More Hockey (and Big lens) (5 pics)

[drisley]

While at a Team Canada JR hockey game, I noticed this huge white L lens this guy was using on a 1 series digital. Pretty darn nice! I zoomed in on the full size image, and sure enough it is a 400mm F2.8 lens! wow! I also have posted a couple of my favourite shots with the 20D and 135F2L + 1.4x Extender.

189mm F2.8 ISO1600

http://www.fotop.net/albums/sharpnsmart/canadahockey/IMG_4187.jpg

http://www.fotop.net/albums/sharpnsmart/canadahockey/IMG_4227.jpg

http://www.fotop.net/albums/sharpnsmart/canadahockey/IMG_4250.jpg

http://www.fotop.net/albums/sharpnsmart/canadahockey/IMG_4323.jpg

http://www.fotop.net/albums/sharpnsmart/canadahockey/IMG_4241.jpg

[Olegis]

Great ! The 4th picture is awesome - so powerful and dynamic !
Is that not sGu with that big white lens ? ;)

[drisley]

Thanks Olegis.

[RinkRat]

Great ! The 4th picture is awesome - so powerful and dynamic !
ditto!

What settings/lens did you use?

[drisley]

I was using the 20D, 135F2L + 1.4x Extender at ISO1600.
All shots were shot at 189mm, 1/1250s, F2.8, and converted from RAW in Photoshop CS.
The noise level is almost non existent because the exposures worked out so well. I shot in M mode.
I might post a full size shot of #4 so you can really see the "snow" and the absence of noise.

[gramps]

VERY impressive................how come you didn't "talk" that guy outta the big ugly white thing?

[drisley]

VERY impressive................how come you didn't "talk" that guy outta the big ugly white thing?I know, I know. I even offered him 50 bucks to take it off his hands. He wouldn't let me help him!

[RinkRat]

I was using the 20D, 135F2L + 1.4x Extender at ISO1600.
All shots were shot at 189mm, 1/1250s, F2.8, and converted from RAW in Photoshop CS.
The noise level is almost non existent because the exposures worked out so well. I shot in M mode.
I might post a full size shot of #4 so you can really see the "snow" and the absence of noise.
I guess I should learn to read your original message before asking about your settings.

I'd like to see the full size shot though.

hrmmm... those settings make me think there is something wrong with my DRebel.

If I were to try My Tamron @ ISO1600 & 1/1250 , or even my 50F1.8, It would look like I took the shot with my lens cap on.

[drisley]

I guess I should learn to read your original message before asking about your settings.

I'd like to see the full size shot though.

hrmmm... those settings make me think there is something wrong with my DRebel.

If I were to try My Tamron @ ISO1600 & 1/1250 , or even my 50F1.8, It would look like I took the shot with my lens cap on.
No there is nothing wrong with your Rebel, I'm sure. I've heard people complain about their Rebel, 10D, and even the 20D saying noise above ISO400 is unusable. But, I think many people may be underexposing slightly. I always make extra certain the image is exposed to the right when shooting above ISO400. Also, I shoot Raw, and most Raw converters out there offer nice built in noise reduction that is very subtle, but seems to help too.
I posted a few 50% images in the EOS forum if you want to have a look.
I didnt want to post a 100% image because of bandwidth and other reasons, but the 50% gives a great idea of what the full size image looks like, as well as an 8x10 print.

[LAWSON McCULLOCH]

Great shots, I like the third photo the best. Great expressions on the faces.

[RinkRat]

No there is nothing wrong with your Rebel, I'm sure. I've heard people complain about their Rebel, 10D, and even the 20D saying noise above ISO400 is unusable. But, I think many people may be underexposing slightly. I always make extra certain the image is exposed to the right when shooting above ISO400. Also, I shoot Raw, and most Raw converters out there offer nice built in noise reduction that is very subtle, but seems to help too.
I posted a few 50% images in the EOS forum if you want to have a look.
I didnt want to post a 100% image because of bandwidth and other reasons, but the 50% gives a great idea of what the full size image looks like, as well as an 8x10 print.
I think you are correct. I usually do underexpose. I worry about blowing out highlights, and then I wonder why my shots look terrible.

I saw the image in the EOS forum, and it looks great. It would make an awesome 8x10. (especially on my wall )

[drisley]

Thanks Rinkrat and Lawson.
With the 20D I find the dynamic range really allows me to expose to the right with much more ease without worrying about blowing highlights (as compared to the DRebel).
Because the lighting was so consistent here, I found a good exposure, and locked it in M mode.

After looking at these pictures again for the first time in a while, they almost appear a little dull to me. Does anybody else think so? I do my best not to clip the highlights so they are bumped up to the right side of the histogram, so I'm not sure what I could do to give them some jump without clipping. Any ideas?