi colored pads on their walls and can mess with exposure
Good Luck
K.S.Greene