Questions about shooting basketball

[csi8923]

This past weekend, I decided to take pictures of some of my friends playing basketball at a rec-center. I've been shooting primarily landscapes and portraits for the past three years with a film camera, so this was my first "semi-dedicated" sports/action shoot. I moved to digital this past winter as I purchased a 30D.

My equipment and the setup were as follows:
ef 85 1.8
ambient light (it didn't occur to me that high-sync flash may have helped until afterwards)
AI servo
High-speed continuous shot
Center-focus
ISO 1250 (don't know why I didn't just use 1600)
Av-mode @ f/2.0 (should've used M. a rookie mistake)

Here are my questions:
1) Even with the f-stop at 2.0 and ISO 1250, the shutter speed range was between 1/400 - 1/125. I was hoping that I could get somewhere around 1/1000. Is this the expected range of shutter speed at this setting when shooting without a flash or a strobe? Note: the lighting at the rec-center was a typical, averagely-lit indoor basketball court.
2) As a result of such a slow shutter speed, I have mild motion blurs on many of my pictures. But it seems that some pictures were just plain out of focus as well. Is 30D's AI servo not responsive enough to keep track of fast movements? (I'm certainly taking my lack of experience in sports shooting as another reason for oof pictures.)
3) Additionally, the pictures seem to be very soft. This was my first time shooting with ISO above 800, as I 95% of the time shoot between 100-400. Does high noise level make images soft? None of the images meet my acceptable level of sharpness.

Overall, the shoot was definitely an eye-opening experience in this particular area of photography. I definitely could've used some research beforehand. Nonetheless, I'm mildly satisfied with the outcome despite my shortcomings.

[Mike R]

For HS basketball, I also use the 85 f/1.8 lens.
I shoot in M f/2.2, 1/400, ISO 800-1600 (depending on gym)
Flash is not allowed where I shoot because they say some players find it distracting.
I find the shutter speed of 1/400 does the job of freezing the motion of HS players.

[vetkrazy]

Welcome to the world of low light sports.

1. 1/1000 is not gonna happen except at D1 or pro arenas. The best you can hope for is 1/500-1/640. You will also have to deal with cycling lights thru 3-4 color ranges.
2. The 30D is fast enough, you are just in a new area. If you shot raw check for focus points in Zoombrowser.
3. When using f/2 you have a razor thin focus plane. If you are on the baseline 20 feet from the players you have .6 of a foot of focus area. That is .3 in front and .3 behind. If your focus is not dead on you have a soft image.

You are going to find your self using ISO 1600-3200 to get usable pictures. You are going to need a noise reduction program and there are several good ones out there. You can try flash but odds are you won't like it. On board types only light the player leaving everything else in darkness. Not the best of looks.

A couple of things I could suggest: Set a custom white balance from a grey card or similar item. Shoot raw. Definitely use M. Don't be afraid to use ISO 3200. And one last thing to try; CF4-3. This move the focus button to the "*". I find it helpful in tracking a subject.

Work on your technique and practice, practice, practice.

Bruce

[csi8923]

Thanks for your responses.
About my question #3, can anyone tell me if high noise level may also attribute to the softness of an image? I would assume that it may at least "appear" to look soft since some details are lost via all the noise. Correct me if my assumption is wrong.

Also, I want to know whether you guys use single or high speed continuous shot for the drive mode. As I've noted, I went with continuous but I wasn't able to consistently capture the peak of the action moments (e.g. right at the release of a jumpshot or a lay-up). Is it more efficient to shoot single drive and just anticipate for that climax moment?

Either way, it's going to come down to my technique as it is poor at the moment.

To note, I do shoot raw and use CF4-3.

[superdiver]

I shoot alot of basketbal in these dark dungeons...wellcome to the dark side...

1)shoot RAW to help with WB correction, use a CWB if you can
2)I shoot at ISO 1600 or 3200 if I need to
3)shoot in M mode. Do a test shot to see what kind of settings you will need, usually I shoot f1.8-2.2, ss 1/500 or 640 and ec set at +1/3 or 2/3

thi is usually about the combo I need for the gyms I shoot in, yours could be completely different.

Always expose a little to the right (light) side. Darkening your shot does not make more noise, but you lighten just a tad and the noise explodes. Always try to get the exposure correct FIRST, things turn out best that way. Then get a noise reducer like Neat Image or Noise Ninja and run your pictures through that and they come out beautiful! Usually...lol