Wee bit of advice if you would...?

[wd-40]

Hi All,

I have had a good read through the stickies and feel I have a fair base to set off on my first motorsport shoot.

I'll be shooting from the public spectator areas for the Chatsworth Rally (http://www.therallyshow.org/) in the UK.

I'll be trying some static shots, starting with iso400 and about 1/320 using my 40D sigma 18-200 DC OS and also some panning shots, adjusting the shutter speed down accordingly.

It may seem obvious to those who do this day in day out, but I assume I should turn the OS off or it will be constantly trying to compensate for the cars movement - is that the correct thing to do ?

Thanks

[Thameth]

Why are you shooting ISO400?

And yes, In my experience any stabilization basically works against you when trying to pan.

[wd-40]

Why are you shooting ISO400?



Cheers re: OS.

I was starting with 400 as per the sticky (that's me static, cars moving at speed), to stop any blur (bearing in mind I mentioned I'd start without panning). When I moved to the panning I was hoping to move down the ISO range to keep the blur for wheels and background.

Is that not right ?

[FelixP]

Yeah that's right. But depending on the conditions you might be getting 1/1000th or thereabouts at ISO 100 in the sun, or you might need 1600.

[Thameth]

Cheers re: OS.

I was starting with 400 as per the sticky (that's me static, cars moving at speed), to stop any blur (bearing in mind I mentioned I'd start without panning). When I moved to the panning I was hoping to move down the ISO range to keep the blur for wheels and background.

Is that not right ?

I guess I'll need to read the sticky, but usual rule of thumb I've ever heard is keep your ISO as low as possible for the clearest image. Otherwise you'll be introducing noise/grain.

[GSH]

I guess I'll need to read the sticky, but usual rule of thumb I've ever heard is keep your ISO as low as possible for the clearest image. Otherwise you'll be introducing noise/grain.

Only increase the ISO when you really have to. It's impossible to say 1 week before an event what ISO value you plan to use. You could arrive there in blazing sunshine (as yesterday at Croft) or in a Monsoon (as today at Croft).

Use shutter priority, pick your shutter speed as per the usual "rules" (1.320th-1/400th unless doing side-on pans) and set the ISO to give an aperture of f8 or thereabouts.

You won't go too far wrong with that lot for starters.

[Thameth]

Only increase the ISO when you really have to. It's impossible to say 1 week before an event what ISO value you plan to use. You could arrive there in blazing sunshine (as yesterday at Croft) or in a Monsoon (as today at Croft).

Use shutter priority, pick your shutter speed as per the usual "rules" (1.320th-1/400th unless doing side-on pans) and set the ISO to give an aperture of f8 or thereabouts.

You won't go too far wrong with that lot for starters.

I'm in complete agreement with your first statement, that was basically what I was saying. Of course you can't say what any of your settings will be before getting to an event.

I know alot of people here have alot of different styles, some like manual and some like AP. I usually work as you stated above and shoot mostly Shutter priority and change speeds depending on the effect I want. And change ISO for available light. But thats my style... right now hehe.

[wd-40]

Thanks for that folks, much appreciated.