S2 IS Sports pictures

[robber]

I'm going to try and take some pictures at my sons basketball game. Can anyone help me with settings to try. I can't use the flash. What is the best way to take action pictures when you've got moving subjects. Do I have to focus on a spot and wait for the players to come into the area? Sorry if these questions have been discussed before.
Thanks
Rob

[Just Be]

Everyone here DSLR or P&S has problems shooting indoor B Ball.

You want a fast shutter speed to stop the action, but you need to shoot wide open (f1.8 or so) becasue of lack of good light. Also remember to change the White balance to whatever lights are inside.

I'd say shoot wide angle (don't zoom in too much if you can help it) to keep the f-stop as low as possible, on a tripod at the highest ISO you have. 800?

Don't expect miracles and just enjoy the photos for what they are capturing.

[mishnogram]

The hardest part is going to be definitely getting a fast enough shutter speed. I did pretty well with my S2 at my last Toronto Raptor's game. I set the camera to TV mode and set to at least 1/160 and ISO set to 200. To really stop motion, I needed to change the shutter speed to at least 1/400. It wasn't great but even did some ISO 400 shots and got some ok ones. Much better than my co-worker's Digital Rebel but he only had a kit lens.

Here are some examples.
http://lee-family.smugmug.com/photos/121104199-M.jpg
ISO 200, f/4, 1/200

http://lee-family.smugmug.com/photos/121104169-M.jpg
ISO 200, f3.5, 1/400

My favorite of the night
http://lee-family.smugmug.com/photos/121104165-L.jpg
ISO 400, f4.0, 1/160 - they were drumming away and managed to almost stop the motion.

The rest of the shots and settings are at:

http://lee-family.smugmug.com/gallery/2316351

Hope that helps and post some of the shots you get. Always like to see the work of others.

[Roddie]

Hey that's some pretty good shooting. Did you do much post editing? The colours are wonderfully rich, especially the wood grain in #2. And you even captured the crowd in #1! Well done!

[DanteCaspian]

Nice.
I have had little success on gymnasium shots.

[mishnogram]

Hey that's some pretty good shooting. Did you do much post editing? The colours are wonderfully rich, especially the wood grain in #2. And you even captured the crowd in #1! Well done!


Any PP was done in Picasa, I don't think there was too much though. The place itself had a lot of vivid colours. I've been really happy with how the S2 performed in darker places. It really hasn't let me down too many times yet.