Shooting Hockey (floodlit)

[aidan_mfc]

Hi,

I am going to a local hockey match on Wednesday evening (7pm). It is on an astro turf pitch and is floodlit. I am not sure how good the floodlights are, however, after speaking to someone from the club one side is much better than the other. I therefore believe that I should be on the side that has the best floodlights when I'm shooting.

So, I have a 400D and Sigma APO 70-300 f4-5.6, which is what I will be shooting with, but I'm a little concerned about the low light, especially if the floodlights are not that good.

I was after a bit of advice on what settings I should be using on Wednesday. I kind of guessed that I would need to bump up my ISO to around 1600 (depending on the light) but not sure on what I should do with regards my shutter speed.

I also thought that I should have the lowest aperture value possible at the zoom length that I'm at. Obviously if I'm at 300 I can only have f5.6 which isn't tremendous in low light...

Anyway all input will be greatly appreciated.

[ryant35]

I have photographed a few hockey games, once with my Canon 70-300 f4-5.6. Even at iso 3200 it is terrible. You will need f/2.8 or nothing. If I can't rent a 70-200 f/2.8 I pass on shooting the game.

Here is one shot with the 70-200 f/2.8 still at iso 1600!
I know it's not spectacular, it's one of the first ones I found on my site.

You may think it is well lit, but when it comes to action photography, it's pretty dark.


http://www.ryantorresphotography.com/PAC8HOCKEY/slides/USC_OREGON%20260.JPG



Hi,

I am going to a local hockey match on Wednesday evening (7pm). It is on an astro turf pitch and is floodlit. I am not sure how good the floodlights are, however, after speaking to someone from the club one side is much better than the other. I therefore believe that I should be on the side that has the best floodlights when I'm shooting.

So, I have a 400D and Sigma APO 70-300 f4-5.6, which is what I will be shooting with, but I'm a little concerned about the low light, especially if the floodlights are not that good.

I was after a bit of advice on what settings I should be using on Wednesday. I kind of guessed that I would need to bump up my ISO to around 1600 (depending on the light) but not sure on what I should do with regards my shutter speed.

I also thought that I should have the lowest aperture value possible at the zoom length that I'm at. Obviously if I'm at 300 I can only have f5.6 which isn't tremendous in low light...

Anyway all input will be greatly appreciated.

[aidan_mfc]

I had wondered about a using an f2.8 lens, however, I simply cannot afford it at the moment, what with them being so expensive.

I am actually not shooting an ice hockey, just normal hockey (field - if you want to call it that), however, I suspect that the lighting conditions will be similar even outside on an evening... There are floodlights but I suspect that they aren't going to be anything special.

I am kind of hoping that it won't be too dark by 7pm, but the way nights are closing in I don't think that I'm going to get a lot.

How did you go about renting a 2.8 lens, just out of interest? Did you borrow it from someone you know?

Thanks for your help, though, it is much appreciated.

[vetkrazy]

You gotta hope the floodlights are pro level! The 70-300 is just to slow for any kind of low light work. You have to have an f/2.8 lens to have any real hope of good pictures. Anyone you can borrow a 70-200 f/2.8 from?

Good Luck

[aidan_mfc]

You gotta hope the floodlights are pro level! The 70-300 is just to slow for any kind of low light work. You have to have an f/2.8 lens to have any real hope of good pictures. Anyone you can borrow a 70-200 f/2.8 from?

Good Luck

Unfortunately no I don't know anyone...

I had a feeling that I was going to have trouble doing it.
Someone kind of sorted this out for me. They just went and asked if I could photograph them and now the team want the photos... I have tried to warn them that I could quite possibly end up with none whatsoever, but they don't seem to understand the limitations of my lens...

I'll just have to see what happens. I think that it will be more like still shots, i.e. group huddles.

Thanks :-) .

[ryant35]

I rent my equipment from Calumet, Sammys also rents. From what I believe most camera stores have a rental department. There also is www.rentglass.com but it will take a few days to receive view mail.

[DavidEB]

It is on an astro turf pitch and is floodlit.

This part of the post seems to suggest field hockey rather than ice. It's probably a lot like shooting football (american) or other night sports. 70-200 may be too short.

[Jon, The Elder]

Get ready everyone. There is going to be dozens like this with minor variations.

Then comes the same question only about Basketball.

[markol]

I run a rental store as well. Check us out at borrowlenses.com (http://www.borrowlenses.com). A number of people from this forum have rented in the past, and lots and lots from other places as well. We have lots of copies of the 70-200 f/2.8 IS, and can ship straight to you. If you are in San Francisco Bay Area, local pickup is free. We are also much cheaper than Calumet or K&S.

70-200 is probably the best lens you can get for shooting hockey.

[canuck_newbie]

I am actually not shooting an ice hockey, just normal hockey (field - if you want to call it that)

Ice hockey isn't 'normal' hockey? I tell ya, we Canadians are generally laid back people, but say something like this in the Great White North and watch the sparks fly ;)

[Jon, The Elder]

Yeah, we feel that way here in Detroit too !

[Tandem]

From dictionary.com...

hockey

after an isolated reference from Ireland dated 1527 ("The horlinge of the litill balle with hockie stickes or staves ..."), the word is next recorded 1838 from W. Sussex; of unknown origin, perhaps related to M.Fr. hoquet "shepherd's staff, crook," dim. of O.Fr. hoc "hook." The hooked clubs with which the game is played resemble shepherds' staves. In N.Amer., ice hockey is distinguished from field hockey.