First Sports shot with my new camera

[khaz]

My boys had their first tryouts for little league this morning, and I am looking for some C&C on the color, and the settings I used. My longest lens right now is the kit lens that came with the camera, so I used the following settings in Tv mode @ 135mm:

Tv: 1/1600
Av: 5.6
ISO: 400

[bigjon0107]

What type of AF did you use? It looks like the point where the lens was focused was behind the player. Almost as if you has the AF mode on "Single Shot", focused the lens on him, then he took a step or two forward to throw the ball and your camera did not track him. Therefore, causing him to be a little out of focus

[Zivnuska]

I hope I'm not too late!


Stop! Stop now!


Once you start taking pictures of your kids you risk an addiction that can control your life. Sure, you say; "I can stop anytime I want." "I'm doing it for the kids, for the family." Before you know it, a few baseball pics turns into football and soccer. Suddenly, your lens isn't long enough and oh, those pictures with the 'L' glass are really sharp. Then it happens... ...

Basketball, volleyball, wrestling and any manner of indoor sports. The light is too low. Must get f/2.8 lenses and then even wider apertures. Now your wonderful camera can't quite do the job with enough fps and a 1D series camera focuses so quickly and so well in low light. Then it happens... ...

More better images... If you just had the capability to strobe the gymnasium, you could get those SI cover images you lust for. All the pros have a backup camera. Your Christmas list includes a tripod, monopod, larger storage cards, a new computer, CS3, Lightroom, expodisc,

Turn back, turn back now. It's too late for me, but save yourself while you still have a chance.

(BTW, welcome to the club. You're off to a good start. Keep shooting.)

[Mike R]

I hope I'm not too late!


Stop! Stop now!


Once you start taking pictures of your kids you risk an addiction that can control your life. Sure, you say; "I can stop anytime I want." "I'm doing it for the kids, for the family." Before you know it, a few baseball pics turns into football and soccer. Suddenly, your lens isn't long enough and oh, those pictures with the 'L' glass are really sharp. Then it happens... ...

Basketball, volleyball, wrestling and any manner of indoor sports. The light is too low. Must get f/2.8 lenses and then even wider apertures. Now your wonderful camera can't quite do the job with enough fps and a 1D series camera focuses so quickly and so well in low light. Then it happens... ...

More better images... If you just had the capability to strobe the gymnasium, you could get those SI cover images you lust for. All the pros have a backup camera. Your Christmas list includes a tripod, monopod, larger storage cards, a new computer, CS3, Lightroom, expodisc,

Turn back, turn back now. It's too late for me, but save yourself while you still have a chance.

(BTW, welcome to the club. You're off to a good start. Keep shooting.)

This is so true! I started by shooting my son when he was on a Track & Field team. Since then, I am now covering sports for 2 high schools and I'm out 3-4 nights a week and also have all day meets/games to cover on some Saturday's.

My equipment list has grown to include a 40D along with a 70-200 f/2.8,
85 f/1.8 and more. Thankfully I'm registered as a business so I can at least get some type of tax break.

Gotta love this stuff.

[khaz]

bigjon, the AF was set to Al Focus, I guess I should have had it on servo. I think I had the center focus on his chest to start, but might have missed it on this shot. I had to laugh to myself a little as I posted this in the Sports thread, since this is about my speed right now. They just don't move too fast for me yet...or maybe they do.

And Zivnuska, you are too late! After looking around this site, the little league season this year is just the start. I actually mentioned to my wife yesterday, that I was going to need a couple of lenses pretty soon. "What for? Haven't you spent enough on that thing already?" was her comment. I tried to explain that it will make sense in a few years, when I start taking good pictures, I'm just not sure she is on board like I am. Oh well, B&H, here I come...

[Zivnuska]

Mike R said it:

"Gotta love this stuff" :D

[fslshooter]

Try shooting in AV or manual exposure mode with the widest aperture you can so that you blur the background more. Continue to use ISO 400 whenever possible then adjust shutter speed for proper exposure as long as you can shoot at 1/500 or faster -- and faster is better up to about 1/2000. Shoot in AI Servo and use a single focus point centered on his chest or belt line. When shooting into the sun, as you've done here, it's best to overexpose even to the point of blowing highlights out a bit so that you pick up details in shadows like his face. Welcome to POTN and the sports forum too -- this is a great place to learn!

[statsman]

Shoot in AI Servo and use a single focus point ...
How does that work? I always thought that you used AI Servo with the Auto focus point selection so that once the center focus point is locked onto a subject, the focus can be tracked if the subject moves to a location covered by another focus point.

[fslshooter]

How does that work? I always thought that you used AI Servo with the Auto focus point selection so that once the center focus point is locked onto a subject, the focus can be tracked if the subject moves to a location covered by another focus point.

When using all focus points, focus can be thrown off if another player comes into view but by using a single focus point and holding it on the subject this won't happen. A baseball shooting example would be when a runner is rounding second or approaching third base. When using all focus points, AF might shift to the defensive players which would cause the base runner to be out of focus. That will not happen when using a single focus point unless it strays off of the subject -- and that would be a shooter error.

[khaz]

fslshooter, I have been shooting in M mode since I got the camera at the new year (another member's suggestion), but changed yesterday to make sure I stopped the action and didn't miss any shots. I guess as slow as the little guys are, I could have slowed down the shutter a little and still been ok. I have been shooting the center AF point, I might have just missed that one. I didn't even realize that it was out of focus, as bigjon stated. Lots to work on, but loving it.

[Paul S]

I hope I'm not too late!


Stop! Stop now!


Once you start taking pictures of your kids you risk an addiction that can control your life. Sure, you say; "I can stop anytime I want." "I'm doing it for the kids, for the family." Before you know it, a few baseball pics turns into football and soccer. Suddenly, your lens isn't long enough and oh, those pictures with the 'L' glass are really sharp. Then it happens... ...

Basketball, volleyball, wrestling and any manner of indoor sports. The light is too low. Must get f/2.8 lenses and then even wider apertures. Now your wonderful camera can't quite do the job with enough fps and a 1D series camera focuses so quickly and so well in low light. Then it happens... ...

More better images... If you just had the capability to strobe the gymnasium, you could get those SI cover images you lust for. All the pros have a backup camera. Your Christmas list includes a tripod, monopod, larger storage cards, a new computer, CS3, Lightroom, expodisc,

Turn back, turn back now. It's too late for me, but save yourself while you still have a chance.

(BTW, welcome to the club. You're off to a good start. Keep shooting.)


Oh boy - you hit the nail on the head

[fugfuggy]

Oh boy - you hit the nail on the head


Oh no! You just opened my eyes and uncovered my own addiction. I need to go to rehab!:)