Floodlit soccer game help needed.

[jameske]

Next week im helping a friend out and taking some pictures of a local football game.

im shooting from the side of the pitch, its floodlit at night and obviosly very fast paced.

im an amatuer so if anyone could help me with what kind of settings i should use that would be brilliant.

i will be using a canon eos 350D SLR

much appreciated

[Tall_Paul_2000]

Assuming that its lower or non-league football, your first and major issue is going to be the light. Or lackthereof......

First suggestion is to shoot in manual as opposed to aperture priority........this will stop the camera meter being fooled by the large amounts of dark that you might find in the background of the shots under lights.

Typically, in the games I've shot under lights, 1/250-1/500th, f2.8 at ISO1600 has been the settings I have used. Best bet is to get there early, take some test shots and have a peek at them to work out whether you are in the right ball park with your settings. Also be aware that the light will vary across the pitch, so the settings you use for the centre of the pitch may well be different from those you use when the action is nearer you at the edges of the pitch.

Focus wise, Servo AF is the way forward and on the 350d probably select the centre focussing point.

Hope that this helps a little - have a look through the Sports Q&A thread that is stickied here and that will give you even more tips on shooting football and also shooting under lights.

[KIPAX]

What ground is this and what lens have you got.. the lens is more important than the camera in the context of your question :)

[Rich_claypole]

Umm, could be a tricky one, need to know the ground / home team and the lenses you will be using. The AF on the 350d will be tricky along with the low frame rate.

Get the info request above and I am sure there will be some helpful comments coming your way.

[jameske]

hey guys,

thanks for the help so far.

the lens i will be using is the standard 18 - 58mm one that i got with the package, im not looking for any amazing shots, its a local 6 aside league that is played on astro turf and floodlit at night.

the guy that runs the league took some but they are terrible so we want some kind of improvement.

here are the ones on the site at the moment.

http://img277.imageshack.us/slideshow/player.php?id=img277/9124/1166434820556.smil

any kind of improvementon that would be great, i have a 2 gig drive so i can snap over 500 pictures so as long as 20 of them are decent that would be great.

if anyone reccomends standing behind the goal then thats possible too.

many thanks again.

james

[DarrenL]

James,

The image you posted is like you say, pants.

However, given the short focal length you have I think sitting next to the goal is going to be your only option.

I suppose you could sit on the side line and wait for the action to come to you but the players will be top of you with an 18-55mm and you will have to crop heavily.

Darren

[RonnieA]

James,

I think you're gonna be unhappy with the results you get from the kit lens, no matter how close you get to the action. If I am not mistaken, the kit lens is variable aperature f/3.5 - 5.6. Variable aperature issues aside, more than likely f/3.5 will not suck in enough light for you to get the shutter speed needed to capture even decent action shots.

Suggestion: Rent or borrow a f/2.8 telephoto lens, and even then cross your fingers for at least 1/250 shutter speed.

[Rich_claypole]

Set the expectations as very low. With the lens and the conditions you will be shooting under the results will struggle to be good action shots.

You really need a 70-200 to give you a bit more reach on the the pitch and fill the frame a bit more. Biggest concern is the light though.

[gateruner]

I got this one in a really foul lit stadium using the 30d with the 70-200L is. I have to shoot at ISO 3200 in this place to get the shutter up to 400 or 500. No way I could do it with the Kit lens.

http://images21.fotki.com/v515/photos/1/1091028/4619515/IMG_0771-vi.jpg

I have essentially scrapped the kit lens for anything except good lighting and for use as a walk about lens for my wife when she goes in PHD mode. Got the 17-55 on the way at this time. I am ready for it.

[PhotosGuy]

Sports Shooting Tutorials and Advice (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=135417)

ISO 200-6400 20D Tests (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=269964)

[jameske]

thanks for your help guys.

maybe ill give just tell him that the results wont be great and see what he says.

i was only doing as a favour anyway so im not too fussed.

i used cameras from work so hopefully something will come in soon a bit more better for the job.

thanks for everyone who tried to help, its much appreciated.

james