Softball with flash

[shutterfiend]

I'm really new to sports photography. Took these at a company softball game.

The first on is without flash (f/4, 1/250, iso400, 200mm) the 2nd one is with flash (f/4, 1/160, iso800, 200mm).

The flash did help freeze motion towards the end of the game but the shots looked flat.

I was lazy and didn't switch to AI-servo either, so all my shots were misfocussed, as well.

C&C please. Thanks in advance.

[shutterfiend]

Resized pics to include exif data.

[L.Morey]

No.2 looks pretty good

[vetkrazy]

I guess flash at rec league softball might be okay, but anywhere else you would get run off the field for using it. Shutter speeds are way to slow, you need to bump the iso. The 20D can handle the higher iso's. Even 3200 is okay with some noise reduction.

I don't believe that not using AI servo will cause misfocus, your slow shutter speed is introducing a lot of motion blur. The first shot may have been saved by using iso 1600. The second one is flat but a quick curves adjustment will bring it back. If you look closely near the feet and calves you will notice the flash halo.

271984

Low light sports shooting is always a challenge. If you continue along this path you are going to need something faster than F/4.

[shutterfiend]

Wow, I guess I have to hone my PP skills. I see what you mean by the halo. I'll have to look into noise reduction utilities also. As far as faster lenses go, I do have an 85/1.8, but that might be too short. Even 200 was a bit short (The above images are cropped). The outfield shots were unusable, probably a combination of shutter speed and lack of lens and flash reach. Thanks!